Providence, Eli Jerzembeck, dominate rival Ardrey Kell, stay unbeaten
When Providence High is playing great defense behind star pitcher Eli Jerzembeck, the Panthers are pretty hard to beat.
Latest to find out? The Panthers’ arch rivals at Ardrey Kell. The Knights, coached by former Providence assistant Sean Thomas, lost 6-1 to Providence at home Wednesday night.
Coach Danny Hignight’s Panthers jumped out to a 5-1 advantage after three innings and never looked backs. Errors, hit batsmen and a wild pitch largely did in Ardrey Kell. The Knights finished the game with four miscues -- three hit batsmen and a wild pitch.
Panthers’ ace pitcher Eli Jerzembeck continued his 2022 season mastery by going the distance, and staying undefeated on the season.
“Jerezembeck was really good on the mound, they (Ardrey Kell) can hit and they have a really good club over there,” Hignight said. “And defensively we played really, really well. We made some unbelievable plays, especially up the middle.”
Providence put three runs on the board in the top of the first inning, largely due to three Ardrey Kell miscues. The Panthers’ lead-off batter, David Garfinkle, was hit by a pitch. Two consecutive Knights’ errors plated Garfinkle for a 1-0 Providence lead. A fielder’s choice added another run and an RBI single by Tyler Khanolkar knocked in the third Panthers’ run of the inning.
Ardrey Kell answered in the bottom of the first with a run that started with Jeremy Self’s one-out single. Self stole second and scored on Matthew Suppa’s two-out single. The first-inning run would prove to be the only score of the game for the Knights.
After leading 3-1 after one inning, the Panthers scratched out one run in each of the second and third innings on an RBI single by Luke Wolff and run-scoring double by Anthony Watson.
“I was just looking for something to drive the other way so I could get that run in,” said Wolff on his RBI single in the second inning. “I got it with two strikes, I was just trying to battle, grind it out and get a ball in play.”
▪ Jacob Kirby started on the mound for Ardrey Kell and did not fair badly considering the Knights’ errors behind him. Kirby went five innings giving up six hits, striking out three, and walking only one batter, but hit two batters and threw a wild pitch.
THREE WHO MATTERED
Eli Jerzembeck, Providence: Senior pitcher a potential MLB draft pick, went the full seven innings giving up only three hits, striking out 11 and walking just one batter.
Matthew Suppa, Ardrey Kell: Senior catcher (Queens University commit) knocked in the Knights’ only run in the bottom of first
Luke Wolff, Providence: Designated hitter knocked in the Panthers’ fourth run in the second inning with an RBI single, went 2-for-4 at the plate and was on base three times.
WORTH MENTIONING
▪ Ardrey Kell coach Sean Thomas was an assistant at Providence before taking the Knights’ head coaching job for 2022. He worked under Hignight for five years. The two speak almost daily.
▪ Jerzembeck, a senior, is committed to the University of South Carolina but is being scouted by several major league teams.
▪ The Providence defense was outstanding Wednesday night, throwing out several runners on tough ground balls in the hole, and outfielders running down tough fly balls for outs.
▪ Andrew Sentlinger came on in relief for Ardrey Kell to pitch the sixth and seventh innings and yielded no runs while striking out four.
THEY SAID IT, ETC
“I love kids and I love being able to effect children’s lives. It’s really about watching them grow, becoming men, and having success either playing at the next level or going on to do great things. I love where I am, we have a great administration, they’re supportive and it’s a wonderful place. I have no interest.” Providence Coach Danny Hignight when asked if he would be interested in coaching at the college level.
RECORDS: Providence (15-0, 8-0), Ardrey Kell (8-4, 4-0)
WHAT’S NEXT: Providence comes right back Thursday and heads to Rocky River for a game against the Ravens at 6:00 p.m., while Ardrey Kell hosts Harding Friday in a doubleheader with first pitch for Game No. 1 at 4:30 p.m.
PHOTOS: Providence at Ardrey Kell baseball
