To this point, the Bishop Ludden baseball team has filcked away all possible challengers as it has bolted out to a 8-0 start.
Now come the two games the Gaelic Knights are looking forward to the most — against state defending Class B champion Westhill, a team Ludden lost to three times last year, including the playoffs. They first meet this Friday, at Alliance Bank Stadium, with the rematch on May 3, just three days later.
In the first state Class B rankings of this season, Ludden was no. 5, Westhill no. 10. The Gaelic Knights appear capable of greater things – as Marcellus found out Saturday in the course of a 10-0 defeat on its home field.
It was Matt Pirro’s turn on the mound, and he proceeded to baffle the Mustangs, taking just six innings to amass 16 strikeouts against just two hits, without a single walk allowed.
As for Marcellus ace Phil Zdanowski, he only lasted three innings as, in the top of the third, Ludden scored four times. The Gaelic Knights then got to reliever Zach Amidon for four more runs in the fifth.
Finishing with 15 hits, Ludden saw Aaron Maher pound out four of those hits and score a pair of runs. Chris Davis and Ryan O’Kane each had two hits and two RBIs, with James Murray also driving in a pair of runs. John Rooney and Matt Weeks each had one RBI.
Marcellus was in the unique position of playing two games in the same day. After meeting Ludden, the Mustangs went to its main rival, Skaneateles, and met with more frustration as the Lakers rallied late to beat them 10-7.
A four-run second inning put Marcellus in front, and though the Lakers came back and tied it 5-5, the Mustangs used a pair of sixth-inning tallies to assume a 7-5 lead.
Just three outs from victory, the Mustangs never got them in the bottom of the seventh as Sknaeateles got five runs, capped by Brandon Barron’s game-ending home run as he finished with four RBIs.
The Mustangs lost despite having 11 hits to the Lakers’ 10, including home runs from Zdanowski and Kyle Tierney. Zdanowski also doubled and finished with three RBIs as Tierney drove in two runs. Amidon and Mark Delfavero each had one RBI.
Prior to facing Marcellus, the Gaelic Knights played twice, and won with ease on both occasions. First, it went to Hannibal last Tuesday and again took control, rolling past the Warriors 13-2.
Five different times, Ludden had multiple runs in an inning, capped by a four-run seventh as O’Kane got ample support in his complete-game effort.
Rooney bashed the game’s only home run, scored three times and finished with four RBIs, as he and Maher both had three hits (Ludden had 13 hits overall). Davis and Pirro drove in two runs apiece as O’Kane, Murray and Mike DePalma got single RBIs.
Ludden moved on Thursday to shut out Jordan-Elbridge 6-0, and it was Murray’s turn to shine on the mound. In seven innings of work, Murray allowed five hits and piled up 12 strikeouts.
It was close until the fourth inning, when the Gaelic Knights tagged J-E pitcher Leland Holmes for three runs. Davis socked a home run and triple on his way to two RBIs as Pirro and Maher also drove in runs.
