Déjà vu all over again, as Yogi Berra used to say.
One week after losing two games to St. Thomas Aquinas in the ECC tournament when they only needed one win, lightning struck twice. They easily won the first three games of the tournament, with their starting pitcher going the distance each time. In the potential clinching game against STAC, they were defeated 4-2. In the season finale, they were shut out 3-0.
They sent freshman Cody McPortland to the mound. It was only his fifth start of the season but he compiled a 20:5 K:BB ratio in 26 innings and a 3.81 ERA. He threw five shutout innings, before being removed in the sixth inning after allowing the lead off runner to reach base.
Problem was, the Golden Lions offense was stagnant. They were limited to six hits, with no players recording multi-hit games.
Spartan starter Matt Kostalos threw a complete game, struck out five and walked two. It was a tremendous performance in the biggest moment of the season.
The Golden Lions had a phenomenal season. They won 37 games, they had three players named to the First-Team All ECC team and had a lot to be proud of.
St. Thomas Aquinas is heading to the Division-II World Series in Carey, NC.
