Playing at Eisenhower Park on a beautiful spring day, Kellenberg won a crucial game against Chaminade 9-1. Thanks to a huge offensive fifth inning, a dominant start from lefty Chris Cappas and some exquisite defense the Firebirds took two of the three games in this series.
Cappas started strong, striking out the opposing side in order to start the first. He then helped his own cause with an RBI single to left that put his side on the board in the bottom of the first.
Lian Dvorak was on the mound for Chaminade, and after that first run he began to settle down. It was a classic pitchers duel until Kellenberg erupted for eight runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Jack Delany started the scoring that inning with a single to right that brought in Andrew Russell. That signaled the end for Dvorak, but not for Kellenberg’s offense. A bloop single and a walk loaded the bases for Justin Renner, who drove in Delany with a single to right. Another run scored on a double by Terrence Murray, and two more came around on singles from Russell and James Dieguez.
Defense was a major factor today as well, Chaminade misplayed several balls in the fifth which not only extended the inning, they directly allowed three runs to score. While conversely, Kellenberg’s defense was outstanding.
One play in the top of the fifth stands out, then down just one with runners on the corners Chaminade attempted a delayed double steal, something Kellenberg tried unsuccessfully in the second. It didn’t go any better the second time as they trapped the runner in a rundown between third and home and escaped unscathed.
After the game Cappas praised his team’s defense saying, “It’s a lot easier to throw when you know you have a defense behind you that’s going to make every play.”
Chaminade avoided being shut out when Michael Rango singled in a run in the top of the seventh, however Cappas’ day had already ended. He went 6 innings and allowed no runs on just three hits while striking out six and walking just two. He and Russell also led both sides with three hits and an RBI apiece.
Kellenberg’s coach Chris Alfalla was predictably thrilled with the effort his pitcher put forward, saying: “We’ve had Chris on varsity for three years and every year he’s taken a giant leap forward… He was on.”
Renner and Chaminade’s Shane Sullivan were only two other players with multi-hit days, both singled twice.
Both teams will be inactive until May when Kellenberg faces St. Anthony’s the ninth, and Chaminade plays Archbishop Molloy the sixth.
