Clock Strikes Twelve on CCC’s Cinderella Story

Tampa Catholic opened up the game early.

The Crusaders got two runners on and senior Cameron Alford sent a pitch over the left-center wall for a three run homer.

proceeded with a long ball of their own. Ray Fox hit a two run blast to the very same spot in the left-center wall.

It looked like it would be another one of those insanity-filled, back and forth nail-biters we are accustomed to with this matchup this season.

But there was no magic left in the tank for the Marauders as Tampa Catholic dominated on the mound and at the plate - hitting through three Maruader pitchers and winning 8-2 Friday.

“We bounced back from a 2-7 start to finish 19-10. There’s no way we expected to be in a regional quarterfinal early in the year," CCC coach Todd Vaughan said after the game. "We sat down with our seniors at one point and challenged them to put us on their shoulders and turn the year around and they did just that. They have a lot to be proud of. The guys coming back will have a lot to live up to."

CCC just didn’t have it tonight. Their infield gave up three errors and their key players came up short in important spots.

And Tampa Catholic starting pitcher, junior Derek Martin put the clamps down and did not surrender another run until his exit in the seventh inning.

Supported by a locked-down infield that made several tough throws and nearly turned two double plays, Martin took control of the game.

“My fastball and my cutter were working for me tonight. I felt like I could get up on them with the cutter and finish them off with my fastball,” Martin said.

And Martin had plenty of run support. Tampa Catholic added two in the top of the fifth inning.

With the score 8-2 late in the game, the Marauders did not give up without a fight.

But when the meat of CCC’s lineup came up in the bottom of the fifth Martin again shut them down.

Fox got on base with a single, but senior Eric Simone grounded out and Jeff Campbell went down swinging.

In the the sixth inning, the Marauders were pressed to get some runs.

But senior Seth Paitsel grounded out, sophomore Johnny Karaphillis struck out swinging at what looked like a cutter tailing away from him. And sophomore Benny Mendizabal looked at strike three.

TC coach Pat Russo went to the bullpen in the seventh, bringing in sophomore left-hander, Nick Sucarichi. He struck out Gibbery with three pitches, struck out junior Carter Cashman looking and, fittingly, Fox was the last out of the game.