By Rich Palzewic
Sports Editor
SUAMICO – It was a good night for Notre Dame Academy’s Caden Capomaccio in his team’s April 19 Fox River Classic Conference baseball game against Bay Port.
The senior scattered four hits and struck out eight in the Tritons’ 3-1 victory at Bay Port High School.
Capomaccio, who pitched 6 1/3 innings before reaching his 100-pitch limit, also smacked a two-RBI double in the second inning to help his own cause.
“I thought I pitched pretty well,” Capomaccio said. “I was a little shaky at the end, but I concentrated on throwing strikes and getting quick outs. It feels great to beat Bay Port. We’re looking for a conference championship.”
Notre Dame plated three runs in the second inning to grab a 3-0 lead.
Donatello Badalamenti and Hunter Buschke reached base on walks before Deuce Musial II hit a single to left to load the bases.
Nick Bumgardner then knocked in Badalamenti with a laser that hit off Bay Port pitcher Cole Bensen’s leg before Capomaccio, a verbal commit to the University of Minnesota, hammered the first pitch he saw from Bensen to plate two more.
“I was looking for a fastball, and that’s what I got,” Capomaccio said.
The Pirates scored their only run of the game in the fifth when John Nickel singled with one out, stole second and advanced to third on a balk.
Bensen then knocked in Nickel with an RBI double.
The inning could have been worse, but Tritons’ first baseman Brady LaViolette made a short-hop scoop of an errant throw from Badalamenti at third to save a run.
In the sixth, Ky Mueller walked and Grant Gill was hit by a pitch to put two runners on with nobody out for Bay Port.
After a failed sacrifice bunt attempt from Isaiah Grimm, Capomaccio recorded a strikeout and a groundout to end the threat.
In the seventh, Capomaccio faced one batter – Nickel – before giving way to Buschke with one out.
Buschke walked Cal Casper but then forced two groundouts to end the game.
“That was a great high school baseball game,” Notre Dame Head Coach Jared Barker said. “When both teams make plays and play a clean game, it’s fun to be a part of that.”
Barker said he was impressed with Capomaccio’s poise, both on the mound and at the plate.
“He’s our horse,” he said. “He had a couple of innings where he got into some tough spots, but he’s a competitor and got out of the jams.”
Barker said when Capomaccio reached his 100-pitch limit, it was good for the team.
“I tell the kids all the time, ‘We can’t win with only one kid – it’s a team sport,’” he said. “It’s good for the other kids to go out there and perform.”
Due to the finicky spring weather, the Tritons haven’t practiced or played a game on their home field.
“It’s been frustrating,” Barker said. “We’ve been lucky to use Capital Credit Union Park (in Ashwaubenon) a few times. This spring has been trying. We’re trying to find ways to keep the kids motivated – so far it’s working.”