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Calhoun's Hiss excels in debut
Photo by James Escher
Calhoun returns its top three pitchers from a team that went undefeated in league play last season. If Monday was any indication, junior Kevin Hiss adds another excellent arm to a strong staff.
Hiss left many batters perplexed with a knee-buckling curve. In his varsity debut, Hiss threw four scoreless innings and allowed one hit, one walk and struck out six to get the win for host Calhoun (2-1) in a 5-2 non-league victory over Oceanside.
"I had a great curve and a good fastball," said Hiss, who threw 50 pitches. "The curve has always been my strikeout pitch. They're a tough team, so I had to bring it. It was a little nerve-racking, but once you get out there, it all goes away and you just worry about the batter."
Hiss struck out four of the first six batters. In the second inning, he froze a hitter for a called strike three on a nasty curve and got the next batter looking on a fastball on the outside corner.
"The curveball was very nice," Calhoun coach Joe Corea said. "He had good command of it and was throwing it for strikes. It made his fastball look that much better. We are looking at him as one of our starters. He's going to help us."
Said second baseman Alex Vargas: "During intrasquad games, I always knew he had it in him. I wasn't shocked by his performance. It's a tough curve. I always swing at his first fastball. I never let him get to the curveball."
Calhoun ace Frank Trimarco pitched the final three innings and allowed two hits, two runs, walked none and struck out eight.
Vargas (2-for-4) singled, stole second and third base in the first inning and scored on a sacrifice fly by Thomas Viverito for a 1-0 lead. Robbie Rosen hit a sacrifice fly and Viverito had an RBI single to center, highlighting a four-run second to extend Calhoun's lead to 5-0.
"We're trying to play small ball," said Vargas, who stole three bases. "We want to do the small things and get runners into scoring position and get them in. I am going to be aggressive."
