Cardinals Surprise DeMatha, 6-4 in Baseball

Coaches and players expressed confidence in the Cardinals' chances in the upcoming playoffs as the final regular season games wind up this week.

DeMatha wasn’t able to overcome the big hole it dug itself against the Bishop Ireton Cardinals falling 6-4 Saturday afternoon at Riverside Park in Maryland.

“The guys played a solid game, starting with Robert Corallo’s effort on the mound. When you can beat DeMatha, PVI, lose to St John’s on a play at the plate, it suggests to me that we can make an impact in this upcoming tournament. We just have to focus and play well.” commented first-year coach Rex Thomas on the Cardinals’ win.

The Cardinals tore into the Stags to take a six-run lead by the fifth inning. DeMatha scored on a walk by Justin Morris in the fifth inning and an RBI single by Justin Morris, an RBI single by Chris Jeletic, and a hit by pitch in the seventh inning. Despite its efforts, DeMatha couldn’t finish the comeback against Corallo and Sean Workman who got the game’s final out.

Ireton’s Matthew Bardak racked up three RBI on one hit when he homered in the first inning. Robert Corallo got the win. He allowed four runs over 6 2/3 innings. Corallo struck out nine, walked five and gave up seven hits.

Cameron Fitzgerald ended up on the wrong side of the pitching decision for the Stags, charged with the loss. He lasted 3 2/3 innings, walked three, struck out three, and allowed five runs.

Bishop Ireton Cardinals Varsity didn’t relinquish the lead after scoring two runs in the first inning when they scored on the two-run Bardak homer. The visiting Cardinals added three more runs in the top of the fourth. Ryan Scott’s double got things going, plating Bardak and Chandler Wilder. That was followed up by Eric Alvarez’s single, scoring James Swiger. The win improves Bishop Ireton to 4-10 in WCAC play with Good Counsel visiting on senior day Monday. The season ends with the Cardinals visiting St Mary’s Ryken on Wednesday.