A Quick 60
The Challenge
MSGVarsity.com Sports Talk
High School SportsDesk
Kurz, St. Anthony's top Kellenberg in Game One
Jake Kurz pitched a brilliant three-hitter in No. 1 St. Anthony's 1-0 win Tuesday to open its CHSAA semifinal series with No. 4 Kellenberg at Farmingdale State, but the play of the game was made on the base path between first and second in the second inning.
In a scoreless game, Friars designated hitter Paul Britt took off for second base on a hit-and-run with Nick Gargan at the plate but was caught in a rundown when Kellenberg pitcher Matt Weissheier threw a pitchout, anticipating Britt would steal second.
Britt somehow scampered 75 feet back to first, later got to third on a sacrifice and an error, and eventually scored the game's only run two batters later on Michael Gentile's squeeze bunt.
"When I was going [to second] I looked back to see if [Gargan] hit the ball and then just tried to get back to the base," Britt said. " I was watching to make sure [Gentile] bunted before I stole if they pitched out again."
St. Anthony's coach John Phelan said the squeeze play was a "great call."
"It's something we do all year, sometimes successful, sometimes not, but the Catholic League is small-ball so you don't pass up an opportunity to get in a run if you can," he said.
Kurz and Weissheier were both superb. Kurz allowed just three hits and a walk with seven strikeouts, while Weissheier gave up two hits, a walk, and the unearned run.
"My fastball had a lot of life on it today, and my curveball helped me out big time," Kurz said.
"My curve got the hitters off balance when I attacked with the fastball."
St. Anthony's took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series, and will go for the sweep this afternoon. No. 2 St. John the Baptist and No. 3 Holy Trinity opened their semifinal series following the St. Anthony's-Kellenberg game.
Tri-State lacrosse Top 20: Week 4
Long Island power rankings: Spring sports
All-Metro boys and girls basketball: 2012-13
All-Long Island teams: Fall 2012
