Replay: Rummel rallies to beat Brother Martin to maintain district lead

NEW ORLEANS – It is not how you start, it is how you finish.

After falling to Brother Martin in game one of its two-game District 9-5A series Saturday, Archbishop Rummel faced a battle for first place in the league with the Crusaders Tuesday night.

Brother Martin picked up where it left off in good fashion as did Rummel in poor fashion and the Crusaders took the early lead.

The Raiders then flipped the script, rallying to defeat Brother Martin 5-3 at Kirsch-Rooney Stadium in a game streamed live on CrescentCitySports.com to split the two-game series and maintained its league lead. The Crusaders defeated the Raiders 3-1 Saturday night.

After a rough first inning, senior Ryan Claverie bounced back strong to go 6 1/3 strong innings, allowing just one earned run on four hits to pick up his fifth win of the season.

“It all starts with my team,” Claverie said. “I get down two early and I knew I just needed to get out of that. I knew I had my team behind me. We kept putting up runs and I got the support from my team. Honestly, I usually take one inning to get ready. After that, I slowed things down with my velocity and settled in.”

Claverie walked three, hit two batters and struck out four. Brian Keller came on and got the save, though he allowed a run.

Brother Martin scored twice in the bottom of the first on singles by Cody Kropp and Ryan Darrah and an error which loaded the bases. Cole Navarro singled home a run to make it 1-0. Reece Roussel drove in a run with a fielder’s choice grounder and it was 2-0.

Rummel cut the deficit to 2-1 with a run in the top of the second on a double by Aiden Gernard before Lenny Cline singled, advancing Gernard to third. Courtesy runner Dominic Mendieta stole second and the throw to second was wild, scoring Gernard.

The Raiders tied it in the third inning on a single by Brandt Frey before Mikey Ryan walked. Evan Burg walked to load the bases and an error scored Frey to make it 2-2.

Rummel took the lead in the top of the fifth on a single by Ruben Ramirez and an RBI triple by Ryan who scored on a wild pitch to give the Raiders a 4-2 lead.

Brother Martin had a great chance to tie the game or take the lead in the bottom of the fifth as Claverie ran into control issues. Stan Wiltz walked, Kropp was hit by a pitch and Darrah walked to load the bases with no outs.

Claverie got Randol to fly out to short right field before Navarro grounded into a double play and Claverie escaped without giving up a run.

The Raiders made it 5-2 in the top of the seventh inning as Ryan reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Gavin Kennedy.

The Crusaders scored a run in the bottom of the seventh after Claverie departed at the maximum pitch count. Brian Keller entered for Rumel and walked Darrah before Randol doubled him home to make it 5-3. Keller struck out Navarro to end it.

Ramirez, who entered the game batting .422, had two hits to pace an eight-hit attack for Rummel.

“We did a heck of a job and Claverie threw the ball real well,” Rummel coach Frank Cazeaux said. “We needed that one. They took it to us last Saturday. We came up with big hits and did a heck of a job on defense. Now, we control our own destiny to win the Catholic League championship.”

Navarro took the loss, going the distance, allowing five runs (three earned) on eight hits with three walks and nine strikeouts.

“We paid for the mistakes we made as they capitalized on those mistakes,” Brother Martin coach Jeff Lupo said. “When we had the opportunity with the bases loaded and no outs, we did not take advantage. Claverie settled in after the first inning. We had our chance to get him. Kudos to Rummel for making the plays.”

Rummel (18-7, 8-2) increased its lead over Brother Martin (18-9, 7-4) to a 1 ½ games while the Raiders maintained a one-game lead on John Curtis Christian, who stayed hot with a 7-6 win over St. Augustine.

The Raiders, now third in the Select Division I power ratings, open a two-game series against Holy Cross at Holy Cross Park Thursday at 4:30 p.m.

The Crusaders still have a league game with St. Augustine to make up.

FINAL
Rummel 011 020 1 5 8 1, 5 LOB
B. Martin 200 000 1 3 5 3, 7 LOB
WP—Ryan Claverie (5-1)
LP—Cole Navarro (4-4)
SAVE—Brian Keller (2)
Time of Game: 2:14
SB—Dominic Mendieta, Mikey Ryan, Ryan Darrah
2B—Ryan Gernard, Frank Randol
3B—Mikey Ryan