Strake Jesuit at Memorial baseball

By DAVE PURPURA
The Athlete's Connection

The Strake Jesuit baseball team entered Thursday night’s game at Memorial eager to, if not confident they could, atone for a nine-run loss to the Mustangs three weeks ago.

The Mustangs summarily drubbed the Crusaders 9-5 and left Mustang Park in a familiar position – firmly on top of their district.

“This is a huge win,” said Memorial starting pitcher Nick Bergmann. “They came here to beat us but we stepped up and just kept hitting and won the game. Each game excites us and motivates us more and more to keep winning.”

M.P. Cokinos and Michael Ratterree hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning and Bergmann held the Crusaders to one run through the first six innings as Memorial (19-3, 8-0) strengthened its hold on District 18-5A to two games ahead of Strake Jesuit and Stratford.

“We got on them early; that’s what we talked about all week,” Mustangs coach Jeremy York said. “We were fortunate we could make things happen early. …

“Every game we win puts distance between us and someone else. That’s our objective, to just go out and take care of business. If we do that, we’ll be in great shape.”

Memorial hosts Stratford on Tuesday night.

Cokinos hit his team-leading ninth home run, Ratterree his seventh.

“He just threw a changeup over the middle of the plate, I waited on it and got it out to left. And the wind was blowing,” Ratterree said.

“They swing the bats well, and anytime you have them in the (Nos. 3 and 4 spots) you have to be careful with them or they can turn a game around in a hurry,” York said. “We have other guys in the lineup who can do it as well. We were fortunate.”

Memorial added three standup doubles from Carter Burgess, David Holland and Daniel Neumann in the second to take a 4-0 lead, then blew the game open with another run in the third and four in the fourth.

Bergmann allowed seven hits while striking out nine, walking one and hitting a batter in 6 2/3 innings.

Strake Jesuit (12-8, 6-2) fell back into a tie for second-place with Stratford, a tie the Crusaders had broken with a one-run victory over the Spartans on Tuesday night.

Patrick Blizzard’s solo home run in the fourth inning was the most offense the Crusaders could muster until Evan Fichter’s grand slam in the seventh. They finished with six hits.

“I just wanted to get that last out,” said Bergmann, who was pulled immediately after the slam with one out remaining.

Family Day upcoming
The Mustangs are holding their annual Family Day festivities April 18, when they host The Woodlands.

Activities include face painting, baserunning for kids 12 and younger run the bases following the varsity game, and a raffle. Meal deals also will be available.

Admission is $2 for children and adults; youths age 5 or younger are admitted free.

The junior varsity game begins at 10 a.m.; the varsity game is at 2 p.m.
---
Dave Purpura can be reached at (281) 404-4958 or dpurpura@athletesconnection.com.