McKenna and Point Merchants Master Point Pirates 4-0

Point Merchants skipper Art Rooney ran out of adjectives to describe the brilliance of hurler Chris McKenna’s performance against the Point Pirates.

“I can’t say enough good things about the way that young man has thrown the ball for us,” said Rooney.

In game one of a doubleheader, McKenna was masterful on the mound and twirled a one-hit shu-tout in a 4-0 Merchants victory over the Point Pirates on Sunday afternoon at the Point Pleasant Borough High School field.

McKenna held the Pirates' offensive attack in check all afternoon, and was two outs away from throwing a no hitter until Deven DelPriore’s single into right field broke up the no-hit bid.

“I felt really good with my command and my location today,” said McKenna. “It would’ve definitely been nice to throw a no-no, but I’m just happy I was able to help the team win today.”

McKenna only allowed three base runners over his seven innings of work and struck out seven in the complete game shutout.

Before the DelPriore single, McKenna had thrown 10 plus innings of no-hit baseball, dating back to Wednesday’s suspended game against the Colts Neck Braves.

“Mac has been throwing the ball great for us,” said Rooney. “For him to only allow one hit over the last ten plus innings, can’t do much better than that.”

Pirates' starter Joe Gargiulo did all he could to match McKenna pitch for pitch, but was finally scored upon in the top half of the fourth inning.

After retiring the first batter, Gargiulo allowed consecutive singles to Moe Williams and Tyler Kapp.

With one out, John Coppinger delivered an RBI single to right center field, which scored Williams and gave the Merchants their first run of the game off Gargiulo.

“Johnny did a great job for us today, he didn’t walk anyone for seven innings and gave us a chance to win,” said Pirates manager Anthony DelPriore. “He threw the ball well for us, but their guy was just better.”

The lone Pirates' threat came in the bottom half of the fourth inning, when McKenna issued a lead-off walk to Joe Fiore, who was sacrificed over to second base by John Rose.

With one out and Fiore on second, DelPriore sent a shot into the left center field gap that at first glance looked to be a double in the gap, but was run down by Merchants' center fielder Kyle Perry.

“When that ball was hit in the gap, I thought it was going to tie the game,” said DelPriore. “The center fielder made a great play, but that was really the only chance we had in this ballgame.”

In the fifth, the Merchants scored two more on a two-run double by Perry which stretched the lead to three runs.

“I knew I couldn’t let up even with the three-run lead,” said McKenna. “I just tried to keep my focus and not let any of the distractions get in the way of my game, whether it’s a bigger lead or a no hitter.”

With the victory, the Merchants improved on the season to 15-3 and continued to keep pace with the Toms River Tigers in their two-way battle for the Jersey Shore Baseball League American Division title.