Quinn Construction Blanks Bowser's for 3rd Shutout in a Row

By Keith Barnes

With only five games remaining in the regular season, there is a possibility that Quinn Construction could run the table to win the Daily News League regular-season title. Then again, if the Mudcats keep pitching the way they have of late, there aren’t many teams that are going to touch them in the playoffs either. Left-hander Ron Mitko and righty Jim Pasquine combined for a five-hit shutout as Quinn Construction (13-2) moved another game ahead of second-place Bowser (11-5) with a 6-0 romp over the Twins at Winklevoss Field. It was the Mudcats’ third consecutive victory, and all three wins have been via shutout. “Our guys have just been throwing strikes, and I feel that the only way we’re going to lose is if we walk guys or if we make errors,” Quinn Construction coach Tom Simcho said. “If we don’t give it away, then I feel that our team is going to beat the other guys every day.” Mitko allowed two walks in five innings while striking out three, and Pasquine allowed two hits in his two innings of work. Bowser went 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position, stranded seven baserunners and had one picked off at second base to end a potential threat in the fourth inning. “I think we ran into a good team on a bad day, and that’s baseball,” Bowser coach Andy Brettschneider said. “I’m not worried too much because I think we’re going to see them again once more in the regular season, and probably in the playoffs.” While Mitko and Pasquine took care of keeping Bowser’s offense at bay, Quinn Construction had several clutch hits to provide itself with the runs it needed to expedite matters. Chris Miller and Tarran Senay hit solo home runs in the second and fourth innings, respectively, and Sam Weightman came off the bench and delivered a two-run, pinch-hit single in the bottom of the sixth. “The pitching is doing really well, the defense is solid and the offense — we’re putting together small, little things,” Simcho said. “Yeah, we hit two home runs, but we get two guys on and you bunt them over and the next guy pinch-hits and two runs come in. That’s good fundamental baseball.”

Date: July 11, 2012     Time: 6:00pm      Venue: Winklevoss Park