Cardinals Thump O'Connell in Season Finale, 12-3

Cardinal bats were busy in a 12-3 win over O'Connell in regular season finale.

It was a game that meant nothing to the WCAC standing for the Cardinals, but a lot to the 8 seniors making their final visit to diocesan rival, Bishop O’Connell, in the weeks before their high school baseball careers come to a close. Bishop Ireton grabbed an early lead and refused to relinquish it against the Knights, recording a 12-3 victory on Thursday in Arlington.

Eight runs in the first three innings allowed the Cardinals to put the game away early. A walk by Corey Phillips, a groundout by Andrew Selby, a bases loaded walk by Carson, a walk by Joseph Bagnerise, an RBI single by Ben Judd, and an RBI single by Cody Hagenston in the second inning helped the visitors put runs on the board early. Judd racked up three RBIs on two hits for the Ireton.

The Cardinals added two more runs in the top of the third. A single by Selby ignited the offense, scoring Sam Ratner. The cardinal and gold piled on three more runs in the top of the sixth. Bagnerise kicked things off with a single, plating Tangora. That was followed up by Judd’s double, scoring Scott Schwartz and Bagnerise.

Nick Tangora struck out six hitters en route to the the win. Tangora allowed no earned runs, four hits and two walks over six innings.

For the Cardinals, the season ends with a 14-10 record, 10-6 in the brutally competitive WCAC, good for a tie for third with Paul VI. Ireton will host Bishop McNamara in the first round of the WCAC championship tournament Saturday at 4:30, a one-game round, followed by the best of three in the semi finals and finals. Those best of three series will be held at the University of Maryland’s Shipman Field.