For The Dialog
WILMINGTON – Second-ranked Salesianum put its unbeaten record on the line April 15 when the Sals took on Newark Charter at Frawley Stadium. The Sals came from behind to defeat the Patriots, 8-5. Josh McGuire had a great night for Salesianum, including a home run, which is one more than the regular tenant at Frawley, the Wilmington Blue Rocks, have there this season.
The Sals scored a run in the first as McGuire was hit by a pitch and reached second on an error on a pickoff attempt. Daniel Mersman followed with an RBI single up the middle.
Newark Charter took the lead in the bottom of the inning as Zach Lesher hit a double just fair. He scored on a triple by Anthony Daulton, who came in on an error for a 2-1 Patriots lead.
Salesianum tied the game in the third as McGuire hit a blast over the wall in right-center.
“I was pumped up with adrenaline after hitting it and was locked in on fastball,” he said.
Newark Charter again regained the lead in the bottom half without the benefit of a hit. Lesher walked, stole second and scored on an error when a throw to first on a ground ball went awry.
McGuire played a role in Salesianum’s run in the fifth that tied the game one more time. With Dante Cautillo, who had walked, on second, Newark Charter brought in left-handed Sean Kelby to face the left-handed batting McGuire. Cautillo went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a misplayed grounder off McGuire’s bat, knotting the game at three.
The Sals played some small ball in the sixth to take the lead. Joseph Cautillo led off with a single and was sacrificed to second. A walk put runners at first and second, and Ryan Campbell brought Cautillo home with a single. They were able to add one more run and led, 5-3, heading to the seventh. They scored three more times that inning, with McGuire leading off with a walk. Joseph Cautillo added the big knock in the seventh, a two-run single.
The Patriots got four straight two-out singles in the home half of the seventh, scoring twice and bringing the tying run to the plate, but a pop up to short ended the game. The Sals (5-0) meet archrival St. Mark’s at Frawley Stadium on Tuesday night at 7. Newark Charter (3-3) hosts Delaware Military Academy on Tuesday at 3:45 p.m.
