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2/21/19  St. Anne Pitches the 3^rd No Hitter of the Season!
 
St. Anne             19
St. Martha         1
 

St. Anne Tomball continued their shut down pitching with another no hit performance with Zac Daigre and Andrew O’Brien combining to face 15 batters and not allowing a single hit.  The St. Anne bats came alive in this game racking up 16 hits of our own. 
 
David Snaider and Eoghan Collins each went 4-4 with a combined 9 RBI and our first HR of the season, an in the parker to the RCF gap by David in the first inning.  In fact, we hit 5 balls that nearly left the yard during this game…2 by Michael Herndon deep to CF, Collins, David, and Daigre all hit balls that landed just feet from going out of the park.  We produced steady hitting each inning off of 3 St. Martha pitchers and dominated their lineup through great pitching.  Matthew Garza got his first hit of the season leading off the second inning!  Daigre, David, and Herndon all scored 4 runs a piece in the game.  We hit 3 straight doubles in both the 2^nd and 3^rd innings…David, Herndon and Collins, then Herndon, Collins, and Luke Ubanoski.  A fifth consecutive hit in the same inning came in the 3^rd, when O’Brien hit a hard ground ball to LF.  Thomas Hatfield, Wyatt Martinez, and Tyler Pepper all played meaningful innings in the game.  In fact, Pepper made a nice catch on a line drive to second base and quickly threw the ball to Ubanoski at SS in an attempt to turn a double play.  This play clarified to the coaches that our overall baseball knowledge by everyone is improving and getting to a level where we can compete with the best teams in the league. 
 
On the mound, we were nearly perfect once again.  Daigre got the start and recorded his second WIN as a pitcher this season.  Zac walked 1 batter, struck out 4, and did not allow a hit.  O’Brien took over in the 3^rd recording the exact same stat line, walking 1 and striking out 4 in 2 innings of work.  St. Martha scored 1 unearned run on a throwing error, our only error of the game and only second error this season in 4 games! 
 
Currently we are tied for 1^st place in the North Division at 3-0-1.

2/18/19 Wow…what a game…Sets up a showdown in 1 month for the North Division Title.
 
STA        2
STMB    2
 
Ties are unusual in baseball…its an obscure GHCAA rule that during the regular season, if you reach 7 innings or time limit and the score is tied, the result of the game will remain a tie.  Only the playoffs allows for a tiebreaker.
 
This game provided our fans with great pitching performances on both sides.  We had about 100 people watching this heavy weight matchup between the Crusaders and the Hornets.  Even the score board was active for the first time in at least 5 years.  Thanks to all who contributed to the improvements in the athletic department. 
 
Eoghan Collins started the game on the mound and pitched a dandy!  Eoghan went 4 innings allowing 2 hits, 1 unearned run, and struck out 9 Hornet batters.  Eoghan was magnificent on the mound and overpowered the opponents with his fastball painting the corners.  The Crusaders struck first in the 3^rd inning after 4 consecutive hits.  Zac Daigre started it off with a 1 out double.  David Snaider singled down the 3^rd base line, but in a cruel joke by the baseball gods, the batted ball hit a stealing Daigre in the leg.  Zac would have easily scored on the play…instead, the lead runner was out at 3^rd.  However, Michael Herndon and Eoghan Collins followed up with a single and double, respectively, to make the score 2-0.  After a leadoff double in the 4^th by Ambrose, an error allowed the runner to advance into scoring position and eventually cross the plate.  2-1 after 4.  In the 5^th inning, both teams made pitching changes.  Luke Ubanoski recorded all three outs in the 5^th via strike out.  The bottom of the 5^th provided the best opportunity for the Crusaders to extend the lead late in the game.  Athan Regitz got on base first after hitting a hard ground ball that the SS could not handle.  The next two batters walked and we had bases juiced with no outs and the meat of our lineup coming up.  However, the Hornet fireballer found the strike zone and retired the next two hitters via K.  Luke worked the pitcher to a full count with 2 outs and laced a line drive to deep CF.  But the outfielder made the play to end the inning and the best Crusader threat.  The Hornets started off the 6^th with their 3 hole hitter…the only Hornet player to get a hit in the game…and he continued his hot streak by driving the first pitch over the CF wall.  Luke would strike out the next two and get a ground out to end the inning with the game tied.  The Crusaders failed to threaten in the 6^th.  Final Score 2-2 tie.
 
In summary, we outplayed our opponents in this game, but baseball is a game of small margins.  We didn’t take advantage of our opportunities and spoiled another great pitching performance.  Andrew O’Brien also had a hit in this game.  We outhit our opponent 5 – 3.  We struck out more batters 14 – 11.  We walked one batter and they walked 2.  We had 1 error to their 3.  We beat them in every single statistical category except for the score.  All 3 of their hits were by 1 player.  That being said, we are a more complete team from top to bottom.  But this is proof that you’ve got to capitalize on your chances.  With only 6 or 7 innings in a game there is not enough time to overcome innings where we leave runners on base.
 
I was very encouraged by this game though.  I think our team saw what it is like to play another good team.  One that can match us defensively and pitching.  We’ll learn from it and be a more battle tested team in the future.  On March 20^th, our rematch will surely decide who earns the #1 seed for the North Division entering the playoffs.  Thanks to all who came to watch the game and cheer us on.  Our guys were so excited to play in front of so many who support us.  We can’t wait to take the field again with Crusader pride!

BACK TO BACK NO HITTERS!
 
