Prep Baseball Report

Section V Class AA: McQuaid walks off with title



Nick Tomei scampered home with the winning run, and McQuaid edged the Rush-Henrietta Royal Comets 3-2 to win the Section Five Class AA title.

With two outs and teammate Ben Beauchamp at the plate, Tomei broke for third on a stolen base attempt. The throw from home bounced short of the bag, and Tomei came home as McQuaid defeated R-H in the finals for the second time in three years.

Tomei's walk-off heroics were nothing in comparison to McQuaid's seventh.

With Rush-Henrietta starter Mitch Hoffower throwing a one-hitter, Beauchamp came to the plate. The sophomore turned on a fastball and sent a drive to left field that caromed off the concrete embankment just beyond the fence.

One out later, Billy Kehrig singled and stole second. The Jesuit Knights right fielder moved to third on a ground out.

With the Royal Comets one strike away from the title, Kehrig broke from third.

He was awarded home and the tying run when catcher's interference was ruled on the play.

McQuaid starter Erik Johnson earned MVP honors. The junior left-hander struck out four and walked one. He allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits in a complete-game eight inning effort. Johnson threw 89 pitches, 65 for strikes and started off 26 of 33 batters with a strike.

McQuaid rallied from six down to beat Victor in the semi-finals, Wednesday night. The Jesuit Knights put together a seven-run fourth inning in that win. Saturday, they looked out of it before erupting.

Rush-Henrietta used a two-out rally to grab the lead in the sixth. Zach Harter reached on a hit by pitch. Chris Reed followed with an RBI double just inside the left field line.

Justin Varney pushed the lead to two in the top of the seventh. Ray Specht started the stanza and reached on an error. Aaron Shoemaker moved the runner with a sacrifice bunt, and Varney delivered with a base hit to left center. Casimer Sobaszek singled to put runners on the corners with one out, but the Royal Comets did not take advantage.

After knocking off Penfield, ranked No. 16 NYS Class AA, in the quarter-finals and Fairport, ranked No. 9 NYS Class AA, in the semi-finals, R-H was looking to pull the trifecta with a win over No. 19 McQuaid. The Royal Comets finished 16-8.

McQuaid improved to 16-5.

The Jesuit Knights move on to the Far West Regional where they will meet the Section VI champion. They will play the winner of Lancaster - Williamsville North.