Wozniak’s gem carries Gorman into American Legion World Series
Adam Wozniak was the starting pitcher in only seven of Bishop Gorman’s 56 American Legion baseball games prior to Monday night.
He was the perfect choice to get the ball in the Titans’ biggest game of the year.
Wozniak, who had allowed 57 hits in 46 innings of work prior to Monday, spun a three-hitter to lead Gorman to a 6-4 win over host Fairfield (Calif.) in the Western Regional championship game.
“He was just outstanding,” said Gorman coach Nick Day. “We had saved him at the state tournament to use in a situation like this, but we ended up throwing (Johnny) Sewald. He got his chance this time, and he just pitched outstanding.”
The Titans (47-9-1) will start play in their fourth American Legion World Series in the last six years on Friday in Shelby, N.C. Gorman was last in the Series in 2009 and won the 2008 Series.
The Titans allowed 50 runs in their first five games of the tournament, including an 8-6 victory over League City (Texas) in Monday’s opening game.
But Wozniak, who came into the game with a 3.93 ERA and having allowed 80 base runners in those 46 innings, was in control from the start, allowing only one hit and one walk in the first five innings.
“He was on his game,” Day said. “His fastball, curveball and change-up were all working.”
“He was on his game,” Day said. “His fastball, curveball and change-up were all working.”
His only hiccup came in the sixth inning when Fairfield loaded the bases on a single, a walk and a hit batsman, and Nick Spini belted a grand slam.
Instead of being rattled, though, Wozniak quickly settled down and retired the final 11 Fairfield batters in order.
“He showed a lot of composure,” said Day. “They had a big crowd here with it being on their home field. It was a great atmosphere, but he didn’t let it get to him.”
Wozniak, who improved to 7-1, walked two batters and hit two more, and struck out three, using his defense well. Gorman committed only one error.
The Titans took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning on Sewald’s two-run single and Tyler Baker’s sacrifice fly and tacked on single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
In Monday’s opening game, Gorman needed only two plate appearances to take the lead for good and went on to eliminate League City.
Sewald was hit by a pitch to start the game and moved to second on a wild pitch before T.J. White delivered an RBI single.
The Titans used a four-run seventh inning to build a 7-2 lead and held on as League City scored twice in the seventh and twice in the ninth and had the bases loaded with two outs in the ninth before Gorman reliever Evan Dunn induced a game-ending fielder’s choice grounder to shortstop.
