Cardinals survive late rally against Dundalk

In a thrilling game that came down to the wire, the CCBC Catonsville Cardinals baseball team defeated their sister school, the CCBC Dundalk Lions, 7-5.

In the first game of a two-game series, the Cardinals built a five-run lead, only to nearly squander it in the final inning. Thanks to a clutch save by sophomore pitcher Travis Fullerton (Winters Mill), the Cardinals escaped with a two-run victory.

Much of the game was a pitcher's duel between Dundalk starter Ben Hall and Catonsville's starter, freshman pitcher Patrick Bauer (Mt. St. Joe). Bauer pitched seven innings, allowing no runs and just three hits. Hall was equally impressive, except for one disastrous inning that saw the Cardinals build a 5-0 lead.

After being held scoreless in the first two innings, the Cardinals struck first in the bottom of the third. After sophomore outfielder Caleb Bailey (Old Mill) doubled and sophomore first baseman Tomas Martinez (Memorial) and sophomore outfielder Roman March (Franklin) walked, sophomore outfielder Angelo Ramirez (North Atlanta) hit a sac-fly that brought Bailey home. Another walk loaded the bases once more, setting up freshman designated hitter Pete Howell's (Lake Howell) massive RBI double that brought Martinez and March home. An RBI single by freshman catcher Tony D'Angeli (Atholton) ended the inning with two more runs scored.

The game would enter a stalemate following the third, with neither team able to make any ground on the other. Catonsville broke the stalemate in the bottom of the sixth when Howell homered, then extended the lead in the bottom of the eighth when Howell sac-flied to bring home sophomore third baseman Alex Elliott (River Hill).

Leading 7-1, the Cardinals entered the ninth confident that they could end the game quickly. However, Dundalk suddenly went on a scoring spree. Sophomore pitcher Austin Galda (Hernando) walked two batters, then allowed an RBI single that made it 7-2. Galda was pulled for Fullerton, who allowed three more runs to score as the Lions began a furious rally. With two on, the Cardinals finally stopped the Dundalk advance when the Lion's next batter grounded out to end the game.

Pete Howell finished as the leading batter for the Cardinals. Howell had four RBIs, a double, and a home run on the afternoon. Tony D'Angeli added two RBIs. Bauer finished the game with seven total innings pitched and five strikeouts.

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