| Crusaders advance with 3-1
victory over California |
| Tuesday, 08 June 2010 |
Luke Daghir, 9, of the Crusaders lays down a bunt during
the fourth inning of Monday’s PIAA Class A first round
game played at Brockway against the California Trojans.
By JIM MULCAHY
Staff Writer
Courtesy of the St. Marys
Daily Press
BROCKWAY - The Elk County Catholic Crusader baseball team
advanced to the quarterfinals of the PIAA Class A Tournament
with a 3-1 victory over the California Trojans in the first
round game played at Brockway Area High School.
Elk Catholic will now meet Homer Center on Thursday at a site
and time to be announced. Homer Center, the District 6 champion,
defeated Neshannock 3-1 Monday.
The Crusaders used the three-hit pitching of Ben Daghir to go
along with nine hits to record the win.
“It was a beautifully pitched game,” said ECCHS head coach Fr.
Eric Vogt. “Ben worked his way out of a bases loaded jam in the
fourth inning and another jam in the fifth.”
“Our freshman’s (Joe McLaughlin) bases loaded single was big. He
just hits the ball,” said the coach.
“We left too many on base today,” commented Fr. Eric. Elk
Catholic left eight men on base while California stranded seven.
“That’s a good baseball team (California). They were 21-3 coming
in,” observed the coach.
“We’re starting to click at the right time and it is nice to
have Ben (Daghir) back. With good pitching, timely hitting and
defense we’ll just have to wait and see what happens,” added Fr.
Eric.
The Crusader offense was led by Jake Cortina’s home run and
freshman Joe McLaughlin getting three singles. Joe Jacob had two
singles while Luke Daghir, Ben Daghir and Kyle Schneider all
singled.
Ben Daghir went the distance on the mound for the Crusaders
giving up three hits, two walks and striking out five.
T.D. Conway started on the mound for the Trojans giving up seven
hits and striking out three in four innings of work. Zac
Edmiston worked two innings of relief giving up two hits,
walking three and striking out two.
Both teams went down in order in the first inning. Calfornia
left a man on base in the top of the second. With one out in the
home half of the inning, Cortina homered to left field to give
ECC the 1-0 lead.
The Trojans left a man on base in the top of the third while the
Crusaders left two runners on base in the home half of the
inning.
California left the bases loaded in the top of the fourth
inning. Jacob led off the home half of the fourth with a single.
Luke Daghir reached base on a bunt single. With one out, Ben
Daghir singled to load the bases. With two outs, McLaughlin
singled to left to score Jacob and Luke Daghir giving Elk
Catholic the 3-0 lead.
California scored a run in the top of the fifth. With one out,
D.J. Martinak singled. With two outs, Zac Edmiston singled
scoring Martinak to cut Elk’s lead to 3-1. The Crusaders left
the bases loaded in their half of the fifth.
California stranded a runner in the top of the sixth while Elk
Catholic left two men on base in their half of the inning.
In the top of the seventh the Trojans went down in order as Elk
Catholic recorded the 3-1 victory to advance in the PIAA
tournament.
Game notes
The Crusaders are now 14-8 on the season and riding a five-game
winning streak.
Good fan support on hand for the Elk Catholic team Monday.
California 1
D.J. Martinak 4-1-1, Dakota Conway 4-0-0, Zac Edmiston 3-0-2,
Sam Luketich 0-0-0, Preston Shaw 3-0-0, T.D. Conway 2-0-0, Pat
Tunney 0-0-0, Tommy Sparrow 3-0-0, Matt Bakewell 3-0-0, Mike
Britton 2-0-0, Adam Miller 2-0-0. Totals 26-1-3.
ECCHS 3
Ricky Pearsall 3-0-0, Eric Wehler 3-0-0, Joe Jacob 3-1-2, Luke
Daghir 2-1-1, Jake Cortina 3-1-1, Ben Daghir 3-0-1, Sam
Schneider 0-0-0, Zac Brody 3-0-0, Joe McLaughlin 3-0-3, Kyle
Schneider 2-0-1. Totals 25-3-9.
Score by innings R
California 000 010 0 1
ECCHS 010 200 x 3 |
