BRANDYWINE HUNDRED — Saint Mark’s got a stellar pitching performance from Devon Walsh and Ian Keane and moved to the DIAA baseball quarterfinals with a 6-1 win at Concord on May 25. The Spartans will meet the top seed, Sussex Central, on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Sports at the Beach in Georgetown.
Walsh retired the first six Raiders he faced before Caden Brown singled. He was caught stealing, but Bakir Avent singled and stole second. Walsh got the second out via a strikeout, but Andrew Firko delivered a run-scoring single to right field, with Avent sliding in ahead of the tag.
The Spartans, seeded ninth in the tournament, wasted no time in launching a comeback. Caleb King singled off Raiders starter Jackson LaPerle, and Tyler Sinko came in as a courtesy runner. With one out, Shawn Satterfield singled, and both runners advanced on a passed ball. No. 8 Concord got the second out, but Cole Sims grounded a single to left, scoring Sinko and Satterfield.
Sims, who had taken second base on the throw home, came around to score after the next hitter, Aidan Lehane, also singled to left. Finally, Chase Thornton flared a double to right, increasing the lead to 4-1.
Walsh retired the side in order in the fourth before running into a bit of a jam in the fifth. After getting the first two outs, he hit a batter and walked the next. The Spartans summoned Keane from the bullpen, and he got a strikeout to end the inning.
The Spartans added two runs in the sixth. Satterfield singled, and pinch runner Joseph Santoro scored when Sims tripled. Sims then scored on a sacrifice fly by Zac Pruitt.
The was plenty for Keane, who set Concord down in order in the final two innings. Three of those outs came on fly balls, and the other three were strikeouts.
Sims finished with three hits, three runs batted in and a run scored. King and Satterfield each had two hits. Walsh struck out six, and Keane had four more. Saint Mark’s improved to 16-4.
Avent and Firko both reached base twice for the Raiders. Concord, coached by 1995 Saint Mark’s graduate Tim Hamberger, finished the season 15-4.
Photos by Mike Lang.
