Baseball: Spencer Natoli pitches no-hitter in debut as John Jay-East Fishkill wins big

Most impressive, perhaps, was the fact Spencer Natoli made it look so effortless despite the circumstances.

The sophomore didn't seem at all nervous during his first varsity start, nor was he fazed by the cold and damp conditions. The pitcher was composed and "in full control" throughout, John Jay-East Fishkill baseball coach Eric Frink said.

He worked efficiently, showing excellent command and wasting few pitches while maneuvering quickly through the lineup. His teammates erupting offensively resulted in him having long periods of inactivity in the dugout, but not even that could cool him off.

"In those situations, a pitcher can stiffen up and it's difficult to stay in the game long," Frink said, "but none of that seemed to affect him. He was calm and confident the whole way."

Almost perfect, too.

Natoli threw a five-inning no-hitter to lead the Patriots in a 12-0 win over visiting Scarsdale in their season opener Monday. The right-hander struck out eight and walked none, his only blemish a hit batter in the first inning.

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"This builds a lot of confidence for all of us," the coach said of the performance. "Spencer has challenged our hitters all offseason, forcing everyone to work harder. He gets guys amped up to compete and he's become a leader, despite being so young."

He needed only 60 pitches to weave a complete game, showing immediately the talent and poise that has made teammates and coaches believe his future is bright.

Natoli was unbothered by the pressure of chasing a special feat in his debut, and his reaction to the accomplishment was relatively subdued. The 10th-grader kept the performance in perspective, showing a maturity that belies his age. He holds himself to a high standard, expecting excellence, "and plays with a chip on his shoulder," Frink said.

Aidan Gallagher went 2 for 2, including a booming opposite-field homer, and had a walk and a stolen base for the Patriots. Shane Driscoll two RBIs, Brady Feliciotto and Lucas Silva each had two hits, and Vinny Fusco, Landon Stichbury and Andrew Farina each drove in a run.

Natoli used a mid-80s fastball primarily, hitting his spots and allowing its natural run to create movement. "He didn't have to come off it much," Frink said. "That was working so well for him, there wasn't a need to get deep into his repertoire."

The Patriots graduated a few standouts after reaching the Section 1 Class AA quarterfinals last season, but the returning group does include a few established upperclassmen. Their starting rotation figures to be a strength, led by Fusco and Hayden Tarsia, a Binghamton commit who announced himself much like Natoli, tossing a no-hitter last spring.

"We have a mix of experienced guys and younger kids, but there's strong leadership that sets the tone," Frink said. "They don't talk about it much, but they're determined to show everyone what they can do. We've harped on 'playing with an edge' and having to prove ourselves every day and these guys are all about that."

Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Baseball: Natoli pitches no-hitter as John Jay dominates Scarsdale