High Schools - Neumann-Goretti sophomore pitcher Donato doesn't balk despite pain

At least that's the mind-set being exhibited these days by Mark Donato, a sophomore lefthander at Ss. Neumann-Goretti High.

Off and on for 3 years, Donato has experienced pain toward the outside part of his upper arm mostly every time he has uncorked a pitch.

In a recent doctor's visit, he was given a series of stretching exercises to perform thrice daily. And he was told a 3-week, maybe-a-month shutdown would do wonders for his flipper.

OK, Donato figures. Sometime in June sounds good. Right after the Saints conclude a season that's featuring quite the resurgence. One that the 6-1, 195-pound Donato is very much helping to fuel.

With first place on the line, Donato yesterday pitched a four-hitter with nine strikeouts and three walks as the visiting Saints - 3-18 last year in the ol' Southern Division - bested Conwell-Egan, 9-2, in a Catholic Blue contest.

Both teams are now 7-2 and will meet again today at 25th and Moore, in South Philly.

When asked why he keeps pitching, Donato shrugged his shoulders and said with a laugh, "I guess I have to . . . I'd just rather pitch through it. It's not too bad."

He added, "The exercises are helping. The doctor said my left shoulder is tighter than my right. In time, we're going to try to loosen that up. Like last summer, when I played first base for the Roxborough Bandits [in the semi-pro Pen-Del League], I won't do any pitching this summer."

Donato has been a borderline sensation in his 1 1/2 years of varsity baseball. In 2007, while playing for Roman, he earned second-team coaches' All-Catholic honors at pitcher while also netting third-team laurels at first base.

The lefty swinger went 2-for-4 with a double in this one.

Donato, who lives near 3rd and Ritner, said he transferred to N-G for proximity and good-buddies reasons.

"It wasn't like I hated playing baseball at Roman. I liked it," he added. "It didn't bother me too much to leave the school. Neumann just works better for me.

"They had a rough year. I'm having fun with these guys, and it's nice that we're all doing this together. I like helping out."

Second-year coach Lou Spadaccini, twice a first-team Daily News All-City outfielder for the old St. John Neumann, views Donato as something akin to a godsend.

"To have that No. 1 ace is so important to our program; not to mention that he's our No. 3 hitter," Spadaccini said. "He's the complete package, plus he makes everyone better.

"We knew we were going to lose last year. The only question was, 'By how much?' So we played a lot of young guys and they got experience. We're still young [the starting lineup includes four sophomores and a freshman], but we're doing a good job."

Early, as did C-E lefty Kevin Cahill, Donato struggled with his control while dealing with a strong wind that blew pretty much from first to third base. He gave up a pair of first-inning walks, which turned into a run on Pat Sevick's groundout, and was reached for another tally in the second, again on a groundout (RBI to Joe Brown).

"I'm not used to having problems like that," Donato said. "They were in first. We were in second. I knew it'd be good competition. I was just trying to get the win. To try my hardest and not give up.

"I had to get used to the wind and use it to my advantage. My curve was working the best. The wind was really pushing it into the righthanded batters. On 0-2 and 1-2 counts, I was trying to throw it in the dirt and get them to chase."

Only one of C-E's hits, a sixth inning single by sub leftfielder Chris Bartuska, was truly stung.

N-G did almost all of its damage - eight runs' worth - in the second. Joey Armata, an impressive junior catcher, contributed a leadoff triple and later an RBI single while Al Baur, Donato (two) and Mike Riverso (on a double) combined to drive in four more.

The Eagles made three errors in the frame and at least two other plays could/should have been made.

Aggie Osano (3-for-4) plated the Saints' last run in the seventh with the second of his two doubles.

Spadaccini also praised Donato for his work habits, the sense of competition he has created among the younger Saints and, of course, his effect on the entire program.

"It's nice to be relevant again," Spadaccini quipped. *