Cardinal Newman Walks Off Benjamin In 9th For 3A-11 Title

The 2024 District 3A-11 champion Cardinal Newman Crusaders.

Coaches always want their teams to be playing their best at the right time, when the stakes are the highest. Thursday night the Cardinal Newman Crusaders executed some solid fundamentals in a tie game in extra innings, and it led to Blake Anderson delivering with an RBI single that drove in Carl Calixte for the walk-off, 2-1 victory over the Benjamin Buccaneers in the District 3A-11 title game.

Calixte led off the inning with a single to right, and he moved into scoring position thanks to a sacrifice bunt from James Elliott. He then stole third base, before Anderson sent him the final pivotal ninety feet with an RBI single lined into left field.

Cardinal Newman (21-5-1) advances into the regional playoffs, a likely home contest that will be announced on Saturday.

As expected with a final score that low, pitching took center stage. Sam Lovitz led the way for the Crusaders, throwing eight innings while allowing one earned run on four hits and a walk, and piling up 11 strikeouts. Reliever Alex Thompson got the win, by striking out the side in a scoreless ninth inning. Thompson also singled and scored in the bottom of the fifth.

The Buccaneers (15-10) rallied to tie the game in the top of the seventh to keep their chances alive and force extra innings. Execution of the fundamentals also paid them dividends, as Drew Buchanan and Griffin Miller both singled, and Derek Rubin advanced both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Brandon Owens then got the ball on the ground for a fielder’s choice RBI ground out that made it 1-1 and a whole new ball game.

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