St. Charles Catholic looks to flip script on Notre Dame

Two programs used to seeing each other deep in the playoffs in football and baseball will do so again on the diamond Thursday when No. 2 St. Charles Catholic entertains No. 3 Notre Dame at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in the Division I baseball semifinals.

At stake for the Comets is a third straight championship game appearance.

In 2019, St. Charles Catholic downed University Lab 7-4 in the title game.

The Comets reached the title game in 2016.

In the 2021 Division III state championship game, Notre Dame handled St. Charles Catholic 7-2.

The Pios also won the 2018 Division III state championship.

St. Charles Catholic advanced by sweeping district rival Newman in two games while Notre Dame has swept Cristo Rey and Ascension Episcopal.

“I’m very proud of my team. It wasn’t easy. The expectations are always very high here. Our coaching staff and players expected to be here. We put together a tough schedule and we’ve gotten better after starting 13-9 and we’ve won 13 straight now,” said SCC head coach Wayne Stein.

Sophomore Brady St. Pierre and junior Michael Hotard have been mainstays on the mound for the Comets. Sophomore shortstop Brayden Bertucci and outfielder Kade Edmonds and Jackson Monica have been outstanding. Ian Arnett has been the most consistent player offensively.

“Ian has been so consistent for us,” Stein said. “He never went through a slump all season long. He is our leadoff hitter and sets the tone for us. It is rare when a hitter never goes cold. We like our pitching as well.”

Tyrone Corzine is the ace for Notre Dame. Corzine shut out Ascension Episcopal 15-0 in the quarterfinal series. Caleb Comeaux and Evan LeBlanc are also outstanding on the mound for the Pios. Alex Stevens is the top hitter for Notre Dame but there is solid lineup support from Karson Broussard and Tripp Nixon offensively.

In a one game, knockout-stage, being sharp for seven innings is essential.

“Whoever is better for two and a half hours will win,” Stein said. “Notre Dame is extremely well close. It is very strange that we are such similar teams. We both have a deep pitching staffs and we like to run and will play small ball at times and we both play defense. We look a lot alike. It’s a very even matchup.”

Playing on campus is a huge plus for the Comets.

“We’re excited about getting a chance to play them at home,” Stein said. “It will be a great atmosphere. We will get to split a nice gate. I think it is an atmosphere that both teams want to be a part of. It is a reward for a good season to get the home game.

It has already been a special year for Stein, who led the St. Charles Catholic football team to a Division III state title in December. Now, he and the Comets look for a daily double with baseball.

“Obviously, it’s special to have a chance to possibly win two sports in the same year,” Stein said. “Our kids are aware of that. Everything they went through with Hurricane Ida makes it special. We still have no scoreboard and makeshift dugouts. That has not moved our kids at all. They have fought through it all, as our football team did. The goal here is to always win a state championship at St. Charles Catholic. I think all four teams left in our division are capable of winning it all. We will have to play well.”