Bishop Shanahan overtakes Oxford in 10 innings
DOWNINGTOWN>> In a wild and wooly affair with many twists and turns, Bishop Shanahan’s Jack O’Day ripped a two run single in the bottom of the 10th inning to give the host Eagles a thrilling 7-6 win over Oxford.
The winning hit came with two out in the 10th inning and the Hornets nursing a one run lead.
“I had a tough day so far when iI came up in the 10th,” O’Day said. “He threw me a curveball that jammed me a little and i was looking right side. I had not don that in my previous at bats so I was just looking to drop my hands and go with it. We really competed today. We came up with two big double plays that were huge and we needed a win like this.”
The day started out very frustrating for the Eagles (3-5 Ches-Mont, 3-6 overall) as they left six runners on against Oxford (4-4, 5-5)starter Landon Rozich and trailed 2-1 going to the bottom of the fifth inning.
But the Eagles plated three runs in the bottom of the fifth on a big two run triple from Dan Ceribelli and a RBI single from Pete D’Maio to take a 4-2 lead. The lead held up until the top the seventh inning.
With one out and a man on first base, Tom Matuszweski ripped a Kevin Ruff fastball deep over the left field fence for a two run homer and a 4-4 tie after seven innings.
The two run blast were Matuszweski’s third and fourth RBI for the game as he previously ripped a two run double in the first inning.
Oxford took a 5-4 lead in the top the ninth inning when Chris Latch worked a two out walk with the bases loaded to give the Hornets a slim 5-4 lead. Then, things really took a crazy turn.
With two out and no one on for the Eagles down to their last out, Andrew Noone lofted a very long fly ball to center field and it looked like that would be the ball game.
But, the ball bounced off the glove of the Oxford center fielder and over the fence and the Eagles had a 5-5 tie going to the 10th inning.
Oxford came right back in the top of the 10th inning to take a 6-5 lead. Aiden Hernandez stroked a RBI single to left field for the go ahead run and the Eagles were down to their last chance again, down 6-5.
Ceribelli led off the 10th with a walk. DeMaio laid down a bunt and Matuszweski tried to field the ball and go to second base but he bobbled it and everyone was safe.
Connor Hill moved the Shanahan runners to second and third with a sacrifice bunt and the Eagles had two men on with one out.
Bronzo Riccardo was given an intentional class to load the bases. Riccardo had already stroked two hits in the game. Pinch hitter Chase Rooney struck out for the second out of the inning.
O’Day then took a 2-1 curveball from Matuszweski to left center field and the Eagles plated two runs and had a thrilling 7-6 win as they mobbed O’Day at second base.
“You cannot give a team four and five outs in a n inning,” Oxford coach Guy Taylor said. “We made too many mistakes, left too many men on base and they took advantage of our mistakes. In the Ches-Mont League you cannot make these kind of mistakes and win.”
The Eagles were coming off a lopsided loss to Downingtown West on Monday and Shanahan coach Brian Boyko was pleased with the kids effort today.
“The start of the game was frustrating because we could not get the big hit,” Boyko said. “And Jack came through after struggling earlier in the game. The kids played very hard and I was happy to see them compete as hard as they did.”
Bishop Shanahan 7, Oxford 6 10 innings
Oxford 200 000 201 1-6
Bishop Shanahan 001 030 001-2-7
2B-Matuszweski, Moore. 3B-Ceribelli.
HR-Matuszweski, Noone.
WP-B.Scott. LP-Matuszweski.
