St. Paul’s Herbie Trice broke a 1-1 tie with a three-run home run in the fifth inning, and he drove in two more with a single an inning later to lead the Crusaders to a 7-5 win over McDonogh, in Brooklandville on Thursday, as both teams opened their MIAA A Conference schedule in 40 degree weather.
Charlie Gaines threw six strong innings for coach Pat Walsh to get the win. Gaines struck out nine in six innings of work, and Paul Guilio pitched the seventh for the Crusaders.
Walsh said that Gaines was great on the mound.
“We did some good things offensively the second half of the game, and Charlie was great,” said Walsh.
Trice said he wasn’t looking for a homer when he came up with two mates aboard in the fifth.
“I was just looking to get a swing; I just wanted to get the ball in play.”
The Eagles made it close in the last inning when they scored twice, and had the potential go ahead run at the plate, but Guilio got Kyle Simmons on a grounder to short to end the game.
McDonogh’s Pat Bosley led the Eagles with two hits and three RBI. Bosley had a two-run double in the sixth, and he walked with the bases loaded in the seventh before Guilio got Simmons to end the game.
The Crusaders will host Gilman on Friday, the defending A conference champions.
St. Paul’s 7, McDonogh 5
McD 000 012 2 — 5 5 0
SP 100 033 x — 7 8 1
Gaines,Guilio,and R. Lucido; Delauter, Hoffmeister and Lim
WP-Gaines LP-Delauter
2B: McD-Bosley; SP-Ellis.
HR: SP-Trice.
