CLINTON TWP. — Holy Cross’ discipline at the plate paid dividends as the Crusaders drew seven walks during their 13-3 win, in five innings, over Lackawanna Trail in a District 2 Class 2A quarterfinal baseball game Monday.
“We took advantage of the walks they gave us,” Holy Cross head coach Sandy Menichetti said. “We also capitalized on a couple errors they committed.”
Holy Cross (5-10) took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Joe DeGrazia drove in a run with a groundout and the Crusaders added another run on one of 11 errors made by Lackawanna Trail.
Lions right fielder Thomas Kohinsky drove in third baseman David Klinges, who singled, with a double in the bottom of the second.
Holy Cross pushed across three runs in the top of the third inning when Lackawanna Trail starting pitcher Nate Rolka walked six batters, including three with the bases loaded, before being replaced by Shawn Jones.
“We heard from some scouting that he throws hard, but he could lose control a little bit,” Menichetti said. “I told our guys to be patient and it worked for us.”
Carson Cacioppo and John Iacobacci each drove in runs during the top of the fourth inning when Holy Cross stretched its lead to 8-1.
Six members of the Crusaders lineup were credited with hits and scored a run during the contest. Menichetti believes his team is starting to click at the right time.
“It’s been happening the last three games,” he said. “Even the bottom part of our order, if they’re not getting hits, they’re putting the ball in play and making things happen. Everyone is contributing now which is making us roll.”
Klinges, who finished with three hits, singled and scored on an error in the bottom of the fourth. Lackawanna Trail was looking for more with two runners on base and one out, but Holy Cross turned a double play to end the inning.
“Every time we got something going, they made some really good plays,” Lackawanna Trail head coach Todd Peters said.
Holy Cross scored five more runs in the top of the fifth as Lackawanna Trail (4-9) committed six errors.
“We gave them too many free passes and extra outs, and that’s what happens,” Peters said.
Klinges knocked in Jones, who finished with two hits, with an single in the bottom of the fifth.
Rolka, a sophomore, and seven other starters are expected to return for Lackawanna Trail next season.
“We only lose one guy (Thomas Huffsmith), so it’s just a matter of how we come back next year and what kind of focus and effort we put in,” Peters said.
