‘G-men’ are giants for Patrick Henry
- Updated: May 14, 2022
2022 EAST COUNTY PREP BASEBALL
By Nick Pellegrino
ECS staff writer
DEL CERRO — It’s difficult enough when both Christian and Patrick Henry high schools share the same mascot and often participate in the same league in many sports.
It gets even more confusing when the Patrick Henry baseball team fields two players which hold similar names. However, the pair of green-clad Patriots sophomores distinguished themselves over a span of just two pitches to decide the Eastern League baseball champions in Friday’s (May 12) regular season finale.
Talin Gardini slugged a leadoff triple in the right inning, then Jack Giordano dropped the next pitch into left field for a tie-breaking basehit, as the “G-men” gsvr Patrick Henry a 3-2 decision and the league pennant.
The ballclubs entered the week with identical Eastern marks of 8-1 entering this week’s 3-game series. Christian took Monday’s series opener, but Patrick Henry took the next two contests to bump off the defending league champions.
In addition, it was a come-from-behind effort as well, as Patrick Henry allowed a pair of Christian in the second inning, then rode the arm of Dylan Dyersen. The senior pitcher finished with an 8-inning, complete-game 4-hitter, striking out five batters.
Christian’s Shane Bailey sliced a 2-run double with two down in the second, scoring both Caden Leonard and Aidan Haley.
Patrick Henry immediately got one run back on a Nolan Kluge basehit. The knock brought home Ryan Ellis, who was bunted into scoring position by Noah Filson.
After that, Christian pitcher Andruw McCurty settled in. He struck out seven Henry batters over 6.1 innings, also allowing just four hits.
But Patrick Henry finally pulled even in the sixth on a clutch two-out double by Jonah Stepner
With the triumph, Patrick Henry moved to 21-7 overall; the “C-Pats” slipped to 20-7 entering next week’s section playoffs.
