‘We never quit on ourselves.’ Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy baseball falls to Susquenita in doubleheader

Saint Joseph’s Catholic Academy baseball held tight with a 10-8 lead heading into Game 1 of Wednesday’s doubleheader against Susquenita.

The game was tied at eight with Saint Joseph’s Catholic batting in the top of the seventh when Arthur Welsh singled on a 2-1 count, scoring one run. However, the Wolfpack found themselves in a jam on defense with the bases loaded in the following half inning — falling 11-10.

The ball bounced off of the sliding runner at home plate and flew into the air as catcher Sam Krasowitz looked on with contempt. There was nothing that the young backstop could do as two runners crossed the plate for a Susquenita win.

Saint Joseph’s Catholic head coach Ryan Hendrick understands that his young team — a squad that lost six seniors — is going to go through its growing pains. Wednesday was a reminder of that.

“Our team’s mentality is, ‘Next man up’ and we never quit on ourselves and always take care of each other,” Hendrick said. “The errors unfortunately hurt tonight, but even when we were down a couple of runs, no one ever quit. We supported everyone when there were substitutions. We are a very young team, but we’re growing and that’s all that you can ask for.”

The Wolfpack had nine hits and Susquenita finished with 18 in the game.

Welsh grounded out to score one run in the first inning. His team followed up in the third inning — scoring five runs.

Susquenita scored five runs in the sixth inning. The team bounced back with singles by Erdossy and Albright, a triple by Drew Libney, and a double by Derek Libney.

Ryan Schoppy led things off on the pitcher’s mound for Susquenita. The fireballer went four and two-thirds innings, allowing six runs on four hits and striking out five.

Nick Warner led things off on the hill for the Wolfpack. Warner went five and a third innings, allowing four runs on 13 hits, striking out five and walking one. Luke Duckworth and Spencer Gigante entered the game from the bullpen, throwing two-thirds of an inning and two-thirds of an inning, respectively.

Warner started the game for Saint Joseph’s Catholic. The hurler allowed 13 hits and four runs over five and a third innings, striking out five and walking one

Duckworth, Welsh and Krasowitz each collected two hits to lead the Wolfpack.

Susquenita tallied 18 hits in Game 1.

The Wolfpack are staved off, losing 11-5 in Game 2

The Wolfpack watched Game 2 slip away early and couldn’t recover in an 11-5 loss to Susquenita, which took the lead on a double in the second inning.

The Wolfpack had a rough time at the plate to begin the game and an equally-tough defensive game, giving up 11 runs.

Susquenita got things started in the second inning. Susquenita scored two runs when Crist doubled and added five runs in the seventh inning.

Derek Libney was on the pitcher’s mound for Susquenita, lasting five innings, allowing five hits and four runs while striking out five and walking one.

Duckworth toed the rubber for Saint Joseph’s Catholic, going four innings, allowing six runs on eight hits, striking out eight and walking one. Cameron Guss and Hayes Miller entered the game from the bullpen, throwing two and two-thirds innings and one-third of an inning respectively.

“We always say that we’ve got to fight,” Duckworth said. “We’re a scrappy team and we’re going to fight to stay in games. I was very proud of the way that we battled back tonight. The final score may not show it, but it was fun. It was a good game.”

Duckworth had a home run in the fifth inning while Warner led Saint Joseph’s Catholic with three hits in four at bats. Susquenita had ten hits.