Five innings. Sixty-five pitches. Give the Prospects a chance.
He delivered much more.
Kissinger threw a complete-game shutout, worked seven innings on 85 pitches and helped himself with a first-inning RBI single as the Prospects defeated the Philly Stars, 5-0.
The final score told only part of the story. The performance revealed something more important about Kissinger and a young Prospects team learning how to compete with greater confidence against older and more experienced opponents.
The Prospects entered the game on a three-game losing streak, and coach Justin Aquilante believed the club needed stability from its starting pitching. He challenged Kissinger to provide it.
“If there was one guy who was going to answer it, it would have been Will, and he really did,” Aquilante said. “He ended up going seven innings, 85 pitches, so you couldn’t ask for more. He accepted the challenge, he wanted it, and he delivered.”
Kissinger established control early and resisted the temptation to change his approach after driving in a run in the first inning. Rather than allowing the early success to alter his rhythm, he focused on staying composed and continuing to attack hitters.
“I was trying to focus on staying humble, trying to reset,” Kissinger said. “Even though I got the two runs, I was trying to stay in my zone pitching and not try to go over the top with how I was playing.”
That discipline became the foundation of his outing.
Kissinger did not need to overpower every hitter or chase strikeouts. He stayed within himself, trusted the defense behind him and prevented the Stars from creating sustained offense. His performance gave the Prospects the extended start Aquilante had been seeking and allowed the team to play from ahead.
It also helped settle a group that had struggled with confidence during its losing streak.
Prospects player Landon McSally said the team had occasionally allowed the reputation, size or previous success of an opponent to affect its mindset. Against the Stars, the Prospects made a conscious effort to play more aggressively.
“All those three games, we came in scared to face the other team,” McSally said. “Maybe we played them before and we lost, or maybe they were bigger than us. So this game, we just came in not scared and ready to attack the ball.”
The Prospects took advantage when the Stars gave them opportunities.
The Stars committed four errors, and three of the Prospects’ five runs came as a result of those defensive mistakes. McSally said the team recognized the importance of applying pressure once the Stars began struggling in the field.
“If you see it and you know they’re down, and they make another error, capitalizing on that is the most important part,” McSally said.
That attentiveness is part of the development Aquilante hopes to see from a roster composed primarily of 13- and 14-year-olds.
The Prospects are often competing against players with more physical maturity and experience. Aquilante has responded by emphasizing preparation, conditioning and accountability. Players are expected to hydrate properly, arrive ready to work and understand that their opportunities must be earned.
“We’ve been challenging our guys to get really efficient and hydrate themselves,” Aquilante said. “We have a workout tomorrow morning at 7:30 in the morning. We work out once a week in the mornings like that. All our guys are ready to compete.”
The internal competition has also helped establish a standard throughout the roster.
“They want to show up every day at practice,” Aquilante said. “We’ve got 20 guys on this team. They know there’s another guy ready to stand up and get in right behind them.”
For Kissinger, the shutout was not about making an individual statement. He viewed his responsibility more simply: take the ball, remain under control and put the Prospects in position to win.
“Before this game, I knew I was going to be on the bump,” Kissinger said. “I was just trying to play my best, try to help the team win and, going forward, just trying to play my best ball and help the team go the furthest they can.”
Baseball is a team game, Kissinger said, and he was pleased to provide the type of performance the Prospects needed.
“It’s always great to have a win,” Kissinger said.
That may be the most encouraging part of the performance.
Kissinger was challenged to give the Prospects five innings.
He gave them seven, ended a losing streak and provided a young team with an example of what can happen when preparation, confidence and opportunity come together.
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