In the biggest game of the year, Shamrocks skipper Sean Gulliver handed the ball to a 17-year-old pitcher who threw sporadically for the green and gold this season.
And Graham King didn’t disappoint.
One of the best young arms on the island, according to Gulliver, threw a complete-game two-hitter as the OMT Shammies blanked the RMM Gonzaga Vikings 4-0 in Game 7 to win their third straight St. John’s Molson Senior Baseball League championship on a chilly but otherwise perfect night for playoff baseball at St. Pat’s Ball Park.
Through five and two-thirds innings, King tossed no-hit baseball.
“He’s got a live arm for a 17-year-old,” Gulliver said. “He’s probably topping out low 80s.
“But he’s also got a good curve and a change so he was able to keep them off-stride tonight.”
King allowed only two walks, and struck out one.
Dan Connors was tagged with the loss, scattering eight hits in a complete-game performance. Connors walked four and fanned three.
Gulliver said afterwards he had no problem going with King after Shamrocks ace Scott Goosney pitched six-plus innings Thursday night.
“Gonzaga’s arguably the best hitting team in the league, but we have the best defence in the league,” Gulliver said. “I told Graham before the game to hit his spots, move the ball inside and out, let them put it in play and let your defence go to work.
“That’s exactly what happened.”
Redmond Hunt led the Shamrocks at the plate with two hits and a pair of runs knocked in. Andrew Paul and Gary Dymond had the Gonzaga hits as St. John’s baseball wrapped up for the 2018 season.
