St. Paul’s out-hit the Crusaders but Brother Martin (28-4) took full advantage of their base-runners to pull out a 4-1 win at Kirsch-Rooney.
St. Paul’s opened of the game by sending the opening pitch over the left field wall for an early 1-0 lead.
After a scoreless second inning, Brother Martin put runners on base following a leadoff single, an error and a sacrifice bunt in the third. Jarett Gongora came up big with an RBI-groundout to tie the game then LSU signee Greg Deichmann smashed an RBI triple to deep center field to give the Crusaders a 2-1 lead.
After a quiet fourth and fifth inning, Brother Martin opened the bottom of the sixth with a leadoff single and another St. Paul’s error to put runners on the corners. DH Raphael Deroche ripped a double into left field off the St. Paul’s reliever for two RBIs and a 4-1 lead.
St. Paul’s threatened in the top of the seventh starting the inning with two singles. They would eventually move the runners to second and third base on a sacrifice bunt to knock on the door. With one out under his belt, Gaconi was able to get in the zone to force a strike out and a pop-out for the game’s final two outs.
The Crusaders got the win thanks in large part to Corey Gaconi’s dominant, six-strikeout performance. Gaconi allowed one earned run, nine hits and no walks over seven innings.
Brother Martin advances to regionals with the victory and faces the winner between No. 15 Zachary and No. 18 West Monroe Friday at Kirsch-Rooney in the first of a three-game series in the LHSAA’s new playoff format.
