Brandon Briuglio Throws a Complete Game Shutout as the Jays Dominate Mandeville, 9-0

Senior right-hander Brandon Briuglio went the distance, pitching a four-hit shutout against Mandeville.

View the Jesuit – Mandeville Photo Gallery

View the Jesuit – St. Thomas Catholic Gallery #1

The Latest: The Blue Jays were shut out, 5-0, by the Eagles of St. Thomas Catholic of Houston on Saturday morning, March 5 as the Jesuit Invitational marches to a close. The last time the Jays were shut out was in March of the 2014 season. The Jays play the Hahnville Tigers at 6 p.m. Saturday. On Friday, the Eagles beat the Jays, 6-3, in the two teams’ first meeting. Check back later for tournament results and the two photo galleries from the Blue Jays’ Saturday games.

Following their first defeat of the season (and their first loss in the opening game of the Jesuit Invitational), the Blue Jays bounced back with a 9-zip shutout over the Mandeville Skippers on Friday at John Ryan Stadium.

In pitching a complete seven inning shutout, senior Brandon Briuglio was nothing short of outstanding. The right-hander, who plays second base when he’s not on the mound, allowed only four hits while striking out seven Skippers. Additionally, he didn’t issue a single walk. The win improved Briuglio’s record to 2-0 while the Jays are 6-1.

Third baseman Hunt Conroy dives for a sharply hit grounder that gets past him. However, shortstop Nick Ray hustles over and snags the ball, throwing to first base in time to get the out.

“Brandon stayed around the strike zone all day, had command of his pitches, and let his defense work behind him,” said Coach Joey Latino.

From the opening inning, the Jays wielded hot sticks, “thank goodness,” said Coach Latino. “We’ve been having good at bats so far this year and today we had some timely hits, capitalized on a few mistakes by the Skippers, and that’s what we’re supposed to do.”

Mandeville was charged with four errors while the Jays had none.

Austin North rounds second and heads for third base where Coach Joey Latino waved him all the way home. North was on first base with a single when Connor Maginnis blasted an RBI triple.

Eight Blue Jays distributed 11 hits all over Alumni Field. Three of those nine Jays had two hits apiece, including Briuglio (a single and a double), designated hitter Austin North (a pair of singles), and catcher Josh Schmidt (also two singles).

Outfielder Connor Maginnis whacked a triple that landed perfectly, scooting between Skippers in center and right fields. They chased the ball all the way to the fence. Hitting singles were first baseman Nick Ray, third baseman Hayden Fuentes, and outfielders Stephen Sepcich and Bryce Musso.

The Jays opened the bottom of the first inning with two runs, and added three more in the second inning. The sixth inning was the only frame in which the Jays did not score.

The 5^th annual Jesuit Invitational concludes Saturday, March 5, with the Jays playing two games at John Ryan Stadium. The first will be an 11 a.m. rematch against St. Thomas Catholic of Houston. The Eagles brought their A game to the tournament, and on Thursday handed the Jays their first defeat of the new season, 6-3. Later on Saturday, approximately 6 p.m., Jesuit plays Hahnville.

Admission for the Jesuit Invitational: $5 for adults; $5 for students from non-participating schools; $3 for students with IDs from participating schools; and $3 for children ages 6-11.