Wednesday, May 14, 2003

By Vincent Lewis
SJSports Staff Writer

With the regular season coming down to its final games, there are a few divisional races that are shaping up to being a dog race. The team that's able to keep up the winning pace will prove to be the winner in a fiercely competitive battle. One of those races was from the Olympic Conference National Division. Two of those teams met head to head with Bishop Eustace hosting the Eagles from Paul VI. The Crusaders would win this race in eight innings outscoring their opponent 6-5.

Bishop Eustace took advantage of its opportunities in the bottom half of the first inning getting their leadoff batter on base. John Hudspeth looked to score the game’s first run, but two batters later he was nailed at home. That play did not stop the Crusaders from scoring three runs off of starting pitcher Gary Winkler. The Eagles would come to their hurler’s rescue, as they put up four runs on the scoreboard in the second inning. Through four complete innings, Paul VI owned a 5-3 lead.

Eustace would rally with a single run in the fifth and seventh innings. Greg Tocci would score those runs, three for the game, the last would send this game into extra innings. Bishop Eustace continued their rally during the eighth inning when Nolan Grinovics would score the winning run on a wild pitch. Nick Iannucci picked up the win for Eustace.