The Pats fell to Neumann Goretti, 7-0, at home on May 1.
Senior Gavin Wray was on the bump for the Pats, looking to have a good outing and, most importantly, have some fun.
“Today let’s focus on having fun as a team,” Coach Jonathan Grosse said. “There’s only a couple days left of all of us together, so let’s enjoy it.”
In the first play of the game, there was a hard hit ball to second, which senior Marco Petroccia dove for and made the play. The energy was electric after that play, and the boys were having fun. However, with a walk and a bloop double to right field, the Saints exited the top of the first inning up 1-0.
The Pats faced a Division One arm, as has been the case all year. The Saints pitcher went one, two, three and the boys went back out to the field, ready to play some defense. In the top of the second inning, with some hits and stolen bases, the Saints added one more onto their lead. In the bottom of the second, nothing happened offensively for Carroll.
In the top of the third, the Saints added yet another run to their lead, and Wray’s day was over on the mound.
Senior Anthony Auteri came in and pitched from the top of the fourth until the top of the seventh. Auteri absolutely dealt up to the top of the seventh inning, striking out multiple future Division One players.
The bottom of the sixth inning was where the Pats had things going. With junior Drew Mulligan beating out a ground ball and senior Dylan Gallagher up to bat, Gallagher roped one down the first base line. Mulligan was rounding third base when the Saints outfielder threw his hands up and said the ball went out of play. Mulligan was forced to stay at third and Gallagher forced to stay at second, all due to Neumann Goretti leaving the gate open in the outfield. With two outs, senior slugger Stephen Thomson was up to bat; unfortunately, he lined out to right field.
With Carroll’s momentum crushed from an open gate, the top of the seventh started off badly. With Auteri walking two in a row, and multiple hits from the Saints, the bases were loaded and junior Matthew McGaughey came into pitch. McGaughey did the best he could against the tough Goretti offense; however, the number 10 team in the state showed why they are 8-2 in the Philadelphia Catholic League. The Saints hit multiple base hits, and, by the time Carroll got three outs, Goretti put up four runs.
Carroll battled hard in the bottom of the seventh, but just couldn’t get something going. Carroll lost 7-0.
With the season winding down, some seniors are just looking to enjoy themselves this last week.
“I’m focused on having a good time playing baseball with these boys before I leave for college,” senior Andrew Grom said.
Although the Pats lost, junior Dylan Burns had his debut for the Pats and will be a crucial piece for the Pats next year.
“I was nervous, but I was also very excited,” Burns said. “It was great seeing my name in the lineup and getting a chance to play.”
The Pats play Malvern Prep this Saturday at Malvern Prep.
