by DAVE FACINOLI

Staff Writer

It wasn’t necessarily by design, but the pitching arrangement that has recently evolved for the Langley Saxons has been very effective.

BASEBALL

Instead of having staff ace Jimmy Saris (4-0, 1.51 earned run average) start games, the right-hander has been used as a closer. The most recent example was Friday night when the high school team played one of their best games of the season in defeating the host Lee Lancers, 7-1, and their ace pitcher Kevin Moreland, a right-hander.

Junior left-hander Brendan DiBari (1-1) pitched a strong five innings to get the win for Langley. The Duke University-bound Saris then closed over the final two frames, as he struck out four and did not allow a hit. Saris has closed, or pitched in relief, in a handful of games this season.

With its fourth straight win, Langley (13-3, 8-2) had taken over sole possession of second place in the Liberty District when this week had begun. The Saxons also defeated district rivals Fairfax, 11-1, and McLean, 7-3, last week.

“Having Jimmy close has been a gem and has worked out well for now,” Langley coach Jeff Ferrell said. “It keeps his pitch count down and keeps him fresh.”

Strong pitching has been one of the strengths for Langley thus far. Ferrell knew Saris would be unhittable at times. What has been a surprise is how well junior right-hander Bryce Morrison (4-0, 2.91) and sophomore righty Daniel Hochberg (3-0, 0-44) have thrown. With Friday night’s performance, DiBari (2.21 ERA) can now be added to that list.

“The starting pitching has been better than anticipated,” Ferrell said.

Against Lee, DiBari was rushing his pitches in the early going. In the first inning, Ferrell hollered at him from the dugout to slow down. He did. In five innings, DiBari allowed one earned run, five hits, struck out six, and walked one.

“When he takes his time and gets his tempo down, his ball really moves around,” Ferrell said. “He pitched well tonight.”

The five innings were DiBari’s longest single-game stint this season. The outing was also his best of the season.

“The ump was giving me two or three inches off the corners, so I was trying to pitch away against their best hitters,” DiBari said. “I wanted to go as long as I could until we could get to Jimmy.”

The meat of Lee’s order, Troy Hamilton, Greg Jones and Moreland, combined for three hits against DiBari, but they did not drive in a run. Lee had five hits in the game.

Langley had 10 hits. Leadoff hitter Chuck Eller, batting .478, was 3 for 4 with a double and a run batted in for Langley; cleanup hitter Alex Dadisman was 2 for 4 with a solo homer and three RBI; and catcher Nick Zahra was 2 for 4 with a double. Dadisman’s homer, his second of the season, tied the game at 1 in the fourth. Langley scored six runs on six hits in the fifth to take control of the contest. Tommy Tysse, John Dammer and Danny Brown had Langley’s other hits. Alex Corey and Kyle Fraser each had a sacrifice fly for Langley.

“I was very pleased with how all of our at-bats were tonight,” Ferrell said. “Especially against Moreland because he is very good, and he competes.”

Moreland allowed 10 hits and six earned runs in five innings of work. He struck out only one and threw 89 pitches.

In Langley’s win over Fairfax last week, Hochberg pitched all five innings of the shortened contest. He allowed seven hits and struck out one. In 16 innings this season, Hochberg is yet to walk a batter. Brown had two doubles and two RBI in the game, and Zahra had a double and drove in two runs.

Against McLean, Eller swatted a three-run homer and had hit two hits, and Morrison got the win. Saris pitched the final three innings, as he struck out eight. Saris had two hits with the bat.

Langley had four games remaining when this week began, including a road game this Friday night against district leading W.T. Woodson.

When this week began, Woodson led the Liberty District with a 9-1 record. Langley was second at 8-2 and was followed in order by McLean (7-3), Lee (6-4), Madison (5-5), South Lakes (2-8), Fairfax (2-8), and Marshall (1-9). The regular season is scheduled to conclude next week, then the district tournament begins May 17. The semifinals and championship game is at Madison.