Bishop Stang baseball captures a share of the CCL title with Bishop Fenwick despite loss

Laurie Los Lee, Standard-Times
·4 min read

DARTMOUTH — Capturing a share of the Catholic Central League championship with Bishop Fenwick was a little bittersweet for the Bishop Stang baseball team.

Had the Spartans beaten the Crusaders on Thursday afternoon, they would have won the title outright. Stang had its chances, but left seven base runners stranded in a 3-2 loss to Bishop Fenwick.

A year ago, the Spartans finished second in the league to Austin Prep.

Drew Taylor of Bishop Stang is greeted by teammates after scoring the tying run in the second inning.
Drew Taylor of Bishop Stang is greeted by teammates after scoring the tying run in the second inning.

“That’s what is great about this league is that it’s such a tough league,” said Bishop Stang head coach Brian Rose. “These boys had a great season so today doesn’t define the season. They’ve played really good baseball and they deserve the share just as much as we do.”

The Spartans will get another chance at the Crusaders on Thursday at Bishop Fenwick in a non-league matchup.

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“It’s kind of nice doing the home and home,” Rose said. “They’re a quality team.”

Bishop Stang senior Jackson Tingley Prince said that playing teams like Bishop Fenwick will only help the Spartans come playoff time. In the most recent MIAA power rankings, Bishop Stang is sixth in Div. 3 while Bishop Fenwick is 11th.

“It’s huge because we could see them again in the playoffs,” said Tingley Prince, who had one of Stang’s four hits in the game. “We want as many reps against them and other good teams.

“Out of all the teams I’ve been a part of at Bishop Stang, I think this is the most hard-working team that we’ve had and a team that all wants it so bad.”

Jackson Tingley Prince of Bishop Stang takes an outside pitch and slaps a base-hit to left field in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Jackson Tingley Prince of Bishop Stang takes an outside pitch and slaps a base-hit to left field in the bottom of the fifth inning.

After a 1-2-3 top of the first, the Spartans had a pair of hitters reach base on walks and got in scoring position on ensuing steals, but Stang’s next three batters struck out.

“We had runners on second and third with nobody out and we didn’t score that inning,” Rose said. “Second inning was the same sort of thing. We got one.

“Sometimes in a seven-inning game, the most opportunities come early and we just didn’t get a chance to take advantage of that today.”

Bishop Fenwick catcher Chris D'Angelo attempts to receive a relay that is on the turf as Bishop Stang's Drew Taylor (4) head first slides into the plate. Taylor was safe and his run would tie the game at one in the bottom of the second inning.
Bishop Fenwick catcher Chris D'Angelo attempts to receive a relay that is on the turf as Bishop Stang's Drew Taylor (4) head first slides into the plate. Taylor was safe and his run would tie the game at one in the bottom of the second inning.

After Bishop Fenwick went ahead 1-0 in the top of the second on an RBI single from Josh Scali, the Spartans answered in the bottom of the second. Drew Taylor singled to left field and then scored on a passed ball to tie the game at 1.

The Crusaders scored two more runs in the top of the fifth. Carter McFadden’s RBI triple to center field plated Costa Beechin and then Cormac Heney drove in McFadden for a 3-1 lead.

Stang closed the gap to 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth when Tingley Prince scored on an error, but the Spartans couldn’t manage to get any more hits. Stang had some life in the seventh on a pair of walks with two outs, but a groundout ended the game.

Cam Letourneau of Bishop Stang hustles down the line after a dropped third strike while Fenwick catcher Chris D'Agelo sets himself to throw him out in the background.
Cam Letourneau of Bishop Stang hustles down the line after a dropped third strike while Fenwick catcher Chris D'Agelo sets himself to throw him out in the background.

“What a great baseball game,” Rose said. “They hit more than we hit. Their pitcher did a great job and so did ours.

“Sometimes you go up against a real good pitcher and he’s better that day than we were. You have to tip your hat to Mr. (Michael) Geissler. He did a great job on the mound. Aiden (Cardoza) went toe-to-toe with him the whole game as he has the whole season long.”

Michael Geissler went the distance for Bishop Fenwick, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and five walks while striking out 11.

“When you put the ball in play, good things happen and today we struck out a little bit too much,” Rose said.

Stang starter Aiden Cardoza went 6.1 innings, allowing three earned runs on nine hits and one walk while striking out 13.

Aiden Cardoza delivers during the first inning of Tuesday afternoon's game against Bishop Fenwick game.
Aiden Cardoza delivers during the first inning of Tuesday afternoon's game against Bishop Fenwick game.

WHAT IT MEANS: With the loss, the Spartans fall to 11-4 overall and 6-1 in the CCL. They visit Bishop Fenwick at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. … The Crusaders improved to 13-4 overall.

SOUTHCOASTVARSITY PLAYER OF THE GAME: Taylor went 2-for-3 with a run scored to lead the Spartans.

ROSE: “We’ve just got to get a little bit better in those big games.”

STATS: For Bishop Fenwick, McFadden went 1-for-2 with two walks, an RBIs and two runs scored, Henley was 2-for-3 with an RBI and Chris D’Angelo went 2-for-3.

NOTES: Stang’s defense turned a 5-4-3 double play in the third inning.

Bishop Stang's Matt Burt leaps to receive an errant throw and readies himself to tag out Fenwick's Marco Carrillo (19).
Bishop Stang's Matt Burt leaps to receive an errant throw and readies himself to tag out Fenwick's Marco Carrillo (19).

Bishop Fenwick 3, Bishop Stang 2

Bishop Fenwick;010;020;0 — 3

Bishop Stang;010;010;0 — 2

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Bishop Stang baseball loses to Bishop Fenwick in CCL

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