If anyone wanted to know how the two-time defending state champions in Division I Select are serving notice they’re on a mission to make it three straight, all they need to do is to take a peek at Catholic’s Game 1 of their quarterfinals series against Holy Cross on Wednesday.
It was Lucas Lawrence on the hill, and centerfielder Dekohta Jones everywhere else.
The second-seeded Bears (32-5) needed all of Lawrence’s 13 strikeouts, while Jones knocked in two runs, scored the game-winner and made a potential game-saving throw in the sixth on the way to a 3-2 victory to take a 1-0 series lead.
Lawrence, who struck out at least two hitters in six of the seven innings he pitched, got in a little trouble in the fourth. He allowed an RBI single to Greg Ruiz and a fielder’s choice RBI to Andre Ancalade that tied the score at 2.
The Tigers (25-11) had an excellent chance to take the lead in the sixth, as Gavin Corrne reached on a single and went to second on an error before being replaced by courtesy runner Harrison Pellegrin. Dom Pellegrin was intentionally walked before Lawrence struck out Ruiz and Roux Guerra.
Ancalade then looked like he had knocked in his second run what would have given Holy Cross a one-run advantage on a single up the middle, but Jones came up with a spectacular throw from center right to catcher Myles Auxt, who tagged out Harrison Pellegrin.
In the bottom of the sixth, Jones hit a one-out single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored three batters later when Kooper Childs knocked in Jones on an RBI single to left.
Lawrence finished it off in the seventh by striking out two of the three hitters the Tigers brought to the plate in the seventh.
Game 2 is set for Thursday back at Catholic at 5 p.m., and the Bears will be the visiting team.
LINESCORE
(7) Holy Cross – 000 200 0 – 2 | 5 | 0
(2) Catholic – 002 001 X – 3 | 7 | 1
TOP HITTERS
Holy Cross (25-11): Greg Ruiz, 1-3, 2B, R, RBI; Andre Ancalade, 1-3, RBI; Dom Pellegrin, 1-2, BB.
Catholic (32-5): Dekohta Jones, 2-3, R, 2RBIs; Kooper Childs, 2-3, RBI; Myles Auxt, 1-2, 2B.
DECIDING PITCHERS
WIN: Lucas Lawrence, 7IP, 2R, 2ER, 5H, 1BB, 13K.
LOSS: Cole Tallet, 5.1IP, 3R, 3ER, 6H, 3BB, 2K.
WP: Tallet 2. IBB: Lawrence. Time of game: 1:49.