Odd Game One of Best-of-Three Series Goes to Chaminade

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The Chaminade Lions were missing several players who were attending a school event for the first game of the best-of-three series against the Deerfield Bucks in the HSBN/Perfect Recruits Fall Classic.

Although the team started off a bit rusty, not getting its first hit until the third inning, it did end up pulling out a dramatic come-from-behind victory in its final at-bat in the bottom of the seventh inning to win 6-5.

Chris Flores overcame an error, a walk and a hit batter in the first inning to escape without allowing a run. In the second, a leadoff walk turned into the game’s first run after a sacrifice bunt by Deerfield’s Evan Wieder moved Mitchell Carol to second, an infield hit by Keenan Smith moved Carol to third and a sacrifice fly by leadoff batter and Lions center fielder, Luis Matias, knocked him in.

In the top half of the third, the Bucks added another run after Andre Campbell’s second soft liner over second fell in for a hit, Brian Johnson Jr. got an infield hit, JP Holgerson got a blooper single and an error brought in the run. However, for the second time in three innings, Chris Flores got out of a bases-loaded jam with no more than one run.

Meanwhile, Deerfield’s pitcher, Joey Ursetti was shutting down Lions’ hitters. He struck out the first batter of the third and looked strong when an overthrown ball past first allowed the batter to get to second. Another error allowed the first batter who reached on an error to score. Then an infield hit and a fielder’s choice brought up Lions catcher Ron Socash, who doubled on a hard-hit ball down the third-base line, knocking in two. It was the first legitimate hit for the Lions.

Then pitcher Chris Flores helped his own cause with a double, knocking in the Lions’ fourth run of the inning.

In the bottom of the fourth, Ursetti struck out the side. Even with the one rough inning, Ursetti ended the game with four innings pitched, five strikeouts and three hits, not a bad line for a guy whose team allowed four runs.

In the top of the fifth, with a 4-2 lead, the Lions seemed to gain control of the game. But then the Bucks got an infield hit from Brian Johnson (his second infield hit of the game), then another hit-by-pitch, a walk and a fielder’s choice allowed the Bucks to score two runs to tie it up 4-4. Flores was replaced in the sixth, leaving the game with a line of five innings pitched, five hits and five strikeouts.

Nick Miller of Deerfield replaced Ursetti in the fifth and went 1-2-3, then got through the sixth with no problems.

In the top of the seventh, with the game tied at 4, JP Holgerson finished off what turned out to be the best line of the night with a hit-by-pitch. He ended his night going 1-for-1 with two hit-by-pitched, a walk and two runs. He got to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ramon Zorilla then to third on a passed ball. Then relief pitcher Nick Miller came up and singled to give Deerfield the 5-4 lead.

In the bottom of the seventh, it felt as if Deerfield would pull off the win, as the team had just finished celebrating their come-from-behind accomplishment, but the Lions wanted the Bucks to know the game was not over.

Chris Garcia led off the inning with a hit. Then Nader had a bloop single, moving Garcia to third before Chris Comellas singled to knock in the tying run. He stole second, making it runners on second and third. Coach Scott Bragg decided to walk Ron Socash, who doubled deep in the gap earlier in the game, in order to force the out at home. He got exactly what he wanted with a grounder to first by Chris Flores, but the throw to home was low and not handled by the catcher, and the winning run scored.

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