Baseball: S.O. Notre Dame’s confidence overcomes Rebel rally
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For a minute there Tuesday, it looked as if Quartz Hill was getting ready for a repeat of the late-game heroics that pushed it into the Southern Section-Toyota Division III semifinals.
Trailing by three runs going into the bottom of the seventh, the Rebels managed to squeeze in a couple of runs and a single by Shon Roe put the winning run on base. But a perfectly turned bases-loaded double play by Notre Dame second baseman Casey Ryan coupled with reliever Josh Goossen-Brown‘s ability to force a ground out to third prevented the dream comeback as second-seeded Notre Dame prevailed, 7-6.
It was a close call, but Notre Dame Coach Tom Dill said he knew his second-seeded Knights would find a way to earn their golden ticket to Dodger Stadium. Dill said he was confident Goossen-Brown, pictured, would manage to keep the Knights ahead despite the hitter-friendly conditions the 20-mph gusts were providing -- conditions which allowed his team to smack three homers out in the direction of Avenue L.
As soon as Goossen-Brown gave up two hits to start the seventh, I was thinking ‘get him out of there,’ but Dill kept him in and demonstrated a brand of patience with his reliever that is becoming increasingly rare in high school baseball. While this game ultimately proved Goossen-Brown can handle high-pressure situations, it also will stay with him next year when he figures to play an even bigger role for Notre Dame.
Here’s what Dill had to say about the big victory:
-- Image by Austin Knoblauch