PREP BASEBALL : No. 2 Mater Dei Scores Three Late Runs to Defeat Santa Margarita, 3-2

Second-ranked Mater Dei rallied with two runs in the sixth inning and one in the seventh to post a 3-2 Angelus League baseball victory over Santa Margarita Thursday at Mater Dei High School.

With two outs in the seventh and a runner on first, catcher Darren Troilo hit James McGrath’s first pitch into the right-field corner for a double.

After Santa Margarita second baseman Seaton Curran bobbled the relay throw from right fielder Stan Bruno, Dave Knuff, who had stopped at third base, scored to break the tie for Mater Dei (9-0, 3-0 in league).

Santa Margarita (6-3, 2-1) built a 2-0 lead behind starter Gordie Williams, who has allowed only one earned run in 26 innings this season.

Although the right-handed Williams had thrown only 65 pitches, Santa Margarita Coach Tip Lefebvre brought in left-hander McGrath, who had allowed only four hits and two runs in 10 innings this season, to pitch the final two innings.

Mater Dei then bombed McGrath for five hits and two earned runs in the final 1 2/3 innings.

Bruno scored both of Santa Margarita’s runs, the first on Curran’s second-inning sacrifice fly. In the fourth, Bruno hit his second home run of the season to give the Eagles a 2-0 lead.

Bruno’s homer was the last hit Mater Dei pitcher Mike McDonald (2-0) allowed.