Final: Kellenberg 6, St. Anthony’s 3
WP: John Carroll (10 K, 0 BB)
S: Matt LeahyKellenberg advances to face No. 2 St. John the Baptist pic.twitter.com/DGBSa1BDwT
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 16, 2019
John Carroll shook off a screaming line drive off his leg on the second batter of the game. Not only did he stay in the game, but he was outstanding–striking out 10 without issuing a walk in Kellenberg‘s 6-3 victory over St. Anthony‘s on Wednesday night at Mitchel Field.
“I was hyped up for the first playoff game,” said Carroll. “I got the first strikeout, took the bruiser off the knee-it hurt a little bit–but just wanted to get back out there. I got through the first inning, gave up a run in the second and then the offense helped me out with the big four-run third and then I just tried to grind. I was lucky to get the win,” he added.
He matched up against Fairfield-commit Billy Fitzpatrick. Both pitchers struck out three in the first inning and it appeared that it would be a pitcher’s duel but the game quickly shifted from that point on.
St. Anthony’s took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI single by freshman Jack Vallario to score Anthony LoCurto who hit a one-out triple.
The Firebirds had a huge third inning, drawing four walks–scoring on a bases loaded walk to Kristian Rafsol and a two-run single by Luke Napolitano. Fitzgerald escaped the inning with two strikeouts.
Kellenberg added a run in the fourth inning on another bases loaded walk by Rafsol.
The Friars got one back in the fifth on an RBI triple by Jake Barrett (4-for-4), but they stranded two runners on a ground out to end the inning.
Andrew Cascio ripped an RBI single down the right field line to extend the lead to 6-2.
In the top of the seventh, things got very interesting. Matt Leahy came in for the save. He allowed a leadoff triple to Cameron Leary and scored on Jake Barrett’s fourth hit of the day. After a 3-6 DP to make it two outs and nobody on, the Friars drew three consecutive walks to load the bases to bring up LoCurto. He worked a 2-0 count but was retired to end the ballgame.
The Firebirds advance to face No.2 St. John the Baptist on Monday at St. Joseph’s College. They will likely send Jason Diaz to the mound and the Cougars will likely send Giancarlo Giacometti to the mound–a rematch of Opening Day in which the Cougars came out victorious.
The Friars will face No. 3 St. Dominic on Saturday.
