Neumann-Goretti wins with ‘Zoom’ power

One would have expected Neumann-Goretti coach Lou Spadaccini to be scouring the bench for an available arm while Mike "Zoom" Zolk was yielding three runs to Archbishop Wood in the seventh inning.

Far from it.

"Zoom isn't our best pitcher, but he's our best player," the skipper said. "I want my best player out there. You know he's going to be poised. You know you're going to get the best out of him."

In Thursday's Catholic League Blue Division baseball game, Zolk blasted a three-run home run in the eighth, then returned to the mound and closed out the Saints' 11-7 triumph over the Vikings in Warminster.

"I wanted the ball," said Zolk, a star second baseman making a rare mound appearance. "I'm a battler. I won't allow myself to lose."

The 5-foot-9, 175-pound senior, who has committed to North Carolina, pitched the last three innings in relief of starter Joe Jaep. Earlier this season, Zolk had pitched a few innings vs. Conwell-Egan.

"I'm a thrower, not a pitcher," Zolk said. "I was just trying to throw strikes. I was probably pitching on adrenaline more than anything else."

Neumann-Goretti, ranked No. 3 in Southeastern Pennsylvania by The Inquirer, stayed unbeaten and finished a sweep of No. 9 Wood. The Saints, who won by 9-4 on Tuesday in South Philly, improved to 12-0 overall and 8-0 in the Blue.

"This is the toughest bunch of kids I've ever coached," Spadaccini said. "The heart and leadership on this team, it's incredible. They just battle. They're like street fighters."

From the leadoff spot, Zolk went 3 for 5 with five RBIs. His first homer of the afternoon, a two-run shot in the fifth, was aided by the strong wind carrying out to left field.

Down by 7-4 entering their last at-bat, the Vikings (7-4, 4-4) forced an extra frame on a two-run double by lefty starter Jeff Courter and an RBI single by Kyle McCrossen.

Courter, ticketed for Villanova, threw 104 pitches and gave up nine runs (eight earned) in 71/3 innings; McCrossen, a hard-hitting Temple recruit, went 3 for 4 with a solo homer in the fifth.

Wood notched four hits in the first, including Courter's RBI double, but managed only one run. Sean Sheridan, pinch-running for Courter, should have scored from second base on Larry Brittingham's one-out single to center, but tripped before reaching the plate and was easily tagged out.

Jimmy Kerrigan also shined for Neumann-Goretti. The junior leftfielder went 3 for 5 with three RBIs and two runs.

Zolk, who spent his first two years of high school at North Catholic, chose North Carolina over Florida Atlantic, Florida International, and Maryland, among others.

"He's the best pure baseball player I've seen around here in years," Spadaccini said. "He does everything. And he works so hard at everything he does."

Neumann-Goretti   01104014 - 11112

Archbishop Wood   10021030 - 7123

WP: Mike Zolk. LP: Jeff Courter. 2B: NG-Jimmy Kerrigan, Joey Gorman, Joe Glennon; AW-Courter (2), Kyle McCrossen. HR: NG-Zolk 2, Kerrigan; AW-McCrossen.