For The Dialog
WILMINGTON – Fourth-ranked St. Mark’s and rival Salesianum, the No. 6 team, played a classic baseball game May 8 at Frawley Stadium, with the Spartans pulling out a 2-1 win in eight innings.
Spartans starter Billy Sullivan was throwing straight gas between 91 and 96 miles per hour, with at least a half-dozen major-league scouts in attendance. Sallies starter Eugene Holler was also dealing as the teams put on an old-fashioned exciting pitching duel.
Salesianum did have four hits off Sullivan in the first three innings, but Spartans catcher Matthew Sinko threw out two runners trying to steal at second base. The Spartans finally got a hit in the third, but the Sals turned a brilliant double play. Shane Lougheed laid down a bunt that Holler fielded and fired to first baseman Alex Hinton, who then threw to third, where Josh McGuire tagged Dominic Catalano.
Sullivan settled down, retiring eight straight between the third and sixth innings. St. Mark’s broke through on Holler in the fifth thanks to the speed of Jeremy Vogel, who raced out of the box to turn a leadoff single into a double. He reached third on a wild pitch and scored on a fielder’s choice. The Sals’ infield was playing in, but Vogel beat the second baseman’s throw home on a ground ball.
Salesianum did tie it in the top of the seventh as Sullivan walked two batters with one out. The Spartans brought in Jacques Dubecq to face Sallies pinch hitter Connor Murphy. Murphy delivered a perfect safety squeeze to tie it.
The Spartans won it in the eighth. Sals reliever Ryan Campbell walked Ludman, who reached second on a wild pitch. Brian Gilardi smacked one that eluded the Sals’ third baseman, scoring Ludman for the win. It was scored an error, the only one in the game.
Sullivan pitched 6 1/3 innings, striking out 10 while surrendering just the four hits. The Spartans (10-4) collected only three hits on offense. They will travel to Milford on Thursday for a 4:15 p.m. start.
The Sals (10-5) got six innings from Holler, who only allowed two hits while striking out six. They host Wilmington Charter Wednesday at 4 p.m.
