Crespi Walks Off With Extra-Inning Win Over Loyola : High school baseball: Jordt gets a free pass with the bases loaded and two out in the ninth to force across the only run; Celts’ Suppan pitches a six-hitter.

The Crespi High baseball team was having no luck swinging the bats.

So the Celts tried not swinging, and that seemed to work.

Gus Jordt watched five pitches and walked with the bases loaded in the ninth inning to give Crespi a 1-0 Mission League victory over Loyola on Wednesday at Valley College.

“I was just wondering how the hell we were going to score,” Crespi Coach Scott Muckey said, “and that was about the only way we were going to.”

The Celts (7-1, 3-0 in league play) were held to four hits by right-hander Robby Green. Green, who struck out only two, was hardly overpowering, but he kept the ball low and changed speeds just enough to make the Celts look silly for most of the game.

Green didn’t start to crumble until he was an out away from sending the game to the 10th.

With two out in the ninth, Crespi had Jeff Christensen at second base. Christensen took third on a passed ball. Loyola Coach Kelly Nicholson ordered Green to intentionally walk pinch-hitter Keith Evans and catcher Casey Snow, loading the bases for Jordt, who had a double and a walk in three earlier trips to the plate.

“I figured I had to do something,” Jordt said. “I just took what I got.”

Jordt worked the count to 3-and-0 and received the take sign on the next two pitches.

When Christensen crossed the plate, perhaps no one was happier than Crespi right-hander Jeff Suppan (3-1), who pitched a six-hitter.

“Never a doubt,” Suppan said of his teammates finally getting him a run and a victory.

The accompanying smile might indicate that Suppan wasn’t so sure.

Green (2-2) was in control virtually the entire game. He was inducing easy grounders and soft fly balls and his teammates, who did not make an error, were handling them perfectly.

“He was hitting his spots,” Suppan said. “He really mixed it up well. And maybe our bats weren’t all there.”

Crespi managed only a bunt single in the first four innings. The Celts did not have two hits in an inning all day.

Jordt said Green’s sidearm delivery was a problem for the Celts.

“He was sort of deceptive,” Jordt said. “He hid the ball well and came at us from an awkward position.”

Suppan, who has signed to pitch for UCLA, was as dominant as Green. He struck out eight and did not walk a batter. He was most impressive in working out of a jam in the seventh.

Loyola (4-4, 2-1) led off the inning with a double by Mike Rodriguez. Kyle Spielbuehler attempted to sacrifice Rodriguez to third, but Suppan struck him out.

Suppan retired Todd Rosa on a sharp grounder to third base and struck out Vince Clougherty.

“Ballgames usually come down to four or five pitches,” Muckey said. “If your pitcher makes the right ones in those situations, you usually win.”