Magallones sharp as Providence rolls

Updated: April 25, 2011 6:22AM

What was working Sunday for Providence ace Brandon Magallones? The better question is, what wasn't?

"Every pitch was on today," the senior said. "I was pretty hyped up today facing a good pitcher (Marian Catholic's Brett Lilek) and I felt great out there."

Magallones took a perfect game into the fifth inning, struck out 12 and allowed one run on two hits in a complete game effort as the No. 1 Celtics rolled to a 9-1 win over the Spartans in the opening game of the Do It Stevie's Way Challenge at Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood.

Providence coach Mark Smith said his team was inspired to play well on a day dedicated to Steve Bajenski, a Mount Carmel baseball player who died in 2009 from complications from heart surgery.

"A lot of our kids were close to Stevie and they felt they had to come out and play well today," Smith said.

Providence (12-0) small-balled the Spartans (11-3) to death with 12 of its 13 hits singles.

It started right away in the bottom of the first. Kevin DeFilippis (4-for-4, 3 runs, 2 RBI) legged out an infield single, stole second, moved to third on a bunt single by Zak Kutsulis (2-for-3, 2 runs) and stole home on a double steal. Kutsulis took third on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly from Dan Potempa (2-for-2, 2 RBI).

"We kind of struggled with (small ball) last year and we've been working a lot on improving that," DeFillipis said.

The Celtics added three runs in the second on three singles, getting help from a balk, a wild pitch and an error. DeFillipis had an RBI base hit in the frame.

Potempa walked, stole second, took third on a wild pitch and scored on a Joey Houlihan (2-for-3) single in the third and Kutsulis singled home DeFillipis (single) in the fourth to make it 7-0.

Magallones, meanwhile, was in cruise control, striking out eight over the first three innings. Devin Pickett's triple to lead off the fifth broke up the perfect game and Lilek drove him in with a sacrifice fly.

"We came into this game rolling and (Providence) did to us today what we've been doing to other teams," Marian coach Phil Wail said. "I think our guys put a bit too much pressure on themselves."

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