Seniors Help Palmer Trinity Avenge Early Season Loss To Archbishop Curley

The Palmer Trinity Falcons are a young team with only two seniors this season. Monday afternoon, the two seniors played a monumental role and helped lead their team to a 9-2 victory over Archbishop Curley.

Senior pitcher Jokari Birdsong and third baseman Sam Berk figured prominently Monday as the Falcons avenged an early season 4-3 loss to Curley. Birdsong pitched a complete game and dominated the Knights as he recorded 10 strikeouts and allowed only two hits.

“My mentality was to just get my breaking ball over and then work off of my fastball,” Birdsong said. “Early on, I had some control issues, but I was able to settle down and finish strong.”

Berk was hot at the plate, going 3-for-4 with four RBI.

“Sam carried us early and set the tone,” Palmer Trinity head coach Donnie Harvey said. “Without Sam today, we are in a real tight ball game.”

Palmer Trinity didn’t wait long to get started offensively as it scored two runs in each of the first two innings. Justin Zigleish led off the game with a walk and came around to score on after a double to left field from Berk.

Berk added to the lead with some aggressive base-running. He advanced to third on a wild pitch and after a throwing error by the catcher on the same play, he was able to add another run.

The Falcons started the second inning with a hit from Iggy Pigna. Again, the Falcons took advantage of their speed and some wild pitches as Pigna made it to third with no outs. Ben Roberts drove him in with a deep sacrifice fly to center field. Then it was Berk with another RBI single to drive in Zigleish to help Palmer Trinity jump out to a 4-0 lead after two innings.

“We try to be aggressive on the bases and dirt balls,” Harvey said. “We aren’t perfect because we still are losing too many guys on the bases, but we are still young and hope the kids will learn from their mistakes.”

Archbishop Curley started to get some things going in the third. Starting pitcher Nicholas Salow, who singled in the first inning, drew a walk, and Ezequiel Araujo got on base after getting hit by a pitch. Then Jordon Nobles hit a two-run single up the middle to drive them in and get his team back in the game, closing the lead 4-2.

In the fifth inning, Birdsong stepped up to the plate and made sure Palmer Trinity kept its lead. Birdsong took a pitch and sent it over the left-center field fence for a solo home run, and Dustin Philipp doubled to left field that drove in Gio Soto. Iggy Pigna brought Philipp around to score with his second single of the game, making the score 7-2.

“Jokari may be the best hitter to ever play at this school, and he showed just how special he was today with his performance,” Harvey said.

Harvey stressed to his team the whole game to keep the offense going and to not become complacent. His team responded and they were able to add two more runs late in the sixth inning to get a comfortable 9-2 lead after Sam Berk’s single to right field.

“We got some clutch hits today,” Harvey said. “We had a lot of two-out hits, and that is the big difference for us.”

Palmer Trinity will play two more games this week as it will try to finish the season on a winning streak.

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