Athletes of the Week: Burlingame's Paulie Ferrari, Carlo Lopiccolo and Justin Beressi

In his first appearance since missing the entire 2016 season, the senior right-hander dazzled through four no-hit innings to earn the win in a 12-0 victory over American-Fremont last Friday at Washington Park.

“I didn’t really think about [the no-hitter] because I was just out there to throw,” Ferrari said. “And then in the third inning it kind of occurred to me. But I just kind of kept quiet (about it).”

While the strict pitch count got Ferrari out of the game despite the no-no, his bullpen came through to finish the job as juniors Carlo Lopiccolo and Justin Beressi combined for three hitless innings to close out Burlingame’s first no-hitter in two years, earning the trio of hurlers Daily Journal Athletes of the Week.

Not that they were gunning for a no-hitter. While Ferrari was aware as he worked toward his 75-pitch limit — he finished with 68 pitches, striking out seven while walking three through four innings — neither Lopiccolo nor Beressi were entirely cognizant American had been held hitless.

“I had no idea we had a no-hitter,” Lopiccolo said. “My focus was on other things.”

“I had no idea,” Beressi said. “But I had no idea if some plays that were called errors could have been called hits.”

The biggest question mark in terms of official scoring came in the second inning on a slow rolling groundball to second base that senior DJ Capps charged, then made an errant off-balance throw. It would have been a nice play if he got the out but, according to Burlingame manager Shawn Scott, Capps still had plenty of time to throw out the runner when he released the ball.

Lopiccolo said he was oblivious to the no-hitter. It’s understandable seeing as the outing marked his first appearance as a varsity pitcher. His second year with the varsity Panthers, Lopiccolo served exclusively as a position player last season, patrolling center field and serving as the team’s leadoff hitter.

Despite issuing two walks through two innings, it was a lights-out debut for the junior right-hander who struck out five. Scott said Lopiccolo has a bright future in the Burlingame rotation — he obviously has an arm after serving as the quarterback of the Burlingame football team this season — but didn’t use him as a pitcher last season, instead wanting the then underclassman to settle in as a position player.

“He’s obviously a frontline [pitcher],” Scott said. “I didn’t want to put that type of pressure on him as a sophomore last year.”

Beressi has proven a workhorse for the Panthers this season, having already appeared in three games. He entered to start the seventh inning against American, retiring the side in order. After a line drive caught by Lopiccolo in center and a strikeout, Beressi closed it out by inducing a groundball to second base for Capps to record the final out.

“[Capps] redeemed himself,” Lopiccolo said.

With all eyes on Ferrari, though, the 6-5 right-hander rose to the occasion even though he was holding back with his fastball. He said he utilized mostly his heater while still getting a feel for his breaking stuff after the long layoff.

Scott said Ferrari is still two or three weeks away from going all-out with the fastball.

“He looked good physically,” Scott said. “We held back in terms of his [velocity]. … We’ve got to get him feeling the torque in his body again.”

The last time Ferrari pitched in a varsity game was as a sophomore. In just his sixth appearance of the 2015 season, he walked off the mound after three innings April 8 against Capuchino. He didn’t return to the mound for the fourth while experiencing elbow pain. Two months later, he underwent Tommy John surgery.

Less than a month prior, Ferrari took part in another no-hitter, working four innings as the starting pitcher before now-graduated Will Lambson and current senior Robbie Harrigan closed out the March 13, 2015 gem in an 11-0 win over Washington-SF.

This time around, Harrigan also played a key role in the no-hitter, but this time worked all seven innings behind the plate.

Scott was quite optimistic about Ferrari’s 2017 debut. The senior figures to be a cornerstone of the Burlingame staff this season.

“He’ll be fine,” Scott said. “I’m not worried about him. If he gives us four innings, that means we’re in the game. And if he can go five, six, seven innings, that’s even better.”