Late Surge Boosts Archbishop Carroll Over I-Mater

Archbishop Carroll used a late game offensive surge to break a scoreless tie and rally past i-Mater 5-1 in the season opener for both teams.

Bulldogs Senior pitcher Paulo Maldonado earn his first win of the season allowing one run, seven hits and striking out three in five innings pitched. Relief pitcher Rey Gonce struck out two and retired the last six batters to earn the save.

Archbishop Carroll’s offense took a while to get the rust off in its first action of the season. The Bulldogs finally got going in the bottom of the fourth inning when Sal Lorenzo belted a sacrifice fly to center field deep enough to allow Gonce to score from third base.

But the Knights responded with one out in the top of the fifth inning. Albert Sanchez drove home Rafael Reina with an RBI single to left field to tie the game at 1-1.

However, Archbishop Carroll took control for good in the bottom of the frame. With one out and facing a two strike count, Alex Perez scored Gabriel Figueroa on a RBI single to center field to put the Bulldogs up 2-1. Later on with two outs in the inning, Ryan Pereda hit a ground ball single to center that scored Perez and boosted the lead to 3-1.

After Gonce entered in relief and pitched a scoreless top of sixth inning, Archbishop Carroll tacked on more runs in the bottom of the inning. Facing one ball and two strikes, Junior Chris Fernandez led off with a solo home run to left field. Then with two outs in the sixth, Jonathan Leon scored Gabriel Martinez with an RBI double to center to push the lead to 5-1.

Gonce retired the side in the top of the seventh to seal the win for the Bulldogs.

Fernandez was the Bulldogs standout on offense. He finished 2-for-2 with a home run and a walk for Archbishop Carroll. His teammates Lorenzo, Pereda, Leon and Perez each drove in one run.

Sanchez finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and Michael Bell went 2-for-4 with a double for I-Mater (0-1).

Jose Fernandez took the loss allowing four hits, three runs and struck out two in three innings for the Knights.

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