Coipel’s One-Hitter Leads Columbus To Opening Night Win

Christopher Coipel picked an ideal time to create a masterpiece on the mound.

Pitching in front of a large crowd on opening night might rattle some pitchers, but it didn’t faze Coipel. The 5-foot-11, 185 pound right-hander calmly fired a one-hit gem to lead Columbus past Belen Jesuit 11-0 in five innings on Monday night, at the University of Miami’s Mark Light Field.

About 500 fans witnessed a quick-working Coipel stay ahead in the count all night.

“He went out and threw strikes,” said Belen Jesuit Manager Jerry Albert. “He hit his spots with his fastball. He worked quick. He was ahead. The kid did everything you’re supposed to do when you pitch. Not overpowering, but he was terrific. The kid did a great job.”

Coipel, a junior who has committed to Florida International University, allowed only two Wolverines to reach base. Other than a double by Ryan Rodriguez-Mena and a hit batsman, both in the second inning, Coipel was sharp from start to finish.

“I just felt really confident about my fastball and my curveball,” said Coipel. “When I was throwing in the bullpen (before the game), I felt really great with all my pitches. I felt pretty confident. I wasn’t nervous at all. Actually, I was pretty excited. It was a great experience for me as a junior. I guess you can say it’s more special considering the fact I’ve never played in front of a crowd like this before, but I felt it was pretty awesome experience and I was glad I was able to do this with this team.”

Coipel retired the side in order in the first, third, fourth and fifth innings. He fanned four, walked none and needed just eight pitches each in the fourth and fifth innings.

“I thought he was super efficient,” said Columbus Manager Joe Weber. “Once he got a lead, he didn’t pitch around anybody; he just came right at them. Once we got up by seven, then he really changed and he just started pounding the zone. He worked quick and he throws a lot of strikes.”

Coipel’s dandy performance wasn’t the only good news for Columbus. The Explorers flexed their experience and depth as nine of their 10 players who came to the plate registered at least one hit on the way to a 12-hit attack.

Batting out of the No. 3 spot, Ryan Alvarez, a Miami Hurricanes recruit, picked up where he left off last season with a 2-for-4 night. A hard hit single by Alvarez, who hit .347 last season, brought home a run in a three-run first inning, and his second hit plated two more in a four-run fourth that made it 7-0.

Pablo Dearmas contributed a single and a pair of RBI sacrifice flies. Danny Diaz went 2-for-3 with a double, Mike Sanchez had two singles, catcher Nelson Mompierre delivered an opposite field double, and pinch hitter Christopher Vinson stroked a clean RBI single up the middle in the fourth.

A four-run fifth for Columbus was highlighted by a two-run triple to deep right-center from Gil Torres.

Belen Jesuit, which never recovered from the early deficit, used three different pitchers.

“It all starts on the mound,” Albert said. “When you don’t pitch well it’s very hard to win. We didn’t do much at the plate either, but I think they pressed a little bit when they got behind. It’s natural for a high school team, they’re going to press a little when they get behind. They shouldn’t, but they do.”

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