| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPII | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 0 |
| Parrott | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
Impressive probably isn’t a strong enough word to describe Noah Sugg’s performance this season on the John Paul II Catholic High School baseball team. The freshman got the start Tuesday in a key rivalry game and stifled the Parrott offense as the visiting Saints emerged victorious 5-1.
JPII improved to 13-8 overall and 7-3 in the CPIC. Parrott dropped to 16-8 and 7-3. The two teams finished tied for second in the conference behind Wayne Country Day.
A very, very poorly planned and executed scoreboard malfunction before the game — one that falsely gave the Patriots a 3-run lead and perhaps a false sense of security (those in attendance know) — could’ve given JPII some extra motivation. Or it may not have. But to be sure, the Saints showed up focused and ready to go.
Sugg went the distance for JPII and surrendered only three hits and a pair of walks. He struck out six and also was the beneficiary of a stellar defense that committed zero errors.Â
The Saints never trailed. They took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth as Axel Keller led off with a walk and eventually came around to score on a two-out hit by James Donofrio. Keller had stolen second and taken third on a wild pitch before Donofrio plated him.
The Patriots tied it in the bottom of the fourth, but JPII did the rest of its damage in the top of the sixth. J.T. Williams, also just a freshman, led off with a double, then scored as Sugg reached on an error. After Sugg stole second, he was replaced by courtesy runner Ethan Staton, who then took third on a groundout by Donofrio. Max Mason drove in Staton, then Mason went to second on a hit by Ryker Butcher. Nike Wiggins drove in both Mason and Butcher on a two-out single.
Sugg then gave up a harmless single in the bottom of the sixth and retired Parrott in order in the bottom of the seventh.Â
Wiggins had two of JPII’s seven hits. Mason, Williams, Keller, Donofrio, and Butcher had one each.
Come out on Thursday when the Saints complete the regular season at home against Coastal Christian on Senior Night. Keller, Caleb Thrift, and Tyler Winkler will be honored before the game against the Centurions, who JPII beat 19-4 on April 6.
In addition to the baseball team’s victory Tuesday, the girls soccer team beat Parrott 1-0 to clinch the conference championship. It truly was a great day to be a Saint.
