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Robinson dominates Holy Trinity's Game 1 win
Alex Robinson was on fire on Tuesday night, just like much of his senior season.
The University of Maryland bound pitcher was dominant allowing only two hits in the complete game effort to lead No. 2 Holy Trinity to a 2-0 victory over No. 3 St. John the Baptist in game one of the CHSAA semifinal series at Farmingdale State.
Robinson struck out 13 batters in his brilliant outing, and just the way he started the game was how he ended it, with a swing and a miss. Over his complete game, he struck out at least one batter per inning, with five innings striking out two or more.
The Titans got it going early offensively. In the first, leftfielder Tyler Kapela reached base on a single, then stole second base. After Cougar starting pitcher Andrew Sesto struck out the dangerous Patrick Madigan, Anthony Rosati singled to rightfield. Anthony Casalini made a strong throw to home, but the relay throw to home was not in time to get the sliding Kapela. Although Kapela had scored, SJB’s catcher Chris Gaffney alertly tossed to second base to get Rosati trying to advance, and end the inning.
The game would remain 1-0 into the bottom of the third when Holy Trinity’s Jack Parenty led off with a walk, stole second, moved up on Kapela’s groundout to second, which led to a big at bat for Madigan. Madigan was able to sky a ball into rightfield for the sacrifice fly that scored the final run of the game and make it 2-0.
Two runs would be all that Robinson would need.
However, St. John the Baptist would not roll over. In the top of the fourth inning, Gaffney led off with a booming triple over the head of Madigan that bounced to the wall. After only the second hit allowed by Robinson, he would buckle down by retiring the next three hitters to escape the jam.
Holy Trinity’s victory gave the Titan the all important 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series, and will go for the sweep on Wednesday afternoon. The winner of the series will go on to face the winner of No. 1 St. Anthony’s and No. 4 Kellenberg in the Catholic League finals.
