By Ron Brocato

Brother Martin is still the No. 1 seed in the Select Division I baseball race entering its final six games in District 9-5A, but it took a wake-up call against Jesuit to keep the Crusaders at the top of their highly competitive league.

That position was in doubt on March 21 when the Crusaders fumbled and bungled their way to an 8-1 defeat to No. 6 seed Jesuit at John Ryan Stadium. But, in true Crusader fashion, the team shook off the loss two nights later to avenge the setback with one abrupt swing of the bat by Bronson Leaumont ‘26.

With the score tied at 3-3 and the bases loaded, the senior centerfielder launched an offering by Jesuit relief pitcher Hunter Oncale over the left field fence to give the Crusaders a walk-off 7-3 victory before a packed Kirsch-Rooney Stadium. That win on March 26 was what head Coach Jeff Lupo ‘92 wanted to see from his team.

“I’ve stressed to them all season that more games are lost than actually won, so don’t beat ourselves, focus on doing the little things right all the time. Fundamentals win. Physical things are going to happen, so be mentally present to avoid that,” he said.

The Crusaders had a brief mental lapse in the first of the two-game series with the Blue Jays when they committed four errors in the second and fourth innings to quickly fall behind, 6-0, and eventually to the final score of 8-1.

That loss enabled Jesuit to tie the Crusaders for the district lead with 6-1 records, which lasted just two days.

With renewed vigor, the Crusaders came out swinging when the two met again, and the reverse outcome gave Lupo his 200th coaching victory. And the coach credited the team’s schedule and their resilience for what transpired.

“I think our schedule has prepared us for how we played against quality teams in their respective divisions. Many of the teams we’ve played are in the top 10 of their divisions,” Lupo said. And although they have won 24 games by an average six runs more than their opponents, the Crusaders have had to battle back from deficits in key district games.

But none was more consequential than the game on Thursday.

With the score tied at 3-3 in the fourth inning, the two teams held each other in check until the bottom of the seventh inning, which started with nine-hole batter Dominic Toten being struck with a pitch.

Brady McCluskey ‘27 then delivered his third hit of the game, a single to advance the runner. Then catcher Tyler Durand was also struck by a pitch to load the bases with no one out. Then No. 3 batter Leaumont delivered the coup-de-grace to end the game and ignite the Brother Martin faithful’s uproar that filled their half of the stadium.

“They’re tone-setters,” Lupo said of McCluskey and Leaumont. “They’ve been in our program and they understand what is expected and they show the younger guys how to compete.”

Lupo noted that his players have accepted their roles and have been cheerleaders for their teammates all season. “There are 27 of us in the dugout when it comes to managers, players, and coaches, and I think all of them have accepted their roles and have worked to be the best at it and encourage each other.

“And it doesn’t matter who gets the accolades. In the end, it says Brother Martin wins, not player X, Y, or Z wins,” the coach concluded.

With just three losses on the season and a league-leading 7-1 record, the Crusaders return to the field on Saturday, March 28, to face No. 3 ranked John Curtis (19-5, 4-4) at Harahan Playground for a 1 p.m. start. The two will meet again on Tuesday, March 31, at Kirsch-Rooney at 6:30 p.m.