Solid Season Ends for Kennedy Baseball as MacArthur Knocks Cougars Out of Playoffs

After dropping the first of a three-game semifinal series on Monday, the Kennedy baseball team knew it was going to be an uphill battle to make it to the county finals.

Unfortunately for them, the Cougars' dreams of going to the finals were shattered yesterday as they lost to MacArthur at Kennedy High School, 3-1, in the Class AA semifinals.

Kennedy helped the Generals get the game-tying run via an error in the top of the fourth, and definitely didn't help their own cause in the sixth inning when MacArthur made the score 2-1.

With two outs in the top of the fourth, Sal Sanquini hit a slow ground ball past the Cougars' starting pitcher Rob Stalzer. Noah Shulman charged in from shortstop to field the ball, but threw it away when he tried to get Sanquini out at first. The runner was given second base when the ball went out of play.

The following batter singled into right field, and Sanquini was trying to score from second base. Justin Harrison would have had Sanquini out by a mile, but he threw the ball well over catcher Joe Gallito's head, allowing the run to score.

"When you play MacArthur, and you make those mistakes, you pay for them," Kennedy head coach Eric Passman said.

In the top of the sixth inning, after the Generals got a lead-off single from Mike Scro, Sanquini went to drop down a sacrifice bunt to get the runner to second base. The Cougars tried to get Scro out at second, but the throw wasn't in time (and pulled Shulman off the bag) and he was called safe.

With runners on first and second, MacArthur then did drop down a sacrifice bunt, which gave them runners on second and third with one out, and ultimately the go-ahead run.

"We're a little more veteran team than they are and I think that showed a little bit," MacArthur head coach Steve Costello said.

Scoring runs didn't come easy for the Cougars either. After picking up an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, Kennedy was unable to push any more runs across. They had two great opportunities, but those chances slipped through their fingers.

After the top-seeded Generals tied the game at one in the top half of the fourth inning, Kennedy's Andrew Wood singled to lead off the bottom half of the inning, and then Justin Harrison walked.

The next batter up, John Rosse attempted to sacrifice bunt both runners over, but the Generals threw to third to get the lead runner, and Wood was called out on a questionable call.

A walk to Joe Gallito loaded the bases for Jordan Leopold, who hit a fly ball into right field. Harrison attempted to tag up and score, but was thrown out at the plate by MacArthur's right fielder Matt DiBiase.

"When it looked like we were going to score, they made the plays," Passman said.  "[Generals' starting pitcher Josh Barry] made the pitches, and we didn't score."

Barry had a terrific day on the mound for MacArthur, going all seven innings and only giving up one earned run on four hits, with 11 strikeouts. He also managed to get some big outs with runners in scoring position.

"You can't fall under pressure, you just keep throwing, keep believing in yourself," Barry said. "You're there for a reason, you're on the mound, you're in the semis for a reason.

Although it was a disappointing end to the season for Kennedy, Passman was plenty pleased with his team's overall performance throughout the regular season and the playoffs.

"I feel fantastic," he said.  "Kennedy has never been in this place before, never been to this territory and it feels great."

And come next season, the goal remains simple for the Cougars.

"Go to the county finals, like it is every year," Passman said.