UPHILL BATTLE. Head coach Aaron Peirick speaks with the Shamrocks after their first-round loss to Pacific. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
BRANDON CANANIA (13) made all but one out for New Haven’s defense in their season opener to Pacific. Photo by Wyatt Hardy
Baseball Advances To 7th-Place Matchup
New Haven (0-2) got its season rolling with its first two Four Rivers Conference tournament games. They fell 15-0 against Pacific in their season opener and then 6-1 to St. James in the second round. The Shamrocks advanced to the 7th-place matchup and will play Hermann in St. Clair at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Mar. 20.
Pacific
New Haven had junior Jacob Gerdes pitching on the mound until the bottom of the third. By then, the Indians had marked a 5-0 lead on the scoreboard, so senior Brandon Canania came in for relief. Afterward, Pacific circled the bases for ten points, forcing the mercy rule and cementing the Shamrocks’ 15-0 defeat.
Canania racked up four popouts and two flyouts as a center fielder. He also recorded a strikeout on the mound.
Junior center fielder Michael McFerrin caught a flyout.
St. James
New Haven aimed to redeem themselves against the Tigers but fell 6-1 in their second round. Their only score came from Canania at the top of the 7th. He was first to bat and launched a line drive to left field to try to ignite a flame for the Shamrocks in their last offensive opportunity. Freshman Weston Hecktor grounded out, and senior Thomas Wiedemann struck out looking, stringing up two outs for the New Haven. Canania, refusing to let the game be another shutout, escaped to third base on a passed ball and seized home when junior Ryan Steinbeck fired off a grounder. With his run, Canania also tallied a hit and a walk.
The Shamrocks racked up four hits, one run, one RBI and two walks against St. James.
Freshman Trevor Hinten pitched for New Haven until the bottom of the 6th and recorded four strikeouts. He gave up six hits and four earned runs.
Steinbeck relieved Hinten of his duties and pitched two strikeouts. He played shortstop beforehand and caught two line outs. When Steinbeck was at bat, he pulled off an RBI and hit.
Against the Tigers, junior Reid Lueckenhoff collected a hit on offense and an out as a second baseman.
Senior Andrew Noelke had a walk, and as the first baseman, he grabbed seven ground outs.
Junior Jace Ritchie caught a runner out.
Catcher Hecktor made a flyout.
Gerdes recorded a hit.
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