HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL PLAYOFFS : Crawford Continues Fast Finish

Eight games into the 1992 season, Crawford’s baseball team seemed destined for a repeat performance of 1991: a 7-14 record and a tie for third in the City Central League.

The Colts were 2-6 after eight games. Nothing seemed to be going right, especially after they had to switch one of their two home games against Madison, defending league champion, to the Warhawks’ field.

June gloom had arrived in March. The Colts had nowhere to go but up. They did, and it’s a wonder how far.

Crawford scored twice in the top of the seventh Tuesday to beat the Warhawks, 5-4, winning at Madison for the second time this season. The victory moved Crawford into a first-place tie with Madison at 8-3, setting up a possible co-championship. But if both teams win their final league game Thursday--Madison travels to fourth-place Lincoln, Crawford will play host to last-place Hoover--the Colts will get the higher seeding in the playoffs.

“We started out slow,” Crawford Coach Roger Engle said. “We have three sophomores and a freshman in the starting lineup. We’ve got some guys that can play, it just took us a few ballgames to get going.

“Of our three seniors, I knew Brian Gaske (.405 average, 7 doubles, 22 RBIs) was going to have a good year. But Brent Norris (.333, 16 RBIs) and Carl Marino (.362) are having career years, and that’s the difference.”

Crawford (14-12) has gone 12-6 since the bad start. Madison is 18-8, but Warhawks stubbed a toe by losing to Hoover (5-19, 1-10) last week and letting the Colts back into the title picture.

Madison was poised to win this game after it choked off a Crawford rally in the top of the fifth. Larry Haley and Gaske opened the inning with singles and were at second and third with no outs.

But Warhawk starter and loser Brian Presley (3-1) struck out Norris for the first out after falling behind in the count, 3-1. Johnny Verdin, who had a 3-0 count, swung and missed at ball four then looked at strike three for the second out. Marino flew deep to left to end the threat.

Madison trailed, 3-1, at the time but quickly got even in the bottom of the fifth on a pop RBI-single by Jerry Jones to right field and a ground-ball fielder’s choice by Brian Delgado. The Warhawks then took a 4-3 lead in the sixth on a walk to pinch-hitter Mike Hughes, a single by Jesus Martinez and an RBI grounder by Jerry Jones.

Madison needed only three outs for the victory but saw it disintegrate after leadoff hitter Sammy Gagliano walked and scored on consecutive singles by Haley and Gaske. Haley’s slicing liner that right fielder Gross misjudged for an extra base sent Presley to the showers.

Two batters later, Haley broke from third and appeared to be hung out to dry as relief pitcher Delgado stabbed a grounder by Norris. But Delgado hesitated, then opted to go to first base. His off-line throw forced a tag on Norris and Haley scampered home with the game winner.

Thus, Crawford has likely scampered off with part of the championship.