By Dylan Butler
And when the senior pitcher on the Molloy baseball team hit Ian Leisenheimer, he had the daunting task of facing Holy Cross cleanup hitter George Carroll who could tie the game with one ball over the 250-foot fence in left field.A year ago Doran may have over pitched, but this is a more improved Doran. The 6-foot-3 lanky righty reared back and fanned Carroll with a high fastball en route to an 8-2 win at soggy Stanner Field Monday afternoon.”I think I'm more confident now. I try and attack hitters more,” Doran said. “I feel good days and I don't feel good some days. But when I feel good, we win.”Doran wasn't bothered by the steady rain and chilly temperatures. He went the distance, giving up two runs – one earned – on four hits with eight strikeouts and no walks to improve to 4-0.”He has a little more poise on the mound,” Molloy coach Jack Curran said of Doran. “He doesn't upset as easily when something happens behind him.”Holy Cross starter Eric Johnson wished he had Doran's control, giving up four runs – three earned – on three hits and seven walks in 3.1 innings.The Holy Cross bullpen didn't fare much better as four pitchers combined to give up five walks in the final 3.2 innings.”It takes the heart out of your defense,” said Manfredonia, whose team fell to 7-5, 5-5 in the CHSAA. “All of a sudden your infielders are back on their heels.”With the score tied at 1, Molloy (9-6, 7-4 CHSAA) scored three runs in the fourth on just one hit – a Matt Shelley bunt that landed on the first base line. Three consecutive walks by Johnson scored a pair of runs and ended his day as Knights coach Doug Manfredonia went to reliever Dan McNena, who got Balty Contreras to ground out into an inning-ending 1-2-3 double play.After an RBI-double by Murdoch down the left field line in the fifth, the Stanners scored three more runs in the sixth inning on bases loaded walks to Chris Catalanotto, Shelley and Murdoch.Every player in the Molloy lineup walked, with the exception of Anthony Carnacchio. Joe Silvestri walked all four times he stepped to the plate.Reach Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
