For The Dialog
NEW CASTLE – Salesianum faced defending champion Appoquinimink on March 31 in search of a big win, and thanks to senior Daniel Mersman, they got it. The Sals defeated the Jaguars, 5-4, in nine innings at Wilson Field on March 31.
Mersman’s RBI single in the ninth was his third hit of the afternoon. Andrew Sullivan closed the door in the ninth, picking up the win in relief.
A pair of lefthanders, Ryan Steckline of Appo and Ryan Campbell of the Sals, started the game and gave up little early. Steckline, in fact, had the first hit of the game, a home run over the right field fence in the second to give the Jaguars a 1-0 lead.
Beck Milton tripled for Salesianum in the third and scored on a base hit by Donte Cautillo, but Appo got that run back in the bottom of the third with a second home run, another blast over the right field wall off the bat of Brett Willet.
Salesianum tied the contest again in the fourth. Singles by Mersman and Zack Miller were followed by a walk. Christopher Hammond brought Mersman home with a sacrifice fly, but Steckline worked out of the jam without any more damage, and his afternoon on the mound was done.
Appo took the lead for the third time in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Derek Esposito after a couple of bloop hits.
The Sals took their first lead in the sixth when Christopher Argo singled home two runs with two outs. Campbell then struck out the side in the sixth and went for the complete game win in the seventh, but Appo had other ideas.
Mikayla Hollaway hit a triple to deep center field and scored on a two-out triple by Javon Fields. Sullivan came in to get the last out to set up extra innings.
The Sals (2-0) travel to New York on Saturday to face Cardinal Spellman at 10 a.m. Appo (2-2) also plays again on Saturday as they host Cape Henlopen at noon in a rematch of last season’s state championship game.
