St. Paul Rallies in 7th to Edge Notre Dame

It wasn’t over until it was over Friday at St. Paul High, where Notre Dame and the host Swordsmen challenged each other in a Mission League game of can-you-top-this.

But when it was over, it was Notre Dame that was toppled, losing a 9-8 baseball decision that knocked the Knights to 3-2 in league play (11-4 overall) and left them wondering what it would take to qualify for a Southern Section playoff berth.

“This puts us in a tough spot,” Notre Dame Coach Bob Mandeville said. “With no wild cards this year, it’s gonna be a battle. And I thought we could steal one here today.”

Only the top three teams from the Mission League qualify for the playoffs this year, which makes Friday’s loss all the more costly. Notre Dame gamely overcame a 7-3 seventh-inning deficit by scoring five runs--four with two out--and taking an 8-7 lead that seemed to deflate St. Paul.

The Swordsmen, after all, had just broken a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the sixth with four runs on just one hit.

But in the bottom of the seventh, St. Paul’s leadoff hitter, Albert Borunda, smacked an offering from reliever Cary Wichmann (4-1) into an unmanned pasture in right-center field. With no fence at St. Paul, the senior shortstop scurried around the bases to a welcoming party at home plate.

The home run was Borunda’s first of the year and it tied the score, as Notre Dame realized that St. Paul, too, was well aware of the game’s importance.

“There are four CIF-championship caliber squads in this league,” St. Paul Coach Leo Gutierrez said. “And one of us is gonna get left out. I told the kids if they could rally, so could we.”

St. Paul (11-4, 4-1) then rallied for the game-winner. The game’s next batter, Noah Negrete, bunted for a single. He moved to second on Steve Escobar’s bunt, then to third on Gus Pelayo’s fly ball to right field.

Negrete scored the team’s ninth run on Jesse Paderez’s two-out single up the middle, which glanced off Wichmann’s glove before carrying into center field.

Wichmann was the Knights’ third pitcher. Starter Eric Vellozzi tired after five-plus innings, during which he allowed eight hits. He left with the score tied, 3-3, and runners on second and third.

Sophomore reliever Chris Leveque hit the first batter he faced, then walked in a run to make it 4-3. Wichmann took over and retired the side, but two sacrifice outs and a long rundown play allowed St. Paul to score three more runs.

“We’ve still got these guys at our place,” Mandeville said. “And we’ve got two to play with (first-place) Crespi. We’re still there. It’s just gonna be a shame for the team that comes in fourth.”