Ireton climbs toward WCAC lead with 3-2 extra innings win

A Scott Schwartz first-pitch double drove home Corey Phillips to give the Bishop Ireton Cardinals (6-2, 3-1) the lead in the eighth inning and the visitors hung on to beat St. Mary’s Ryken Knights 3-2 on Wednesday in Leonardtown.

“This is a team that won’t win games 10-1, but they also won’t lose ’em 10-1.” commented head coach Mike Gallagher. Indeed, the Ireton final rally was a textbook example of fundamentally sound baseball. And, over a long season, the baseball gods seem to reward good fundamentals.

Phillips singled to open the eighth. He then went to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman second baseman Robert Corallo. Senior Andrew Selby expertly pulled a ground ball to second sending Phillips on the third. Schwartz then delivered the game-winner to plate the Ireton catcher. Phillips went a perfect 2-2 at the plate for the Cardinals, singling in the sixth and eighth innings.

St. Mary’s Ryken Knights’ lineup had no answer for reliever John Todd. Todd came on in relief of Kyle Delaney who worked 5 strong innings giving up a run in the first and second innings. Todd entered the game in the sixth and held St. Mary’s Ryken hitless over three innings, allowed no earned runs, walked two and struck out two.

The bottom of the first saw St. Mary’s Ryken Knights take an early 1-0 lead when a Carpenter sacrifice fly sent Godard home after a leadoff triple. They increased the lead in the second when a Grimes single send Bonifont home with the Knights’ second run. The Knights starting pitcher, Jarboe held the Cardinals off the scoreboard for 5 innings as he dueled Ireton’s Delaney.

Phillips would start the comeback with a single in the top of the sixth, move on to third courtesy of a pair of passed balls, then Selby’s groundout to third drove home Ireton’s first run of the game. The Cardinals would tie it in the top of the final regulation frame when Joe Bagernise reached on an error, was sacrificed to second by Todd, then scored on a Nick Tangora single to center.

Todd’s three scoreless innings proved to be just what the Cardinals badly needed to gain their third win in the WCAC, moving them into a tie for second, one half-game behind league-leading DeMatha. Gonzaga, Ireton, and McNamara all sit at 3-1, PVI and St Johns are at 2-2. Ireton will visit St John’s on Thursday for a rainout makeup game before starting the spring vacation.

The Cardinals head to South Carolina for Easter break baseball in Charleston and return to WCAC action when they visits Gonzaga on Saturday, April 6th. First pitch is set for noon at Hamilton Field.