PHILADELPHIA- The Neumann-Goretti Saints baseball team overcame the Roman Catholic Cahillites in a PCL quarterfinal on Monday, but didn't know it until Tuesday.
Play was paused Monday in the top of the sixth inning with a score of 2-1 in favor of Neumann. Roman had just scored a run and recorded three hits in the fifth.
The game was competitive and shaping up to be a battle of the bullpens. An oncoming onslaught of thunder and lightning postponed the final two innings to Tuesday.
Neumann-Goretti pitcher Jeff Ciocco allows 1 run in the 2-1 victory over Roman
At least that's what everyone thought.
The PIAA announced the game’s score through six innings would be considered final on Tuesday afternoon.
Fans of Neumann rejoiced while the Roman side is in an uproar.
The Cahillites season ends prematurely while Neumann-Goretti will advance to the PCL semifinals to face the Bonner-Prendie Friars.
The game’s first pitch was thrown at 4pm on Monday by Roman’s Aidan Welch and was set to be continued with reliever Santino Nave on the mound.
Roman's pitcher Santino Nave strikes-out NG's Louis Testa
The teams were locked in what seemed to be a pitching duel as Roman’s Welch recorded three strikeouts in his 3 and ⅔ innings pitched, allowing two runs. Nave entered the game and had pitched 1 and ⅔ innings when play was paused, recording 2 strikeouts of his own.
On the other side, Neumann’s Jeff Ciocco pitched all five innings for his team, allowing just one run and started the game with back-to-back 1-2-3 innings.
Joe Lafiora had one hit and RBI in the third inning for Neumann. Outfielder Brian Veratti batted in what turned out to be the winning run for Neumann in the fourth inning.
Roman’s Victor Milizia reached first base on an error in the fifth and eventually scored on another error.
These are now final statistics. Seniors for Roman have now played their last game in a Cahillite uniform.
Sadly, Roman’s efforts were thwarted by the rain while Neumann’s season might have been saved.
Neumann-Goretti
Brian Veratti 1-3, RBI
Colin Eiser 0-2
Nicky D’Amore 1-3
Jarred Healy 1-3, R
Aidan Baur 0-2, BB
Louis Testa 0-2, BB
Ryan McGettigan 1-3, R
Joe Lafiora 1-2, RBI
Jeff Ciocco 1-2
Pitcher: Ciocco 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, K, BB
Roman
Marquise Wood 0-3
Shane Flaherty 1-3
Greg Grandelli 0-2
Noah Clement 1-2
Phil DiWilliams 0-1, BB
Kevin Flaherty 0-2
Victor Milizia 1-1, R
Kevin Glynn 1-2
Werten Bellamy 0-1
Pitchers:
Aidan Welch: 3 ⅔ IP, 5 H, 2 R, 3 K, 2BB
Santino Nave, 1 ⅔ IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 K,BB
NG 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 5 2
RC 0 0 0 0 1 - 1 4 1