Boca Raton Christian Prevails Over St. Andrews

Logan Retaiczak pitched eight full innings to pick up the win.

Logan Retaiczak struck out thirteen in Boca Christian’s 5-3, extra-inning victory Thursday afternoon at St. Andrews’ William Clarke Field. Surrendering a three-run, sixth inning lead, the Blazers reignited for two runs in the eighth for the win.

The Blazers winning rally started when singles put Michael Walsh on second and Zach Hoffman on first. Blaize McSweeney moved the runners up with a sacrifice bunt. An intentional base on balls to Zach Gray loaded the bases, followed by a wild pitch that brought home Walsh for the tie-breaking run. Taking a pitch the opposite way, Blake Calder picked up an RBI on a ground out to second base to close out the scoring.

Calder also had a big play on the defensive side that drew praise from his teammates.

Coming to bat in the sixth, the Scots had marched through 23 consecutive innings without scoring a run. Insult had been added to injury in the fifth when, with runners on the corners and no out, Retaiczak picked the trail runner off first. With Jason Otis on third, Jon Frechter lifted a fly to medium right-center into the glove of Calder. The freshman’s ensuing throw home to the catcher Jack Havelka came in time for the umpire to call the runner out on the 9-2, inning-ending double play. The home town Scots’ fans had their sporrans in a bunch, very unhappy that the scoreless streak remained intact.

“One of our guys who doesn’t get to play too much, right fielder Blake Calder, a ninth-grader, played great today, picking up an RBI and throwing their guy out at home,” said Havelka of his teammate.

When the Scots finally broke through, they did so with verve. Richie Rocca singled to lead off the sixth. Michael Carbone drew a walk, then the runners moved up on a wild pitch and a stolen base by Carbone. Number three hitter Nick Chiappetta put all frustration to rest, drilling a double to the right-center gap, bringing home both base runners. Chiappetta advanced to third on a passed ball and tied the game at three on a wild pitch.

“The Scots did a great job,” said Retaiczak. “When they just started scoring, I knew I had to pick it up a little, try a little harder, do my best.”

The Blazers’ ace responded to the challenge to keep St. Andrew’s off the scoreboard the rest of the way.

The Blazers’ Zach Hoffman had two singles and scored an insurance run in the eighth inning.

“When Logan’s on, he’s a pretty good pitcher,” said Blazers Manager Clint Erickson. “He can struggle sometimes finding the zone, going too deep in the count and walking too many guys. But we’ve been working on that.”

Their work paid off nicely as Retaiczak gave up just four hits and three walks in eight innings to go along with his baker’s dozen punch outs. He also went 2-for-4, cheated out of a third hit when opposing pitcher Scott Gellman redirected a bullet up the middle to second baseman Matthew Glenn, who transitioned the 1-4-3 put out.

The Blazers built their lead with solo runs in the first, third and fourth innings. Havelka led off the game with a long drive down the left field line that challenged the fence and put him on second with a double. Adriel Martinez beat out a bunt, before being erased on a 6-4-3 double play that plated Havelka. Martinez singled to start the third and, on an errant pick-off attempt, raced all the way to third base. He then scored on a wild pitch. In the fourth, Gray opened with a walk. Calder, who was very successful working the opposite field, dropped in a bloop single. Havelka knocked in Gray with a clean, RBI stroke between center and left field.

After falling behind in the eighth, the Scots’ hustling leadoff man, Rocca, reached on a dropped third strike. After a strikeout, Chiappetta singled and a wild pitch put runners at the corners. Retaiczak chalked up his 10th swinging strike-out and then ended the game by snagging a soft liner off the bat of Scott Gellman.

The Scots can take a huge positive from the defeat in how competitive the young team played.

“We’re a very young, very competitive team,” said Scots’ Manager Billy Horn. “I just want us to hustle, play the game the right way, respect our opponents, our teammates, and the game. But go out there looking for a dogfight.”

Youth is almost an understatement for the Scots. With three freshman and just one senior in the starting line-up, eighth-grader Grant Hodgeman performed ably at catcher, subbing for his brother, Cameron, a junior out with an injury.

In a gritty, iron-man performance, Gellman faced all but one batter over seven and two-third innings. He gave way to Rocca in the eighth, while giving up just two walks and striking out six.

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