Cardinal Newman Downs St. Andrews To Reach Final

Tyler Krull prepares to deliver a pitch. He struck out 10.

The Cardinal Newman Crusaders eliminated the St. Andrews Scots 7-0 in Tuesday night’s 4A-12 semifinal.  Leading the charge was starting pitcher Tyler Krull pitching a complete-game, three-hit shutout while recording 10 strikeouts. The Crusaders played sound baseball by making plays on defense and getting timely hitting in key situations.

“We jumped on Tyler’s back today. He pitched a great game,” Crusaders Manager Sean Comfort said. “We were able to put the ball in play and our defense made plays when needed.  When we play good all around baseball like we did today, we are a tough team to beat.”

Cardinal Newman advances to play Lincoln Park in the district final on Thursday. The Scots closed out their 2013 season by finishing 7-12.

In the first, Krull was dialed in immediately by retiring the Scots’ first three hitters in order. The Crusaders came up and went to work. Leadoff hitter catcher Kyle Cunningham, who had a stellar game going 3-for-4 with a RBI, stolen base and two runs scored, started the inning with a base hit.

“We played great. Great defense behind TK, who pitched an amazing game,” Crusaders catcher Kyle Cunningham said.  “If we continue to make plays behind our pitchers and score runs like we did today, we can go a far way.”

The Crusaders went straight to playing small ball with a sacrifice bunt by third baseman Daniel Cole to move Cunningham into scoring position. Shortstop Bruce Steel, who went 2 for 4 with two RBIs, then hit a shot to left, scoring the first run of the game. The Scots’ starting pitcher Zach Moses continued battling by making good pitches and was able to get out of the inning allowing one run.

Kyle Cunningham waits for the pitch

Krull continued to dominate the Scots offense only allowing a hit and recording two strikeouts for another shutout inning.  After getting the first out, Scots Moses allows a base hit to second baseman Chris Cammarata who ended up on second because of a wild throw. With two outs, Cunningham zeroed in and hit a base hit to left, scoring the second run of the game.  Cole then followed with a base hit, but Moses was able to retire Steel with a fly ball to center field.

Continuing a great pitching performance into the third and fourth inning, Krull retired the next six Scots hitters in a row not recording a single strikeout but by depending on his defense which delivered.  The Crusaders were able to tag on two more runs in the third and fourth with timely hitting by designated hitter Rudy Viton in the third scoring first baseman Anthony Zaleski, who went 2 for 3 with 2 runs scored and Steel in the fourth scoring Cunningham after he stole second base.

After allowing one walk, Krull was still in control of the game pitching his fifth shutout inning by recording two more strikeouts.  In the bottom of the fifth, the Crusaders started the inning with back to back to back base hits from Viton, leftfielder Michael Roca, and Cammarata.  A bases load walk to righfielder Patrick Foley allowed Viton to score from third.  Cammarata then scored the second run of the inning by a sac fly by Cole.

Bruce Steel went 2 for 4 with two RBI's in the win.

In the sixth, the Scots were showing some life offensively recording two base hits in a row by right fielder Jon Frector and catcher Justin Valente.  With two outs, Krull walked center fielder Anthony Cirillo to load the bases.  The Scots’ first opportunity to put some runs on the board fell short after Krull ended the inning with a strike out. The Crusaders added one more run in the bottom of the sixth. Zaleski started the rally with a base hit. With one out, Viton and Roca again hit back-to-back singles.  Cammarata then cames up and hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Zaleski from third.

Krull came back out in the seventh to close out the game and recorded three strikeouts to end the game.

“I felt great. Fastball and curve ball were really working for me today,” Krull said. “I just tried to stay relaxed, focused and within myself. Also have to give credit to our great defense and offense. This was a great win and looking forward to Lincoln Park.”

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