Inside Game Wins for Notre Dame

Notre Dame High center fielder John Bonilla said he’s been hitting the ball hard lately, but always right at someone.

Against Crespi on Friday, in a game for first place in the Del Rey League, Bonilla hit the ball where there weren’t any fielders and ran all the way home on an inside-the-park home run to give the Knights a 4-3 victory at home.

Bonilla, who walked and flied out to center in his previous at-bats, hit Brian Clancy’s first pitch of the eighth inning into the deepest part of the ballpark and scored when Drew Kempf’s relay from center fielder Rich Tricarico was off line.

“It felt pretty awesome,”Bonilla said. “I was thinking home run when I went up there. I got a low, inside fastball and I got all of it.”

Clancy had been cruising along, limiting the Knights to three runs on four hits, before Bonilla led off with his first home run of the year.

“All three of my losses have come that way,” Clancy said, explaining his recent string of bad luck. “It seems like every time I pitch lately, something’s just waiting to happen.”

Crespi (4-3) took a 2-0 lead in the first inning when Parris Sorianello’s double scored Tricarico and Derek Stark. The Celts added another run in the fourth on Clancy’s solo home run.

The Knights scored two runs in their half of the first when Jamie Stowitts homered with Bonilla aboard and tied the game in the fourth on Chris Regan’s sacrifice fly.

Notre Dame pitcher Eric Persson, who held the Celts to seven hits and struck out four, worked out of numerous jams to improve his record to 6-1.

“Last time we lost a heartbreaker, 1-0, so we really wanted to win this one,” Persson said. “We hit some ropes today but it seemed like it was always right at somebody. I’m glad John’s finally found a hole. I’m happy to contribute any way I can, and I know John’s glad too.”

Notre Dame Coach John Barrett said there was no question in his mind about who would be on the mound against the Celts.

“Eric isn’t overpowering, he’s more of a finesse pitcher and he’s very intelligent on the mound,” Barrett said. “He sets up batters very well and he likes to take control. We knew we’d have to play fundamental baseball in order to win.”

Bonilla said he hopes his big day at the plate will help Notre Dame (5-2) continue to win.

“The way this season’s been going so far,” Bonilla said, “I hope this was a turnaround for us.”