St. Joseph’s Wins First Skyline Conference Title Since 2004 With 11-Inning Classic

by Vinny Messana

They’ll be talking about this one years from now.

St. Joseph’s overcame a 5-0 first inning deficit and defeated No. 1 seed Farmingdale State 9-8 in an 11-inning battle.

Ryan Walsh drew a bases-loaded walk to score Nick Girardi to cap the incredible come back. Girardi, who led off the inning with a double off the right field wall was named the MVP of the tournament. He went 5-for-5 with two doubles, two triples and walk.

“It was a really awesome win for everybody,” said the senior. “Especially because they kept battling back and they’re a great club–we battled with them all year. I’m just really happy with my Coach Garrett and Pars, Sully, Brandon Lubrano, all my teammates. Just an amazing feeling!”

It did not appear to be amazing in the first inning. St. Joseph’s starter, Josh Outsen, struggled with his command, walking the first two batters, one came to score on a passed ball and the next scored on a first-pitch grand slam by DH Dalton McCarthy who hadn’t been able to play since April 17 with a severe hamstring injury.

It was a moment straight from a movie and sent the home crowd into a frenzy.

McCarthy noted that he didn’t know he was playing until 12:30pm, when he convinced Head Coach Keith Osik and the training staff that he could swing a bat. The decision paid immediate dividends and it looked like the Rams would force the do-or-die nightcap.

The Golden Eagles responded with one run in the bottom of the first on Girardi’s RBI triple that scored Brendan Sullivan.

Outsen settled in but allowed an unearned run in the fifth on an RBI single by Domenic Palumbo.

St. Joseph’s answered back with two in their half of the fifth on a two-run single by Joe Calabrese off David Otero Jr.

Nick Clemente came on in the sixth inning and threw a scoreless frame as the Golden Eagles attempted to claw back.

Osik turned to his ace, Matt Seelinger–who threw 105 pitches on Saturday– with one out in the sixth. He was razor sharp, compiling two strikeouts and making a nice play off the mound.

With nine outs to go, the Golden Eagles mounted a furious rally to take the lead in the seventh. They put up four runs off Seelinger. Girardi hit his second triple and scored on a passed ball. After consecutive walks, Joe Lynn smacked a two-run triple to right center field to tie the ball game. Dan Campanelli ripped a liner off Seelinger, who recorded to get the out at first but Lynn scored to take the lead.

Suddenly, St. Joseph’s was only six outs away and Garrett turned to his ace, Ryan Aloise.

McCarthy did some more damage, ripping a double to left center field and was lifted in favor of a pinch runner. Catcher Kenneth Johntry tied the game up with a single to left field and Nick Attardi followed with an RBI single of his own to give the Rams the lead.

Kenneth Simco fired a scoreless eighth inning and the Golden Eagles were down to their final three outs.

In the ninth, Girardi ripped a leadoff triple to the deepest part of the park. Attardi made a tremendous effort, diving full-extension but the ball came out of his glove when he hit the ground. After an error by the shortstop to put runners on the corners, Mike Griffo hit a sac fly to medium-range right field to tie the game once again.

The game headed to extra innings where both teams went scoreless in the 10th.

In the bottom of the 11th, the Rams turned to freshman Christian Mateyunas. Girardi just missed a walk-off home run (which would’ve completed his cycle) but went for a leadoff double.After an intentional walk, a ground out and another walk that loaded up the bases.

Osik took out Mateyunas with a 2-0 count in favor of sophomore Ryan O’Connor. After another ball and a strike, he missed just outside with his 3-1 pitch and the Golden Eagles walked-off winners.

“They know that the offense–when it’s clicking–can score at anytime,” said Head Coach Richard Garrett. “We’ve been doing that for two years. We battled through a little slump mid-season and they just knew they could hit and they just kept on going and going. When Girardi gets going, Girardi gets going.

He’s so calm all the time so for him to show a little emotion, I thought it brought everyone back into the game.”

With the victory, St. Joseph’s has now won 10 games in a row and receive an automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA regionals. They will find out on Sunday where they will be headed.

The Rams put up a valiant effort despite having a predominantly freshman lineup.

NOTE: You can still watch Matt Seelinger, Kenneth Johntry, Kevin Martinez and Kevin Cashman of Farmingdale State compete in our Battle of the Border All-Star Game on June 5 at Dowling.