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Late runs lift Marian Catholic
Updated: April 11, 2011 3:16PM
Having scored 31 runs in three wins since Wednesday, a late four-run deficit was not about to faze a red-hot Marian Catholic lineup.
Trailing 10-6 to De La Salle through five innings at Saturday's Southside Conference Challenge, the Spartans exploded in the bottom of the sixth for eight runs on their way to a thrilling 14-10 victory at Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood.
"Scoring 31 runs these past three games coming in, I knew we had it in us," Marian Catholic's Brett Lilek said with a smile. "I was seeing the ball really well today and everything just felt good."
Robert Cifelli (2 runs) led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk and Byron Munoz reached on a De La Salle error. After Joshua Pieper walked, Lilek doubled to clear the bases.
That was just the beginning for the hot-hitting Spartans (9-2). The first eight batters in the inning reached base on three walks, two singles, a double and two De La Salle errors. All eight came around to score.
Richard Cervantes' RBI single brought home Kendall Oliver for the go-ahead run.
Cifelli's bases-clearing double capped the scoring.
"We preach trying to get a run an inning," Marian Catholic coach Phil Wail said. "The way we've been hitting the last week, we've just been pounding the ball. Our whole lineup, we don't have a soft spot so we knew we weren't out of the ballgame."
Taking the mound in the seventh, Lilek, who came on in relief, issued a leadoff walk but did not allow another runner.
"I just knew I had to throw strikes, and I can do that," Lilek said. "I put a little extra on it here and there."
Lilek (2-for-2) finished with five RBI.
Zach Wiseman scored four runs for De La Salle (8-1), while Mark Munizzi knocked in three runs in a 3-for-3 day.
An early season loss wasn't the worst thing for Meteors coach Nick Bridich.
"We needed this because we started the season 8-0, but it wasn't a test like this and the other teams we'll be playing," Bridich said. "We put up some crooked numbers to create some separation, but Marian battled their butts off."
Brother Rice 8, Carmel 4: Ryan Koziol threw six innings, giving up three hits and striking out two to get the win. He also hit two doubles and knocked in a run for Brother Rice (3-5). Brian McQuillan (3 RBI) and Garrett O'Neill (2 RBI) contributed for the Crusaders, who took a 6-0 lead after two innings.
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