Season Opener/Home Opener

The 6th Grade St Ignatius Cardinals opened the 2008 season against perennially tough St Dominick's on Friday night up at the St Dominick's Baseball Complex. The chilling wind coming in off of Oyster Bay and some untimely fielding errors lead to a closer than it looks 11-0 loss. Despite the loss, Kyle Carroll pitched well for 4 innings. After throwing a shut out in the 2nd and allowing a run in the 3rd, St Dom's scored 4 unearned ruins in the 4th and 3 unearned runs in the 5th. Offensive highlights included a booming double by Anthony Wallitsch and good at bats by Matt Arnone, Jack McGovern and Dan Lembo, each of whom worked the count, fouling off pitches and eventually earning the walk. What a difference a day makes. The Cardinals played their home opener the next morning against St Edward's at newly renovated Giese park. They say good pitching and defense beat good hitting and the Cards came through with a hard fought 2-1 win over St Edward's. Anthony Wallitsch got the nod for the home opener and gave up 1 run over 4 innings, with the one run coming on a walk to the first batter. After that, Anthony settled in with 6 strikeouts. Defensively, there were many standouts. In the second inning, right fielder Conor Menig made a sliding catch down the right field line to save a potential double. In the 3rd, with runners on 1st and 2nd and none out, Catcher Matt Schumacher threw down to first on strike three. 1st baseman Kyle Carroll took the throw and relayed to shortstop Andrew Purcell for an unconventional strike em out throw em out double play. In the 4th, with runners on 1st and 2nd and one out, Left fielder Ryan Fama grabbed a rising line drive in left and threw to 2nd baseman Dan Lembo who alertly covered 2nd for the inning ending double play. Fama came on in relief in the 5th and threw a 1-2-3 inning. In the 6th with men on 1st and 3rd, one out and the game on the line, Fama grabbed a comeback line drive and threw to Mike Tancredi covering third, for the inning ending double play. The Cardinals got on the board in the first inning, when Kyle Carroll singled to center. Carroll then stole 2nd and 3rd and raced home on the overthrow to third to tie the game at one. The Cardinals threatened again in the 3rd, 4th and 5th innings, but could not plate a run. In the bottom of the 6th, Carroll led off the inning with a walk and promptly stole 2nd base. He went to third on a single by Andrew Purcell, and with one out, Ryan Fama came through with the game winning single to right. Our next game is scheduled for Friday, 6pm at Giese Park against St Joe's from Garden City. Please be at the field by 5:00pm. That will be followed by a double header on Saturday, starting at 10:00am, at Giese Park. Please be at the field by 9am. Enjoy your week. Coach Carroll