Baseball: Gloucester Catholic opens with win over Pitman

It seemed like a long wait for the entire Gloucester Catholic baseball team.

It seemed like forever to Angelo DeAngelis.

"I waited four years for this," DeAngelis said of being the Rams' opening-day starter.

DeAngelis, a senior right-hander, pitched a complete game, allowing three hits and striking out five, as Gloucester Catholic opened the season with an 11-1 win over Pitman Monday in a Tri-County Classic Division game at Joe Barth Field in Brooklawn.

Senior first baseman Chris Turco was 3-for-3 with a walk and three RBIs and senior second baseman Adam Bonomo ended the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth for the Rams, the No. 1 team in the Inquirer Top 25.

Junior centerfield Jason Bobiak walked three times, stole two bases and scored a run, and No. 9 hitter Kyle Pierman doubled, walked twice and scored three runs for GC (1-0 overall, 1-0 in the division).

Gloucester Catholic started the season nine days after the official April 1 opening of the baseball campaign.

Senior shortstop Will Gougon was 2-for-3 for Pitman (3-1, 2-1).

DeAngelis mixed a live fastball and a sharp curve. His best pitch? Strike one.

"He threw a lot of strikes," GC coach Adam Tussey said. "He was very efficient, which is something we worked on all March."

DeAngelis said his command was key.

"I was able to work ahead and that was huge," DeAngelis said.

DeAngelis was 3-0 last season but threw just 16 innings. He said he's ready to assume a workhorse role as senior.

"I've been waiting for this," DeAngelis said. "I remember watching (John) Murphy throw opening day."

Said Tussey: "He's worked behind a lot of good pitchers during his time here. He and a lot of our pitchers, they're ready to step up."

Pitman pitchers struggled with their command, walking 13 with a hit batter.

Senior Billy Cavender, an ace left-hander, started but worked just two innings. He allowed two runs on two hits, with three walks and four strikeouts.

"We were going to use a lot of pitchers today," Pitman coach Matt Healy said.

Pitman 000 010 -- 1 3 2

GC 201 314 -- 11 8 1

WP: Angelo DeAngelis. LP: Billy Cavender.

2B: GC-Lillo Paxia, Chris Turco, Alex Persichetti, Kyle Pierman.

-- Contact Phil Anastasia at panastasia@phillynews.com

-- Follow @PhilAnastasia on Twitter

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