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Thomas Russell threw an eight-inning no hitter and Carter Spivey hit a one-out double in the bottom of the eighth as Paul VI squeaked past Bishop O’Connell 1-0 in Tuesday’s WCAC matchup.

It was a pitching duel to be remembered between both teams starters; Russell for Paul VI, and Peter Colevas for Bishop O’Connell. Both arms were dominant on the day, accounting for 20 strikeouts to only four walks. Russell dominated the Knights hitters on the day, being the aggressor on the mound and attacking the O’Connell hitters with his fastball he commanded to both sides of the plate and utilizing his late action slider to keep the hitters off balance. Russell would only allow two hitters to reach base, one on an infield error, and another on a walk. Otherwise, Russell proved to be too much for the younger O’Connell hitters, who could not figure out the 2018 grad and Navy commit en route to nine strikeouts. .

Colevas came very close to equaling the impressive performance of Russell. The uncommitted 2019 lefty was also aggressive in the strikezone, utilizing his fastball and keeping the Panther hitters uncomfortable throughout the game with his breaking ball as well. Colevas struck out 11 in the game but did run into some trouble in the sixth inning, when a two out double off the bat of Spivey almost proved to be the go ahead hit with a runner on first. O’Connell was able to thwart the run scoring attempt with a well executed relay from right field to first to catcher to end the inning with a tag out at the plate.

Colevas would leave the game with two-outs in the bottom of the seventh, as the Panthers were able to get two runners on base. Eddie Eisert came in relief and was able to induce a ground out of Paul VI pinch hitter Patrick Ashby with the winning run 90-feet away.

After Russell worked quickly once again in the 8^th, Paul VI would get their leadoff runner on in the bottom half of the inning on a leadoff single from the bat of Samuel Freeborne. A sac bunt would move Freeborne to second. An intentional walk of Cortland Lawson brought up Spivey, who again came up with the big hit the Panthers needed, sending a deep fly to left field that landed just short of the fence to score Freeborne and end the game in walk-off fashion.

Paul VI, currently ranked No. 8 in the PBR VA/DC Power25, improve to 14-2 with the win. Bishop O’Connell drops to 6-8 with the loss