WASHINGTON, D.C. - Trailing 9-6 entering the ninth inning, Catholic scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to earn a massive comeback victory in non-conference play.
Jesse Lacefield played the role of hero with a two-run single to send the Cardinal faithful home happy with the 25th win of the season.
The Cardinals continue to show their resolve and prove to be a relentless bunch as they earn yet another come-from-behind victory to leave
Ross Natoli just two wins shy of win number 800. Tuesday marks the fifth time this season that Catholic trailed in the seventh inning and came away victorious.
Trailing 7-0 entering the bottom of the fourth, Catholic started to come to life with a pair of runs.
Sammy Burman doubled down the line in right to start things off before tagging up to third on a Michael Napolitano fly out. Derek Zelesnick drove in the first run of the game with a sacrifice fly to left. With two away, Jack Elwell and Matt Perlin both singled up the middle before Steve Thomas scored Elwell with a base knock to make it 7-2. Mitchel Johnson drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull within four, but the Cardinals still trailed 7-3 entering the seventh.
York added its eighth run of the contest in the top of the eighth as Robby Elzinga singled to the edge of the infield, but Zelesnick threw it away trying to complete a circus play, allowing Gabe Trevena to score. After Dawson Rightenour allowed the first two hitters to reach in the eighth, York went back to the bullpen for Ethan Kennedy. Facing Kennedy, Thomas singled to score Elwell and make it 8-4.
Zach Burton singled to load up the bases before back-to-back sacrifice flies from Johnson and Lacefield brought Catholic within two runs at 8-6.
Ryan O'Keefe allowed an unearned run in the top of the ninth as the Spartans pulled back ahead by three, but the Cardinal magic had yet to ensue. Zelesnick started things with a one-out single to center followed by an Elwell walk. Perlin laced a single to left, scoring Zelesnick and pulling the deficit back to two. Kennedy retired Thomas leaving Catholic one out away from defeat with the winning run at the plate. Burton drew a walk to load up the bases yet again before Kennedy hit Johnson with a pitch to make it 9-8. On the second pitch of the at-bat, Lacefield lined a ball down the right field line, scoring Perlin and
Justin McCarthy who pinch ran for Burton to start the celebration on Talbot Field.
Offensively, Catholic tallied 13 hits with Thomas completing his fifth three-hit game of the season to raise his batting average to .364. Burton, Burman, Elwell, and Perlin all had two hits for the Cardinals while Johnson and Lacefield each drove in three runs. Burton moved into a tie for eighth in the Division III era for Catholic with 29 walks in a season.
Cormac Terry was strong in relief, keeping Catholic in the game with a 4.1-inning outing, striking out four and allowing two runs.
Catholic will continue a busy week tomorrow with another non-conference battle versus Stevenson scheduled.
