By Drake Skleba
Senior Writer

WINNETKA – In another edition of the North Shore War, Loyola Academy rallied pastArch-rival New Trier 6-2. Rambler senior lefty Danny Rafferty (2-0) fired a three-hitter at the Trevians. Rafferty struck out nine and walked two.

Rafferty, who was a standout defensive player in the fall for the Ramblers football team, was well-accustomed to the 34 degree temperatures. In Rafferty’s career, late November playoff games were always on his schedule.

“My curveball was definitely my best pitch tonight,” said Rafferty, a Bucknell recruit. “New Trier is our rival and it’s great to beat them but I have great respect for their team. They were all tough outs.”

New Trier (1-4-1) picked up unearned runs against Rafferty in the second and third innings. The Rambler defense made four errors to give the Trevians a 2-0 lead.

In the top of the fourth, Rambler leadoffman Danny Woodrow lined a double, the first hit off Trevian starting pitcher, senior lefty Grant Stern. The Ramblers would get four consecutive singles in the inning, scoring twice to tie the game at 2-2. The first Rambler run scored on wild pitch and the game-tying run was an RBI single off of the bat of Rambler junior left fielder Andrew Owen.

In the fifth, junior shortstop Tommy Bordignon singled home the eventual game winner to give the Ramblers a 3-2 lead. The Ramblers would add another run on a sac-fly from senior Matt Fallon.

“I saw the ball well today,” said Bordignon. “I hit a fastball for the game-winner and went up to the plate hoping to come through for my teammates.”

Loyola (3-1) picked up two in the top of the seventh to give Rafferty some insurance in the seventh. Senior third baseman JT Trimble, highlighted the inning with an RBI single. Rafferty picked up strikeout No. 8 & 9 in the Trevian seventh allowing one base runner on an error.  

New Trier was led by senior Jack Cloud, who had two of the three hits off of Rafferty.

“We can score some runs with our diverse offense,” said Loyola head coach Nick Bridich. “Tommy is an aggressive player and was that way tonight. Danny Rafferty is one of the toughest competitors I have ever had the pleasure to be around.”