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| Kennedy breaks its postgame huddle after a 3-2 comeback win over Sacred Heart on Thursday at Waterville Park. (Copyright, Sports on CT-69) |
The Kennedy baseball team played Thursday afternoon’s game against Sacred Heart with 12 players.
A short roster has been the story of the season for the Eagles, but it got even more extreme on Thursday. By the time they tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the sixth inning, they were down to 11 players. Junior Marquis Blagmon had to leave after scoring the tying run so that he could attend his National Honor Society induction, head coach Chris Sarlo said. A short bench in a tie game could be a major problem, especially if it goes to extra innings.
Kennedy used all 12 of its players, and fought to the end of the game at Waterville Park. The fight was well worth it, and the Eagles rallied to stun the Hearts by a score of 3-2.
Kennedy went ahead in the top of the seventh on Jake Desjardin’s single, which brought home Anthony Quinones. Angel Galindez allowed a two-out walk in the bottom of the inning, then gave up a grounder to second to slam the door on a 3-2 Eagle victory.
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| Kennedy’s Jake Desjardins smacks a go-ahead single in the seventh inning of Thursday’s game. (Copyright, Sports on CT-69) |
Kennedy improved to 3-8, though you may never have seen a more satisfied 3-8 team than the one that walked off the field at Waterville Park on Thursday.
The Eagles fell behind 2-0, and they were still down that margin entering the top of the sixth. Blagmon led off with a double. He advanced to third on a fielder’s choice, then made it home on an error on the same play. Galindez advanced from first to third on the play. Francisco Ogando lifted a sacrifice fly to left field, which brought home Galindez with the tying run.
In the bottom of the sixth, Galindez got a called third strike to strand a Sacred Heart runner on third base.
Quinones worked a walk to lead off the top of the seventh. With Desjardins at the plate, Quinones stole second base. He advanced to third after an error on a pickoff throw.
On a 3-2 count, Desjardins lined a single to center to bring home Quinones and put Kennedy ahead 3-2.
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| Sacred Heart catcher Evan Laferriere tags out Desjardins at home in the seventh inning. (Copyright, Sports on CT-69) |
The game was far from over. Sacred Heart had Justin Stephens, Jimmy Edwards and Ernest McClary coming to bat in the bottom of the seventh. Sarlo quipped that it was like having Aaron Judge, Didi Gregorius and Giancarlo Stanton of the Yankees due up.
Galindez got a pop up back to himself for the first out, then picked up a strikeout for the second one. McClary walked, but Galindez induced a grounder to Quinones at second base, who threw to Pablo Barrera at first to end the game.
Barrera pitched the first four innings for Kennedy. He gave up two runs, eight hits, struck out two and walked three. Xavier Frias came on in relief and pitched 1 1/3 innings, then was followed by Galindez for the final 1 2/3 innings. Galindez was the winning pitcher.
Sacred Heart (5-6) got both of its runs in the third inning. Noah Knappe led off with a double, reached third on a Justin Stephens single, then scored on a bunt by Jimmy Edwards. Stephens later scored on a double play to put the Hearts ahead 2-0.
Mike DeSimone pitched the first 5 1/3 innings for Sacred Heart. He gave up two runs on three hits, struck out six and walked two.
GALLERY: Click here to see images from Thursday’s game.
