Stuprich shuts down John Curtis as Brother Martin takes 2-0 win in playoff series opener

NEW ORLEANS – When two good teams who know each other very well hook up in the playoffs, it figures to be a close game.

That was the case in the first game of the best-of-three quarterfinal series between No. 3 Brother Martin and No. 7 John Curtis Christian Thursday evening.

Junoir Brennan Stuprich saw to it that the Crusaders would not be denied. Stuprich was the master of all he surveyed in a superb pitching performance as Brother Martin blanked the two-time defending state champion Patriots 2-0 at Kirsch-Rooney Stadium.

Stuprich went the distance, allowing just three hits. He walked just one and struck out seven, using just 99 pitches in a marvelous performance.

Jake Dickinson provided the offense with a two-run double in the bottom of the fourth inning. Joel Taylor, Collin Guggenheim and freshman Logan O’Neil had the only hits for John Curtis.

In the bottom of the fourth, O’Neil walked Ethan Moser and Cole Stromboe. Caden Nash moved both runners up with a sacrifice bunt before Dickinson doubled to center, providing the margin of victory.

In the top of the fifth, the Patriots got a runner to third as O’Neil singled, stole second and moved to third on a groundout but Stuprich got A. Phillips to line out to left to end the threat.

O’Neil took the loss for John Curtis (13-14). O’Neil started and went four innings, allowing two runs on three hits. He survived six walks and struck out two. Michael Curtis went two shutout innings in relief, allowing just one hit. He walked one and struck out one.

Southern Miss commitment Brady Faust was 2 for 2 with a walk and a stolen base for the Crusaders.

“Brennan has been lights out for us all year,” Lupo said. “I don’t think he disappointed. He’s been really consistent. He dominates the strike zone and he gives our guys a lot of confidence. We know we have a chance to win when he takes the mound. He will challenge hitters. We played a clean game defensively and we got the one timely hit we needed. I think it is extremely important to get the first game to set up your pitching rotation and it puts pressure on the other team to win two games in one day.”

Brother Martin (25-5) has now won seven straight games. The Crusaders have now won all three matchups with the Patriots this season.

“They made a couple of nice plays and it comes down to inches at times,” Jeff Curtis said. “I told the guys after the game that we got everything we wanted out of the game except for the win. Logan did a good job keeping us in the game. We competed hard and played good defense. We just came up a little short and couldn’t get the hit. I still like where we are with Dax (Ford) getting the ball in game two with a chance to go to game three when anything can happen.”

Game two is set for Saturday at 2 p.m. at Kirsch-Rooney Stadium with game three, if necessary, to follow.

Final

JC 000 000 0 — 0 3 0, 4 LOB
BM 000 200 x — 2 4 1, 7 LOB

WP—Brennan Stuprich (9-1)
LP—Logan O’Neil (2-3)

SB—Brady Faust, Tre’ Morgan, Logan O’Neil
2B—Jake Dickinson, Joel Taylor