For The Dialog
WILMINGTON – Top-seeded St. Mark’s used timely hitting and strong defense to defeat No. 17 Newark, 5-2, in the second round of the state baseball tournament May 24 at Frawley Stadium. The Spartans advance to meet No. 8 Cape Henlopen on Thursday at Frawley at a time to be announced.
St. Mark’s got on the board against Newark starting pitcher Kyle MacDonnell in the bottom of the second. Sean Gilardi singled. Courtesy runner Billy Sullivan reached second on an error and came home on Tommy Gibb’s double. Gibb scored on an RBI groundout by Chris Ludman.
The Yellowjackets got one back in the third. Andrew DelPercio picked up an infield single, and Clayton Hansen followed with another single. With two outs, William Barrier singled to score DelPercio.
In the fourth, three consecutive Baltimore chop singles, the third by Jeremy Vogel, resulted in a third St. Mark’s run. Newark escaped further damage on a superb diving stab by third baseman Nick Zegna, who tossed the ball to second for a double play. St. Mark’s added an unearned run in the fifth as Andrew Reich launched a triple to deep right field to score Tyler Kaczmarczyk. Another unearned run scored in the sixth as Matt Theodorakis reached on a two-base error and scored on a sacrifice fly by Vogel.
Gilardi held the Yellowjackets to the one run heading into the final frame, when Ludman entered to close it out. The inning got off to a rocky start as Ludman allowed two singles. DelPercio appeared to have reached on a bunt and was called safe at first, but the call was changed to an out as DelPercio had stepped on the plate while bunting.
A walk loaded the bases, and Andrew Emory singled to center to score one, but a second runner was gunned down at the plate on a throw from Reich. Ludman struck out the final batter to end the game.
Vogel talked about the importance of playing smart baseball in the playoffs, as the second and fifth seeds both lost their first tournament games and have been eliminated.
“I pray we are still playing at the end of the week,” he said. “The plan is to stay focused, play good defense and get timely hitting.”
Newark’s season ended with a 10-10 record.
