This past Saturday, the St. Paul baseball team was celebrating its state championship on the mound at Middletown’s Palmer Field.
It’s crazy to think that 10 days earlier, the Falcons were two outs away from elimination, on their home diamond. Top-seeded St. Paul trailed No. 16 St. Bernard-Uncasville, 1-0, in the bottom of the eighth inning. Senior Ryan Daniels, in what could have been the final at bat of his high school career, singled and then moved to second when the throw back into the infield was mishandled. St. Bernard passed on dealing with senior Mario Izzo, choosing to intentionally walk him instead. Up next was senior Casey Cerruto. It took one swing for Cerruto to turn possible despair into total elation.
Cerruto’s three-run blast into the left field woods gave St. Paul an improbable, incredible 3-1 win. Head coach Vic Rinaldi reflected on Cerruto’s heroics after the Falcons wrapped up the state championship.
“I texted Casey Cerruto after that St. Bernard game, hitting that walk-off home run,” Rinaldi said. “I texted him that night and said when we win this thing, we’re going to remember your home run, because that’s what really got us here. Without that home run, we’re home in the second round.”
Cerruto contributed four home runs. He didn’t have a hit in the state final, but he didn’t need to (he did throw out a runner trying to steal second base). Cerruto had done enough.
“Casey had a great tournament,” Rinaldi said.
And he provided the biggest swing of the postseason, one that helped propel the Falcons to their state championship.
PHOTO CAPTION: Casey Cerruto’s dramatic home run in the second round made sure that St. Paul baseball’s state championship dream never died. (Copyright, Sports on CT-69)
