St. Mary’s baseball team defeats Crofton after 10 innings, with a final score of 6-5.
Devin Neurell, a young pitcher, can envision the scenario clearly: winning the championship trophy and adding St. Mary’s to the list of MIAA B Conference champions.
Crofton Cardinals’ coach, Brooks Miller, spoke with the umpire during the seventh inning of Tuesday’s game. The St. Mary’s Saints, who were visiting, emerged victorious over the Cardinals, with a score of 6-5 in extra innings. (Photo credit: Paul W. Gillespie)
Zachary Leinemann, the pitcher for Crofton, made a throw in the third inning of the game. The St. Mary’s Saints, who were visiting, narrowly beat the Crofton Cardinals with a score of 6-5 in extra innings on Tuesday.
The dream became increasingly vivid when his teammate, Colin Talbot, confidently walked across home plate in the 10th inning.
In the 10th inning, Brennan Moran from St. Mary’s successfully hit a single. The Crofton Cardinals were defeated by the St. Mary’s Saints, with a final score of 6-5, during Tuesday’s game that went into extra innings. (Photo credit: Paul W. Gillespie)
The Saints were ahead of Crofton by one point, and it was Neurell’s responsibility to secure the victory. The Cardinals have already achieved two walk-off victories this season. They continued to communicate excitedly from the dugout, even after St. Mary’s scored the winning run.
WP: Neurell LP: Donaldson
St. Mary’s Harrison DeLoach celebrates a successful bunt on first base in the seventh inning. The visiting St. Mary’s Saints defeated the Crofton Cardinals, 6-5, in extra innings Tuesday. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
“In the seventh inning, St. Mary’s player Henry Carbone retrieves his glove. The visiting St. Mary’s team emerged victorious over the Crofton Cardinals, with a final score of 6-5 in Tuesday’s game. (Photo by Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)”
The first inning saw St. Mary’s Henry Carbone take his place at the plate. On Tuesday, the visiting St. Mary’s Saints beat the Crofton Cardinals, 6-5, in extra innings. (Photo by Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)
However, similar to the outcome of the Broadneck game, the seventh inning was not in favor of St. Mary’s team. Despite scoring a two-run single by Talbot and taking a 5-4 lead, relief pitcher Matt Donaldson was able to limit the damage and pitch for the remainder of the game.
“When facing teams such as Broadneck and Crofton, the strategy is to be aggressive. We refer to it as playing an offensive style of defense,” Bronakoski explained. “It’s about having a different mindset when stepping onto the mound or field, and feeling confident. I’m pleased that the change has been effective.”
St. Mary’s — 000 300 200 1 — 6 4 2
On Tuesday, St. Mary’s Saints won against the Crofton Cardinals with a score of 6-5 in extra innings. (Photo by Paul W. Gillespie/Staff).
St. Mary’s Colin Talbot, center, is congratulated by teammates after Dominic Hicks brings him home on a hit in the fourth inning. The visiting St. Mary’s Saints defeated the Crofton Cardinals, 6-5, in extra innings Tuesday. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff photo)
St. Mary’s Parker Weekley slides into home during the seventh inning while Crofton catcher William Davis attempts to tag him. The St. Mary’s Saints, visiting the field, won against the Crofton Cardinals 6-5 in extra innings on Tuesday. (Photo by Paul W. Gillespie, staff writer)
Devin Neurell, the pitcher for St. Mary’s, rejoices in the victory as the 10th inning comes to a close. On Tuesday, the St. Mary’s Saints were able to defeat the Crofton Cardinals in extra innings with a final score of 6-5. (Photographed by Paul W. Gillespie)
St. Mary’s Ben Bonfiglio hits a run in the fourth inning. The St. Mary’s Saints, visiting team, won against the Crofton Cardinals with a score of 6-5 in a Tuesday game that went into extra innings. (Photo taken by Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)
On March 22, St. Mary’s (6-3) had a lead over the Bruins until the seventh inning, but Broadneck managed to tie the game and ultimately win in the next inning. This was a new experience for the Saints, according to Bronakoski, as they were accustomed to playing to win rather than trying not to lose.
Jason Gifford of Crofton hit a sacrifice fly ball in the sixth inning, scoring a run. On Tuesday, the St. Mary’s Saints, who were visiting, beat the Crofton Cardinals in extra innings with a score of 6-5. (Photo by Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)
“We don’t typically take him that deep, but he earned that right, being our best bullpen pitcher last year,” Crofton coach Brooks Miller said. “He did a good job for us, getting to that point.”
However, it was not solely due to his efforts. In the final moments of the ninth inning, junior James Seibel hit a ground ball to Saints shortstop Harrison Deloach. Deloach then threw the ball back to home plate. Catcher Brennan Moran swiftly moved his glove down, just in time for Crofton’s Zane Leinemann to cross the plate.
Unable to reword.
Neurell expressed confidence in their team’s potential to win the championship if they continue to play with the same intensity as they did in this game. He believes they have what it takes to succeed and can already envision the taste of victory.
