Springfield, PA- With runners on first and third and the game tied at two in the bottom of the sixth inning, Cardinal O’Hara was looking to regain the lead after being in control for the first five innings.

When Lansdale Catholic pitcher Nolan Dougherty stepped off the rubber to catch a Lion base runner in the midst of stealing second base, he needed to be cautious of the runner on third. Cardinal O’Hara third baseman, Pete Kline, was reading the mind of Dougherty as he was concerning himself with his teammate at third.

When the throw was made to first base to start the rundown, Klein immediately darted for home. The junior third baseman got a great jump and as a result, the throw to the plate was not in time as the Lions scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth.

Lions' left-hander Billy Neill, who pitched all seven innings while striking out six, sealed the deal in the top of the seventh inning to lift Cardinal O’Hara (7-6, 5-4 PCL) to a 3-2 victory over Lansdale Catholic (2-9, 2-7 PCL) Monday at home. It was O’Hara’s fifth league win and seventh overall.

After being in control for much of the game, the senior lefty wasn’t fazed when he surrendered two runs because he believed in his teammates.

“I had to realize that my boys would pick me up,” Neill said. “They battled at the plate and in the seventh inning they made that double-play for me, so they picked me up really well.”

Despite Klein’s two hits and being responsible for two of the three Lions' runs on the afternoon, this game was all about Neill’s left arm.

Cardinal O’Hara skipper John Grossi stressed the importance of Neill to his team.

“He’s the ace of the staff,” Grossi said. “Billy’s going to take us as far as we can go. We have a couple of guys behind him that can do a good job, but Billy’s our guy and hopefully he can take us deep into the playoffs.”

The Crusaders were trailing just 1-0 for four innings thanks to the stellar pitching of their own.

Nolan Dougherty went six innings while allowing no unearned runs himself.

Matt Cassee got the Crusaders on the board with a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth and tying the game at one followed by a Nick Small single to center field that gave Lansdale Catholic the lead.

LOOKING AHEAD: Lansdale Catholic will take on Perkiomen at home on Wednesday while Cardinal O’Hara will travel to Archbishop Carroll on Thursday.