MARATHON WIN

By Bill Schneider Gates Mills, OH -- Jack Quinn singled and CJ Santagata doubled home pinch runner Christian Kerner to win the game for the Lancers in the bottom of the 11th inning over Willoughby South 4-3. The marathon victory had many ups and downs but the Lancers got their hits at the right time and extended their record to 10-0. Aiden Anders started for Gilmour and after a clean first inning, ran into a little trouble. A single and a walk put two men on with one out. Sam Leskiewicz hit a grounder to third that Pitrone threw to second for a fielders choice. Joe Salerno's relay to first could not be handled by Zac Titas. The ball got far enough away to allow Brian Namestnik to come around to score and the Rebels were on the board. In the third Anders again gave up a single and just when it looked like he was gonna get out of the inning with no damage, South's Jim Miller sent a 1-2 pitch over the wall in center field to make it a 3-0 game. From there Anders would not give up another hit. He went the first seven innings, giving up just the three runs on three hits and eight strikeouts. Anders gritty performance would give the Lancers a chance to get back into the game. The Lancers would do just that in the fifth. Santagata singled up the middle and Anders helped his own cause by doubling down the left field line, scoring Santagata. It was Anders' first hit in the big leagues. Brady Benisek and Brady Olsen walked and the bases were loaded with no outs. After South put Neil Hayek on the mound, Sean Pitrone struck out for the first out. Titas hit a sac fly to cut the lead to one. Salerno and Tyler Hall followed with two out walks. Benisek came home on Hall's and the game was even. From there the pitching and defense took over for both teams. Salerno took over for Anders to begin the eighth. After strikeout and a Santagata error, a Nate Barrus single put men on the corners with one out and Miller coming up. Gilmour manager John Murphy was not gonna let Miller beat him a second time. He called for the intentional walk to load the bases. Salerno got the pitcher's best friend, a ground ball to Tyler Pozsgai who started a 4-6-3 inning ending double play. The ninth inning was time for South to show off the leather. Olsen sent a liner down in the right field corner. Pozsgai was waved around all the way from first. It would take two perfect throws to gun him down and that's exactly what the Rebels did. Pozsgai was tagged out and we were going to the tenth. After two quick outs, Salerno walked and hit a batter to set the stage for MIller again. Murphy was set on not letting their best hitter beat the Lancers a second time and with two outs and men on first and second, he intentionally walked MIller again to load the bases. Salerno rewarded Murph's gamble by getting Namestnik to ground to Santagata for the inning ending fielders choice. Salerno (3-0) went four innings and gave up just one hit and no runs to et the win in relief. South gave it one more shot in the eleventh. Leskiewicz walked with two outs but was thrown out trying to steal second to end the threat. Hayek was masteful in relief for South, going six innings, giving up two hits no runs and eight strikeouts. But Hayek was done after 90 pitches and the Rebels went to Luke Gennarelli. Gennarelli did not have the same success. Quinn led off with a pinch hit single and Santagata followed with the double to win it for the Big Blue Machine.