Duno, Meadows lead Wharton over Robinson, 1-0
By Brandon Wright, Features Writer
TAMPA – Wharton starter Daniel Duno had been in control all night.
But nursing a one-run lead in the seventh, Duno found himself down in the count 3-0 to Robinson pinch hitter Tommy Fitzgerald. Wildcats’ coach Anthony Markle had the bullpen ready and Duno knew a walk might spell the end of his night.
“Any chance of coming out? I told myself no,” Duno said. “I knew I was on a short leash and if I walked him, I was probably coming out.”
Duno made his coach’s decision easy.
The Wharton righty came all the way back to record the strikeout and finished off the complete-game shutout, willing the Wildcats to a 1-0 win against visiting Robinson Thursday night.
“We were trying to let (Duno) finish it,” Markle said. “It’s a real testament to the kind of competitor that kid is.”
Duno pitched Thursday like he was double-parked. He allowed just two runners to touch second base, fanned 10 and walked none on 88 pitches, finishing off the Knights in 91 tidy minutes.
“I have so much confidence in the guys behind me,” Duno said. “Even if I hung one, I knew my team would come back and get us a run. I knew no matter where the ball was hit, they were going to go and get it. All I’m here to do is pitch and I know my team has got the rest.”
Duno gave up five singles, but four of those were infield hits. And he seemed to get stronger as the night went on.
“I’ve never met a pitcher out there more confident than (Duno). I mean, he’s an absolute dog,” Wharton (6-1) senior Justis Meadows said. “I wish I could play with him for another four years.”
And Meadows made sure his buddy left with a W. The senior second baseman jumped on the first pitch he saw in the fourth, lashing a line drive over the left centerfield wall for the night’s only run.
“I was waiting for someone to step up in a big moment and it was the senior captain, the guy we look to put us on his back and he did,” Markle said of Meadows. “He stepped up in a moment and said I’m going to do this. In competition, that’s what you’re looking for.”
Robinson’s (5-2) Nathan Porath nearly matched Duno pitch-for-pitch. Porath gave up just four hits, struck out seven and also didn’t walk a batter.
“Nathan pounded the zone with a three-pitch mix that was more than enough to give us a chance to win,” Knights coach Alex Barron said. “Regardless of tonight’s outcome it’s a ton of fun and satisfaction seeing an amazing pitcher, and even better human, perform so well.”
Porath’s only real mistake (and the only Wharton runner to pass second base) was Meadows’ bomb.
“(Porath) tried to get away with a quick pitch and that lit a fire under me,” Meadows said. “I don’t really like that when pitchers try to do that. I got one elevated and took it for a ride.”
⚾
#8 Wharton 1
#12 Robinson 0
R 000|000|0 – |0|5|1
W 000|100|0 – |1|4|0
W – Duno (2-1); L – Porath (2-1)
2B – Johnstone (W); HR – Meadows (W). Records – R (5-1); W (5-1).
