RECAP >> Jeremy Haas didn’t mince words following his team’s first loss of the season.
“It just wasn’t our day,” said Emmaus’ fourth year head coach.
And it wasn’t.
But it happens. Even to the best of programs.
The day began on a good note, however, for the area’s only unbeaten team (12-0 overall, 10-0 EPC) on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Church Lane Park as they honored their eight seniors along with their parents on Senior Day.
But it didn’t end that way some three hours later as it was rival Central Catholic doing all the celebrating as the Vikes handed Emmaus its first loss of the season in a wild 12-9 victory in eight innings.
The Vikes, who entered play dropping three of their last five games and sitting at just 5-5 overall, blew a five-run lead in the bottom of the seventh inning as they watched the Hornets put together an incredible rally to tie the game at 9-9 forcing extra innings.
But in the top of the eighth Central Catholic was able to regroup and score three runs and then survive yet another rally in the bottom of the inning as Emmaus brought the tying run to the plate with two out and two on before reliever Chris Quezada struck out pinch-hitter Jackson Merk to end the game.
Senior right fielder Hunter Schmidt, in his only plate appearance in the game, delivered what proved to be the game-winning hit as his two-out single to left scored Antonio Albanese giving the Vikings a 10-9 lead. The Vikings would then add two more insurance runs to pull off their biggest win to date.
Central Catholic improved to 6-5 overall and 6-4 in the EPC with the win, while Emmaus is now 12-1 overall and 10-1 in the league. The Hornets had won both regular-season meetings against the Vikings a year ago.
Mason Abromitis, the third pitcher of the day for Central Catholic, picked up the win in relief despite his struggles in the seventh inning which saw him give up two runs and issue three walks on 36 pitches.
Quezada, who struggled himself in the sixth inning, earned the save as he closed the game out in the eighth. Starter Josh Ossiander, the staff ace, pitched five solid innings striking out eight and scattering four hits.
Colin Foley suffered his first loss of the season (3-1) for the Hornets in relief of starter Tyler LePage who was making his first start. LePage lasted just 3 1/3 innnings, giving up nine runs on seven hits.
Central Catholic outhit Emmaus 13-8 in the game and the Hornets were hurt by committing an uncharacteristic four errors.
Foley drove in three runs in the game with his fourth home run of the season, a three-run blast to center as part of Emmaus’ five-run seventh inning. Sophomore Josiah Williams was the only Hornet with multiple hits (2-for-4).
Abromitis led the visitors with three RBI and went 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored. Albanese had a game-high three hits, while teammates catcher Griffin Patridge, third baseman Tamlin Ferguson and second baseman Andrew LaRock all had two hits.
Prior to the game Emmaus honored seniors Dom Chiego, Luke Deschenes, Colin Foley, Jaden Gallagher, Tyler LePage, Alex Pion, Austin Schaffer and Anthony Viola for their contributions to the program.
Emmaus will now look to get back into the win column on a rare Sunday game as they host the top team in District 2 in Hazleton (6-1) in a make up game originally scheduled for April 9. The two teams hooked up in a low-scoring classic a year ago with the Cougars prevailing 2-1.
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CCHS 12, Emmaus 9 (8 innings)
CC – 310 500 03 – 12-13-2
Em – 210 001 50 – 9-8-4
Josh Ossiander, Chris Quezada (6), Mason Abromitis (7), Quezada (8) and Griffin Patridge; Tyler LePage, Colin Foley (4) and Dom Chiego. W – Abromitis, L – Foley (3-1), S – Quezada
2B – Abromitis (CC), Quezada (CC), Williams (Em)
HR – Foley (7th, 2 on)