For The Dialog
WILMINGTON – The top two high school baseball teams in the state met on April 19 at Frawley Stadium, and it was No. 2 St. Mark’s that came away with the 11-2 win over top-ranked Salesianum. The Spartans received solid pitching from Andrew Reich and used a patient approach at the plate to get the win.
Salesianum struck first, scoring in the top of the second. Zach Miller led off with a single, with James Patrick coming in as a courtesy runner. A pickoff attempt by Reich got loose, and Patrick advanced. After a hit by pitch and a wild pitch, the Sals had runners on second and third with no outs.
After St. Mark’s recorded one out, Patrick came home on a wild pitch, and Beck Million drove in another with an infield single to make it 2-0.
St. Mark’s got one back on an RBI single by Austin Colmery, although St. Mark’s could have had more. The inning opened with three straight walks, and Sals pitcher Ryan Campbell nearly escaped with no damage.
Salesianum would not be as fortunate in the bottom of the fourth. The first two St. Mark’s batters walked, and an error loaded the bases with nobody out. After a force out at home, Colmery singled in the tying run. The Sals forced another runner at home for the second out, but Campbell walked Brian Gilardi to give the Spartans the lead. That also ended Campbell’s night.
Unfortunately for Salesianum, reliever Andrew Sullivan walked the first two batters he faced, and the Spartans led, 5-2. Sean Gilardi then doubled in two more runs to make it 7-2 after four.
St. Mark’s added three unearned runs in the fifth, with the big blow a two-run double for Reich.
Reich walked a batter and hit another in the sixth, but he got Chris Argo to pop out to escape trouble. St. Mark’s would add its final run in the sixth as Thomas Gibb tripled, scoring when the throw from the leftfielder got past the third baseman.
The Spartans (9-1) play at A.I. DuPont on Saturday at 11 a.m., while Salesianum (5-1) hosts Wilmington Christian today (Wednesday) at 4 p.m.
