Resilient Cardinal Gibbons Rallies Late Again To Beat University School

Cardinal Gibbons had seen this movie in its recent memory and in a similar fashion.

Just four days earlier, Cardinal Gibbons had trailed University School and needed some late-inning noise to pull out an important District 4A-13 victory.

And, just like last Friday, the resilient Chiefs again stormed back to victory against the Suns on Tuesday.

But this time, it occurred in front of the home fans at Brian Arnold Memorial Field as senior third baseman Anthony Cerquozzi dunked in a go-ahead RBI single that found space in shallow right field in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Cardinal Gibbons a 5-4 win.

Trailing 4-3, the inning began with a single and stolen base by sophomore Chris Williams. Nathan Pawelczyk followed by drawing a base on balls to set up a key situation with pinch-hitter Drew Hanke stepping to the plate.

Hanke laid a well-executed bunt that rolled midway between home plate and the pitcher’s mound on the third-base side. The speedy Hanke forced a rushed throw that sailed over the Suns’ first baseman’s head and into the outfield, scoring Williams from second.

After a groundout that moved runners to second and third, Cerquozzi’s hit scored Pawelczyk. Hanke also attempted to score but was thrown out at home plate on a strong throw from Suns’ right fielder Andrew Denis.

The top of the order came through for the Chiefs (5-5 overall, 3-1 district). Cerquozzi, first baseman Thomas Woodrey and pitcher Craig Olson had two hits apiece. Two of the final three RBI came from those players, and three of the five runs were generated from those spots.

But the Chiefs also received some lifts in big spots from a pair of sophomores.

Williams ignited the rally in the sixth inning but also came on to throw two and a third innings without allowing a hit. Hanke, a backup catcher, was the unlikely hero in that he didn’t even know that he was about to enter the game.

“I’ve been a pretty good bunter my whole life,” Hanke said. “This year, I really sharpened my skills up just in case he [coach Frank Pisani] called my number. I’ve been practicing on it every day. It’s a good team win. Everybody is out here every day and working hard. It paid off.”

As far as why the Chiefs have become adapt at rallying to win games, Hanke pointed out that the desire to fight back has been evident.

“I think it’s just the intensity of the game and everybody wanting to win,” Hanke said. “Pick each other up. Make sure no one is down. There’s always another play to make.”

Pisani said it was a great team effort.

“I had 17 guys on the bench today and every single one of them came into the game and contributed in some way,” Pisani said. “So that’s what I am most proud of.”

Suns’ pitcher Shane Wise was staked to an early 3-1 lead.

But the junior departed in the fifth inning with the Suns clinging to 4-3 lead. The junior worked four and a third innings, struck out four, walk one and allowed three runs on seven hits.

“We had plenty of chances to really go big on the lead, but guys didn’t come through,” University School coach Rich Hofman said. “We came out of the box shooting just like we did the other night, but just could not come up with the big play. It’s a long season. We have 15 games left so we can’t throw in the towel.”

For the Suns (7-3 overall, 5-3 district), Diego Perez went 2 for 3 with a pair of singles, a stolen base and a run, Michael White batted 2 for 4 with two singles and an RBI, and J.J. Cormier went 2 for 4 with two singles and two RBI.

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