Mandeville junior Garrett Cannizaro, the Skippers’ starting shortstop, got the call on the mound Thursday night and pitched his club to a 6-2 victory over the Ponchatoula Green Wave to secure third place in District 7-5A.

MHS (17-11) finished the district season at 8-6 in a tie with Ponchatoula (18-12). The Green Wave won a coin toss and hosted the game to determine the third place for seeding purposes in the upcoming Louisiana High School Athletic Association state playoffs. Ponchatoula is still hoping for a wild card berth into the playoffs.

Cannizaro (5-0) with a 1.73 earned run average, scattered seven hits. He struck out seven and walked three. He has posted 31 strikeouts in 32 and one-third innings.

MHS'€™s Garrett Cannizaro throws against NHS in Saturday'€™s district game played at MHS. Cannizaro, the regular starting shortstop, pitched to a 6-2 victory over Ponchatoula Thursday night to earn third place in District 7-5A. MHS and Ponchatoula were tied at 8-6 at the conclusion of district play. (File Photo)

He said at the beginning of the year he didn’t think he was going to pitch that much.

“I got on the mound a couple of times earlier in the year, and I just felt comfortable. Things have just kind of clicked for me,” Cannizaro said.

Cannizaro spotted Ponchatoula a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Tyler Nelson doubled and scored on Laramie Pittman’s RBI double to give the Green Wave the early lead.

Cannizaro settled in after giving up the early run. He shut down the Green Wave hitters, only allowing another single run in the bottom of the seventh.

“My first inning was kind of shaky. I was leaving a lot of stuff up. After the first inning, I felt I had better command of my pitches. I was able to keep the ball low,” Cannizaro said. “My defense played really well behind me. I was able to get a lot of ground ball outs. My outfielders also made good plays,” Cannizaro added.

MHS played long ball in the top of the third with seniors Jamie Bruno (hitting .391) and Ross Hardy (hitting .317) going yard back-to-back to stake Cannizaro and the Skippers to a 3-1 lead. With two outs, Cannizaro drew a walk on four pitches. Bruno then blasted his team leading ninth home run. Bruno is tied with Hardy for the Skippers’ team lead with 23 runs batted in. Hardy followed Bruno’s round tripper with a solo shot, his second of the season.

“Those home runs were huge for us. I couldn’t wait to get back on the mound with the lead. After those two home runs, I felt a lot more comfortable being out there,” Cannizaro said.

Cannizaro said it was a very big team victory, which will give the Skippers confidence heading into the playoffs.

“It was a playoff atmosphere. We have a pretty good power rating this year, so hopefully we can get a home game in the first round,” Cannizaro said.

MHS coach Matt Brown said Cannizaro is a tough competitor, and he gave the Skippers a great outing.

“Garrett pitched well. I was hoping to get at least four innings from him. He had a low pitch count in the early innings so we decided to stay with him,” Brown said.

Brown asked Cannizaro how he felt after the sixth inning, he responded by saying “I’m good, and I want to finish it.”

MHS’ Kody Keowen, 2-for-4, hitting .391 entering the game, singled to open the fifth inning. Cannizaro drew another walk, which was followed by a Bruno fly out. Hardy delivered two-run single to right center field to score Keowen and Cannizaro to push MHS to a 5-1 lead.

Mandeville tacked on an insurance run in their final at bat. Cannizaro singled, and was forced out at second on a fielder’s choice grounder by Hardy. James Winget and Joey Pajares put together consecutive singles to load the bases. Skippers’ designated hitter Dustin Guillory coaxed a bases loaded walk to force in Hardy to make it 6-1.

Ponchatoula’s Regis Stephens went six innings and took the loss. Barry Welch went 2-for-4 for the Green Wave.