Sieracki stars in Rocky Mount Big East title win

Rocky Mount High’s Ben Sieracki pitches to Southern Nash on Thursday at Rocky Mount High School.
©TELEGRAM PHOTO / ALAN CAMPBELL

WILSON — Ben Sieracki turned a conference championship game into an infield workout session.

The Rocky Mount High freshman pitcher locked onto command of the mound from the first pitch on the Big East title game. Sieracki threw a four-hitter in the Gryphons’ 2-1 win on Thursday at Wilson Hunt, notching a complete game in less than 70 pitches.

Of the 21 outs he registered, 13 of them were ground balls. Gryphons’ third basemen Spencer Ramsey, shortstop Logan Pearce and second basemen Lane Butler got plenty of reps each thanks to their pitcher.

“I have the best defense in the league, obviously,” Sieracki said. “The ground ball was working today.

“. . . (I always want) to keep everything at the hitters’ knees so they can hit ground balls. All the base hits are hit up in the zone, so if I keep it at their knees, it can be a ground ball every time.”

Rocky Mount fell behind one run after the second inning. The Gryphons looked at that margin until the fourth, where Pearce hit an RBI double to score David Harrison.

The Gryphons’ offense struck again in the fifth for the winning blow.

After Victor Ward hit into a fielder’s choice, Josh Pittman faded a single into left field to make Wilson Hunt pull its starter. The Warriors reliever immediately walked Spencer Ramsey to load the bases. Jamar Ellis hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Ward in what turned out to be the game-winning score.

Ellis said the Gryphons felt comfortable at the plate because they were able to settle in against similar pitchers.

“The whole team felt more confident (when the reliever came in) because it seemed like the same arm and same velo,” Ellis said. “It was at least consistent.

“And I just wanted to hit it somewhere deep into the outfield and try to get at least one run.”

Sieracki made the mid-game call to throw his curveball less and shift more to his slider. He thought he’d cause more trouble because his slider and fastball look so similar at their release points.

He was right. Sieracki gave up only one hit in the final four frames.

“Ben did pretty good,” Ellis said of the pitcher’s approach. “That basically helped him out a little bit.”

Against Southern Nash in the conference season finale, Sieracki lost his command in the fifth inning and was pulled from the game. He earned the win thanks to a big lead, but it wasn’t the way he wanted to end that appearance.

Fast forward to Thursday, and Sieracki again started the first batter he saw in the fifth with a couple of balls. This time, he recovered for a strikeout and continued to mow through the Hunt lineup.

It was the freshman’s sixth win of the season. He was slated as the No. 2 starter from the start of the season even though he didn’t expect to be in the role. He said he’s approached each start simply, and that’s been the key to his early career success.

“I thought I was going to be the three or four guy,” Sieracki said. “But I came in and ended up No. 2.

“It has been awesome. I didn’t really feel pressure. I’ve just been coming in and throwing it, and it has been working really good.”

By ETHAN JOYCE
Sports Writer for Rocky Mount Telegram

Friday, May 5, 2017