Prep Baseball Report

Fenwick's Come-Back Kids Rally Past No.16 St. Laurence



By Drake Skleba
Senior Writer 

RIVER FOREST - Trailing 4-0, 7-4 and finally 9-8 in the bottom of the eighth, the never-say-die Friars of Fenwick rallied past No.16 St. Laurence 10-9 in eight heart-wrenching innings.

Trailing 9-8 with one out in the bottom of the eighth, Mike Krecek (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) singled home Quinn Snarskis, to tie the game at 9-9. Snarskis had led off the fateful bottom of the eighth with a single. Casey O’Laughlin was next and hit a roller that went through the St.  Laurence first-baseman for the fourth Viking error and Justin Rodriguez, danced home with the Friar walk-off game winner. Rodriguez reached on a perfect bunt single.

Fenwick (8-2, 2-1 Catholic White) scored its first eight runs all after two out. Trailing 4-0 in the fourth with two outs, the Friars scored their run on a wild pitch. Ryan Pierson came up with the first of his two, two-out clutch RBI singles, to pull the Friars within 4-2. Jack Hendricks booming two-out, two-run double tied the game at 4-4.

Trailing 7-4 in the bottom of the fifth, the Friars struck for four runs, all after two outs, to take the lead 8-7. Pierson laced his second two-out RBI single to make it 7-5. In his very first at bat of the season, pinch-hitter Mike Faul ripped a two-out, two-run single to tie the game at 7-7.

“I was a little nervous, with it being my first at bat of the season,” Faul said. “I concentrated and had a good approach and tied the game up with the big single,”

Hendricks followed with another two-out RBI single to give the Friars the lead 8-7.

“This was a great come-from-behind victory. Things didn’t look good when we were down 4-0,” Hendricks said. “We hung in there and battled and rallied for a great victory. I just kept battling at the plate and had a very good day.”

St. Laurence (9-3, 1-1 Catholic Blue) tied the game at 8-8 on an RBI double from Jack Cavanaugh (2-for-3, 2B, 3B, SF, 3RBI) in the top of the sixth. Cavanaugh entered the game on the mound and retired the Friars in the bottom of the sixth.

Both teams didn’t score in the seventh and the game went to extra innings.

“I was just trying to go up to the plate with the right approach with two outs,” Pierson said. “The ball is falling more this year and I’m having a lot of fun. This was a great team victory tonight and we go to Brother Rice tomorrow with a lot of confidence.”

In the top of the eighth Cavanaugh’s sac-fly gave the Vikings their last lead off the game at 9-8.

St. Laurence was led by Cavanaugh and Frank Greco. Greco had two RBI triples and another blast that left the premises at the Priory, over the left field fence. Tom Farrell had one of four Viking RBI triples in the game, Cavanaugh had the other one.

Fenwick’s Kevin Forde was on base four times for the Friars, with two doubles and two walks. Adam Williams (1-0) allowed one earned run in his three quality innings of relief, to pick up the win on the mound for Fenwick.

“We just never give up,” Fenwick coach Dave Hogan said. “Eight runs again all after two outs is amazing. We had to with the way they (St. Laurence) can hit. Jack (Hendricks) and Ryan (Pierson) were clutch all day for us. I want to give credit to Adam Williams for his great job in relief for us tonight. It doesn’t get any easier for us as we head to Brother Rice tomorrow and then here against Providence on Saturday. As I always say, we will compete.”

A major side-note to the Friar victory was the play of catcher Justin Rodriguez. In one of the most dominant displays, Rodriguez threw out three Viking would-be base stealers and picked off three more, with his cannon of an arm.

“A catcher has to be at his best defensively,” said Rodriguez. “To hit is important, but I must be quality behind the plate. I worked real hard tonight to be (a) quality (catcher). This was a great victory for us over a great St. Laurence team. This will give us confidence going into tomorrow’s big game at Brother Rice.”

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