Spears Records 13 Strikeouts to Lead Crespi

What was to have been a matchup featuring the top two teams in the Del Rey League--Crespi and Notre Dame--on Friday turned into a one-man show.

Crespi’s ace left-hander, Chris Spears, struck out 13 batters--including seven straight--in pitching league-leading Crespi to a 6-4 victory over the second-place Knights at Notre Dame. The victory gives Crespi (15-5-1, 6-1-1) a 1 1/2-game lead over Notre Dame (8-8-1, 5-3-1).

“Our whole team was waiting all week for this game,” said Spears, who beat Notre Dame for the second time this season. He threw a three-hit, 4-0 shutout against Notre Dame earlier this season. “I was pitching on a full week’s rest and felt strong.”

Spears (6-2), relying mainly on a sharp-breaking curve, scattered eight hits, walked two and had at least one strikeout in every inning.

Spears experienced a curious fifth inning. With Crespi leading, 5-1, he gave up three runs on just two hits despite striking out four straight batters in one inning.

Notre Dame’s Greg Haptor doubled and went to third on a single by Matt McElreath. The two pulled off a delayed double steal for a run, making it 5-2.

Spears then struck out Jeff Antoon and Matt Marca, but Marca reached base when Spears’ strikeout pitch bounced past catcher Joe Testa with McElreath advancing to third on the play.

Spears had Marca picked off first, but Marca beat first baseman Arnold’s throw to second. McElreath then scored, with Marca taking third, on a wild pitch, cutting the lead to 5-3. After Chad Ratliff struck out, Marca raced home on a passed ball for a 5-4 score.

But that was it for Notre Dame as Spears struck out Bruce Heicke to end the fifth, and also struck out the side in the sixth, making it seven straight strikeouts.

“Winning comes down to a pitcher rising to the occasion by making the big pitch,” Crespi Coach Scott Muckey said. “Every time things get tight, Spears buckles down. He’s been rising to the occasion with the big pitches all year.”

Crespi scored five runs off Notre Dame left-hander Joey Kane in the third. Kane walked Kevin Thomas and Greg Barton, then made an ill-advised late throw to third on a sacrifice bunt by Ted Franco to load the bases.

Thomas scored the first run and the other runners advanced when Kane uncorked a wild pitch. Chris Greenamyer’s single to left brought home Barton, with Franco stopping at third.

Dave Cameron lined a 3-2 fastball to right scoring Franco, Cameron taking second on the throw to third. Matt Arnold’s triple to center brought home Greenamyer and Cameron for a 5-0 Crespi lead and chased Kane (3-3).