Early outburst carries Rita past Celtics

Updated: April 30, 2011 6:19PM

Say this about St. Rita: The Mustangs are quick learners.

St. Rita blew a 4-0 lead to Providence on Thursday and suffered a tough 12-8 defeat.

The Mustangs had a similar start against Providence on Saturday, again jumping out to a 4-0 lead.

This time, however, they kept the pedal to the metal and drubbed the No. 1 Celtics 10-3 in Chicago.

The win upped No. 8 St. Rita’s mark to 18-3 overall, 6-3 in the Catholic League Blue. Providence fell to 18-2, 7-2.

“Getting out to that 4-0 lead at their place (Thursday) and losing, the kids knew a 4-0 lead today wasn’t going to be enough,” St. Rita coach Mike Zunica said. “Today, we kept the pressure on them.”

The Celtics certainly didn’t do themselves any favors. Providence committed two errors during St. Rita’s four-run second inning.

Additionally, starter Brandon Magallones walked Conner McLain and T.J. Verdun with the bases loaded to give St. Rita a 2-0 lead.

Zach Soria then hit a ground ball that shortstop Joe Houlihan failed to come up with, allowing two more runs to score to make it 4-0.

The Celtics mishandled a routine fly ball earlier in the inning that pretty much set the table for the outburst.

And while Magallones, who is headed to Northwestern, deserved a better fate, he didn’t do himself any favors with the free passes and hitting a batter in the inning.

“Our inability to throw strikes — and yes, we have to make the plays in the field — really hurt us,” Providence coach Mark Smith said. “Our starting pitchers, just not Brandon, have to realize they don’t have to strike out everyone. We have a Division I infield. Until they realize that, this is what we’re going to get.”

St. Rita tacked on five more runs in the third, sending Magallones to the showers.

McLain, a sophomore, had the big blow, a two-run, bases-loaded double. An error on the throw to third baseman Sam Travis allowed another run to score on the play.

“I was just trying to go up the middle and be aggressive,” said McLain, who reached base three times. “I got my pitch and tried to go the other way with it.”

Sean Kalisz added an RBI single and Verdun a run-scoring groundout in the inning to make it 9-0.

Which was more than enough cushion for St. Rita starter Eddie De La Riva. The junior didn’t have his best stuff, scattering 11 hits and striking out five during a complete-game, 101-pitch performance. But he persevered, improving to 9-0.

“Providence is an excellent hitting baseball team,” Zunica said. “Eddie threw strikes and we picked up the ball today.”

Soria made an outstanding diving play at shorstop to rob Matt Trowbridge of a single in the fifth.

Celtics pitchers allowed nine hits, seven walks and hit two batters.

Brian Sicher, Jake Thome and Kalisz had two hits each for St. Rita.

Collin McEnery, Dominic Olszta and Brandon Boggetto drove in runs for the Celtics.

Nick Gould (3-for-3), Sam Travis (2-for-4) and Trowbridge (2-for-4) produced multiple hit days for Providence.

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