For a little while, Ockimey answered questions concerning his 2-for-4, three-RBI outing while also performing groundskeeper duties. Then — what a good guy! — leftfielder Mario DiFebbo walked over and offered to complete Ockimey’s chore.
It says here “Ock” deserved the early shutdown.
The 6-3, 215-pound sophomore, a lefty swinger who bats third and is already a 2-year starter, crushed a two-run triple to right-center in the first and added a groundball RBI single to right in the fourth.
Both were important, of course, but the former stood out in bolder relief because the Saints trailed at the time, 2-0.
In the top half, catcher John “Beef” Santospago had stunned the Saints and spectators by absolutely crushing a ball that cleared the head of centerfielder Jimmy Kerrigan and went into the scorebooks as a dash-it-out, two-run homer.
The pitcher was senior lefty Joey Gorman, the Blue Division MVP and the Daily News’ Pitcher of the Year as a junior.
Hmm. Were we looking at an uh-oh moment? Who knows? Ockimey refused to let the possible doubt come close to lingering.
“Joey definitely didn’t have his best first inning. I guess there was a little bit of shock,” Ockimey said. “That was a real good shot [by Santospago]. That’s baseball. Things happen. We had to realize it was only the first inning. Lots of time to come back.”
Gorman led off by trying to bunt for a hit, and reached on a throwing error. Venafro then beat out a bunt for his 100th career hit. In stepped Ockimey, with just a hint of trepidation. For one, like many lefty swingers, he’s not always golden against southpaws (Rich Rosenbaum was Wood’s starter). For two, he’d been in a semi-slump.
“I don’t go up there having any negative thoughts,” Ockimey said. “The first pitch was a curve, then I went for the fastball, which happened to be where I like it — low and in. My spot.”
Pretty much every lefty’s spot.
At third, Ockimey and coach Mike Zolk almost broke their hands exchanging celebratory slaps. Along the bench, the other players exploded while creating major noise. Possible crisis averted.
N-G added two runs in the second on an infield bobble and Venafro’s RBI single. Anthony Adams began the three-run fifth with a ringing triple to left-center and the RBI went to Nicky Nardini (sacrifice fly), Ockimey and Kerrigan (singles). A messy pickoff play, which resulted in two errors, enabled the Saints to add one more run in the fifth.
Gorman went the distance, allowing eight hits and one walk while striking out eight. Wood’s two runs in the sixth came on fielder’s choices off the bats of Joe Santospago, John’s brother, and Brett “Bert” McCrossen.
Recently, Ockimey said, he has been devoting as many as 6 hours to baseball. Four for regular practices and two more for extra hitting.
His personal pitcher is his father, Michael. Not to be confused with Bob Gibson. Or even CC Sabathia.
To get enough juice on the ball to make the sessions worthwhile, Dad pitches to Son from behind a screen no more than 20 feet away.
Are you thinking what we’re thinking?
“Yes, I have hit him once,” Josh said. “Last year. Got him right on his arm. Nah, it didn’t get broken. He was acting like he didn’t know it hit him. He just said, ‘Damn!’?’’?
Tuesday, with Josh Ockimey’s shot that got N-G right back in the game, a few folks repeated that word. Not in pain. In admiration.
Contact Ted Silary at silaryt@phillynews.com
