RSSThe homecoming king: Pitching in home state, Vaqueros’ Dando shuts down Potomac
Zach Dando finally got a chance to pitch at the Alpine Bank Junior College World Series.
Zach Dando watched Central Arizona College play in the Alpine Bank Junior College World Series when he was 11 years old.
That exposure paved the way for him to pitch for them nine years later in the JUCO World Series.
Dando, who is from Aurora, limited Potomac State (W.Va.) College to one run on four hits in six innings to lead the Vaqueros to a 12-2 victory in front of 10,889 fans Monday night at Suplizio Field.
“I’ve got to thank the Lord for this opportunity,” Dando said. “This is a dream. It’s unreal. I was able to throw all my pitches for strikes.”
The hardest part was waiting for his opportunity to take the mound in the World Series.
“It was a long day getting up to this day, but just being able to come out and pitch in front of a home crowd is unreal,” Dando said. “It gave me a little bit more focus.”
Dando gave up back-to-back hits and one run in the second inning, but stayed composed and retired seven consecutive batters after that as the No. 1-ranked Vaqueros built a 4-1 lead.
“He will get a little wild sometimes, but he gave us a chance to win,” Central Arizona coach Jon Wente said. “You look back at his last three or four outings in the postseason and he was outstanding. He was no different tonight.”
Dando walked three and struck out seven.
Potomac State starter Pat Bankemper pitched well enough to keep the Catamounts in the game for a while. He allowed four earned runs on seven hits, three walks and struck out five in seven innings.
“He did a heck of a job early,” Wente said of Bankemper. “He was throwing our lefties away and our righties in. It took us a couple times through to get an idea what he was trying to do. Lucikly we made an adjustment and put up some runs.”
Central Arizona’s Keenyn Walker finally did, hitting a solo home run to center field in the third inning to tie the game 1-1.
“It kind of felt good,” Walker said. “I didn’t get all of it. I thought it was going to hit the wall. You’ve got to love this high altitude.”
In the fourth, Jorge Flores had a two-run triple to give the Vaqueros a 3-1 lead. Walker followed with a sacrifice fly to score Flores.
“It was a pretty tough situation,” Flores said. “I had two runners on base and all I tried to do was bring them home however — with a base hit, with a triple, with a bunt — I just wanted to do the job.
“I think (the triple) gave us more confidence in ourselves and all my teammates started hitting after me, too.”
It was Dando, though, who lifted the Vaqueros’ spirits.
“He’s the one that got us going,” Walker said. “He’d be the first one out picking us up. He was always confident. That confidence picks everyone up.”
Central Arizona’s offense broke it open in the eighth with three runs. Nick Carrillo led off with a triple. Two batters later, Zane Metz singled home a run and Flores hit a sacrifice fly and Walker an RBI single.
The Vaqueros added five runs in the ninth. Flores had a two-run double and Walker an RBI double.
Flores was 3 for 4 with five RBI. Walker was 4 for 5 with four RBI.
Mark Shannon and Sam Cerbo combined to pitch three innings in relief of Dando.
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