Colin Talbot from St. Mary’s drove in two runs with a single in the seventh inning. The St. Mary’s Saints triumphed over the Crofton Cardinals with a 6-5 win in extra innings on Tuesday. (Photo taken by Paul W. Gillespie, staff member)
After the game, Coach Mike Bronakoski addressed his team and touched on not only their opponent, Crofton, but also Broadneck.
Mike Bronakoski, coach of St. Mary’s, observes his team during the ninth inning. The St. Mary’s Saints, who were visiting, won against the Crofton Cardinals with a score of 6-5 in a game that went into extra innings on Tuesday. (Photo by Paul W. Gillespie for the Staff)
The game on Tuesday was a back-and-forth battle, as Crofton (5-3) held onto a one-run lead until the fourth inning. The Saints quickly evened the score with Hicks bringing in his first run and Parker Weekley scoring two more, giving the Saints a 3-1 lead.
In the seventh inning, Harrison DeLoach from St. Mary’s used a bunting technique. The St. Mary’s Saints, who were visitors, won against the Crofton Cardinals in a close 6-5 game on Tuesday in extra innings. (Photo by Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)
Dominic Hicks from St. Mary’s team scores a run with a hit in the fourth inning against Crofton. (Photo by Paul W. Gillespie)
As a unit, we have developed and become stronger. We persevere through the game, encourage and inspire one another, and push ourselves on every throw and action,” stated Neurell. “It was a source of comfort to see that I am fulfilling my role and holding my own, and to witness my fellow teammates supporting me. This is the essence of St. Mary’s baseball.”
St. Mary’s rejoices as they score two runs in the seventh inning. The St. Mary’s Saints, who were the visiting team, beat the Crofton Cardinals 6-5 in extra innings on Tuesday. (Photo by Paul W. Gillespie, staff)
In the fifth inning, Harry Falkowski from St. Mary’s attempted a hit but narrowly missed. The away team, St. Mary’s Saints, won over the Crofton Cardinals with a score of 6-5 in a game that went into extra innings on Tuesday.
“But we responded today, and well,” Miller said. “So I’m hoping we can take this and respond well again. We’re talented, and we just gotta find ways to beat as many one-run games as we can.”
Zachary Leinemann of Crofton made a bunt play during the second inning. The Crofton Cardinals lost to the visiting St. Mary’s Saints in a close 6-5 game on Tuesday, going into extra innings. (Photo by Paul W. Gillespie, Staff)
Brennan Moran, the catcher for St. Mary’s, successfully blocks Crofton’s Zachary Leinemann from scoring the winning run in the ninth inning. Despite the close game, the St. Mary’s Saints ultimately defeated the Crofton Cardinals 6-5 in extra innings on Tuesday. (Photo by Paul W. Gillespie)
In the sixth inning, Travis Fleshman from Crofton drove in a run with a successful bunt. The St. Mary’s Saints, who were visiting, beat the Crofton Cardinals 6-5 in extra innings on Tuesday. (Photo by Paul W. Gillespie/Staff)
Before the game, St. Mary’s team gathered in a huddle. On Tuesday, the St. Mary’s Saints from the visiting team won against the Crofton Cardinals with a score of 6-5 in extra innings. (Photo by Paul W. Gillespie)
Second base player: SM (initials of player’s name) – Moran; Center field player: CR – Gifford, Craig. Third base player: CR – Frey.
On Tuesday, the St. Mary’s Saints triumphed over the Crofton Cardinals in a close game of 6-5, with extra innings needed. (Photo taken by Paul W. Gillespie)
Neurell encountered three Cardinals, a few of whom he considers his friends outside of the game. He managed to strike out all three to end the match.
Neurell did not have a strong performance against Bishop Ireton on Monday, but Bronakoski encouraged him to “get back in the game.”
In the third inning, Crofton’s pitcher Zachary Leinemann delivered a pitch. On Tuesday, the Crofton Cardinals were defeated by the visiting St. Mary’s Saints in a close 6-5 game that went into extra innings. (Photo taken by Paul W. Gillespie)
In the seventh inning, Crofton equalized the score with a sacrifice fly from Tyler Holt. However, in the eighth inning, when Neurell took over as pitcher, the Cardinals had difficulty getting a player on base. Neurell pitched for three innings, giving up only one hit and one walk while also striking out two batters.
Crofton — 010 003 100 0 — 5 6 2
Blake Dyer, the starting pitcher for St. Mary’s, threw during the second inning. The St. Mary’s Saints, who were visiting, won against the Crofton Cardinals with a score of 6-5 in extra innings on Tuesday. (Photo credit: Paul W. Gillespie)
Miller agrees with his team’s attitude. According to the coach, Crofton, who is still relatively young, had a chance to win until the third out of the 10th inning. This was not the case in the previous day’s game against Broadneck, where Crofton lost 11-0.
