After a weekend of turmoil, the Rummel Raiders are back in first place in the Catholic League baseball league.
After five perfect innings from starter Giancarlo Arencibia, the Raiders also scored a two-run homer from Mikey Ryan and a two-run single from Gavin Nix to present them a 6-0 District 9-5A win over Jesuit on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. Kirsch-Rooney Stadium in City Park.
Rummel (14-6, 5-1 District 9-5A) won its second straight game since Saturday’s 7-3 loss to Jesuit, which temporarily left Brother Martin in first place. The Raiders played flawlessly to win a two-game series against the Blue Jays after being defeated by Jesuit in three games last season, including a 1-0 decision in the Division I Select state championship game.
Arencibia (5-1) scored 10 points and lost two goals. Those first five perfect innings prolonged the Tulane reliever’s hitless streak to 17, before Jesuit collected consecutive singles to open the sixth, which Arencibia led off with a steal of third base followed by a strikeout and a flyout to left to finish the inning.
“I thought we played exceptionally well,” Rummel coach Frank Cazeaux said. “(Arencibia) was difficult as at all times. Mikey hit a bomb. This is how we play Rummel Raiders baseball. We have some big hits. Giancarlo was a bulldog. He was battling his ass.
“It was a great victory, but if I don’t have the defense behind me, I can’t do what I do,” Arencibia said. “I told the guys before the game there was no reason to do it apart from for one another. You have the desire to make plays and have a good time playing together.”
Jesuit (14-6, 2-2) ended its seven-game winning streak. Derek DeLatte and catcher Luke Werling punctuated an ideal game with back-to-back singles to guide off in the sixth.
“It was a big moment, especially because Jesuit had our number last time (Saturday) and they beat us a couple of times,” Ryan said after his first homer of the season. “It’s good to get off to a good start in the league, gain some momentum and keep the momentum going.”
As for Arencibia, Day said: “That’s G., that is all I actually have to say. He just needs to be himself and nobody can hit him.
Ryan crushed a two-run homer to left field in the top of the third period, extending the Raiders’ result in 3-0 after Ruben Rodriguez led off on an infield throwing error.
Rodriguez helped Rummel hit the opening run when he got here to the plate on successful by Jesuit starter Everett Denny, then stole second, advanced to 3rd on a grounder and scored one run afterward a two-out, RBI-single by center fielder Evan Burg.
The Raiders added three insurance runs in the sixth on a wild pitch and two runs by Nix on the opposite side of the field in left field.
“We just have to keep playing, it’s as simple as that,” Cazeaux said of his team’s rise to first place. “We came back. The most important thing today was our defensive play. G was throwing shots and we were making plays.”
Jesuit returns to motion on Wednesday with a non-district game against Vandebilt Catholic scheduled for 4 p.m. at Kirsch-Rooney. Rummel has a break until Easter work is accomplished and the next match against Karr shall be on Tuesday at 6.30pm at Wesley Barrow Stadium.