STA        11
SAOP    0
 
The St. Anne Baseball Crusaders traveled to St. Anthony of Padua (SAOP) for an early road test on the diamond.  SAOP is the 3 time defending North Division champions.  A motivated St. Anne team scored early and never allowed SAOP to threaten.  Two Crusader pitchers combined to throw another NO HITTER!  Michael Herndon and Eoghan Collins threw a combined 5 innings allowing 0 hits and striking out 13!  So far on the season our pitching has completely dominated our opponents.  Herndon and Luke Ubanoski each had a pair of hits and drove in 5 of our 11 runs. 
 
The Crusaders scored early.  After loading the bases in the first inning, Luke Ubanoski laced a line drive in the gap for a base clearing triple.  We scored 3 more runs in the second inning.  A single to RF by Herndon scored Andrew O’Brien & Zac Daigre.  Then Ubanoski drove in Herndon.  On the mound, Herndon was dominant striking out the side in the first inning.  In the second, we allowed our first base runner of the season, but Herndon picked over to Collins who fired the ball to Daigre for the tag out.  It was perfect execution of a pick off play and run down.  Herndon continued to shut down the SAOP hitters in the 3^rd, not allowing a runner past first base.  O’Brien made a sweet play robbing a hit sprinting to his left at second base and fielding the hard hit grounder to make the out.  Daigre and David Snaider scored in the 4^th inning on RBIs by Collins and Ubanoski.  We scored a little insurance in the final frame with back to back hits by David Snaider (Doubled to RF, scoring Tyler Pepper and Thomas Hatfield), and Herndon who drove in Snaider.  Collins pitched the final two inning and did so recording every out via K! 
 
Once again the Crusaders won with timely hitting and perfect pitching.  So far this season our pitching has gone 8 innings allowing 0 hits and striking out 22!  We intend to ride this strength all season long. 

BASEBALL CRUSADERS PERFECT IN HOME OPENER 2/11/19
 
SAT        16
SMM     0
 
St. Anne Baseball Crusaders pitched a shutout in the opening game of the 2019 season.  Literally pitched a shutout…Zac Daigre didn’t allow a ball to be put in play as he pounded the strikezone for 3 innings striking out all 9 batters.  9 up and 9 down.  Daigre pitched the first Perfect Game in recent St. Anne history. 
 
Crusaders got on the board quickly scoring 5 runs in the first inning after an RBI single by David Snaider and a 2 RBI double by Luke Ubanoski.  The Cursaders scored 2 more runs in the second inning by stringing together singles by Michael Herndon (off the centerfield wall), Ubanoski, Kevin Snaider, and Athan Regitz.  However, we left the bases loaded this inning.  Although we were the superior team, leaving runners stranded on base left doubt that we could eliminate them in 3 innings as heavy rain loomed.  Entering the 3^rd inning, a drizzle turned into a steady downpour.  Daigre found his grip on the baseball and continued to throw strikes and dominate the Lions hitters.  The Crusaders scored 9 runs in the 3^rd to end the game via mercy rule.  We knocked the Lions starter out of the game after a single by David Snaider and a double high off the RF wall by Herndon.  The Lions put in their change of pace pitcher.  But the Crusader bats were unfazed.  An infield single by Kevin Snaider and a line drive double by Daigre plated a few more runs and put the runners on base to set up a walk-off opportunity.  Herndon hit his second double off the game with a fly ball to LF.  Then, Eoghan Collins sent a laser bomb to right field that nearly knocked the fence down!  It was a mere 12 inches from leaving the yard.  But it was enough to send the final runs over the plate to end the onslaught.  Final Score: St. Anne Crusaders 16 – St. Mary Magdalene 0.
 
Every single player dressed out for the game was able to receive playing time.  Thomas Hatfield & Michael Brindle got their first At Bats of their St. Anne baseball career.  Had we played more innings every player would have likely had a chance to bat.  It was a great team effort…great pitching and hitting.  But, we cannot be too confident.  There is a particular “water dwelling mammal” waiting in their habitat in the Woodlands for our visit on Wednesday.  Nothing that we accomplished on Monday will matter.  We will have a new pitcher and be facing a more skilled, experienced, and prepared St. Anthony of Padua team.  Padua is the 3 time defending North Division Champion.  This will be an early road test for our squad.  I feel great about our teams ability to beat them.  But we will have to do something that we didn’t get to do on Monday.  Which is Play Defense.  Our defense is untested thus far.  We will need to have dominate pitching again, timely hitting, and make the routine defensive plays to beat Padua.  They will not be intimidated by our opening day score, I promise that.  But this is our year…Go Crusaders!
 
Practice:             Today, Tuesday
                             4 PM – 5:30 PM
                             We may wrap up a little early depending on field conditions.  I mostly just want to work on some base running, situational defense, and hit.  Since this practice sandwiches two games we will not go hard. 
                             No practice on Thursday or Friday.
 
Thank you to Coach Brent Collins for painting the field and keeping GameChanger during the game.  Thank you to Mrs. Herndon for keeping the score book. 
 
See Game Stats below!
 
St. Mary Magdalenemore stats
 
EDIT

PitchingW: Zac Daigre 
Pitches-Strikes: Zac Daigre 39-27 
Groundouts-Flyouts: Zac Daigre 0-0 
First pitch strikes-Batters faced: Zac Daigre 7-9 
 

The 2018 Crusader baseball team went 9-4 with two post season playoff games. Coached by Brian Daigre and Adam Herndon, the team has a solid returning bench for the 2019 season with 13 returning players. 

Baseball is offered for student athletets in grades 6th-8th grade.