Crespi Shines, Leaves Alemany in Dark, 14-6

Dusk finally accomplished what Alemany High’s pitchers failed to do Tuesday afternoon: Silence Crespi’s bats.

Powered by an eight-run fifth inning, Crespi cruised to a 14-6 victory at Alemany in a Mission League game shortened to six innings because of darkness.

The Celts (4-4, 1-2 in league play) scored four runs in the second inning to build a 5-0 lead and pulled away after Alemany (2-4, 0-1) cut the deficit to 6-3.

“I was glad to get out of that game with a win,” Crespi Coach Scott Muckey said. “It looked like we were going to put them away early, but we put them away late.”

At the start, it didn’t look much like the Crespi team that lost its first two league games last week to Chaminade.

Conspicuously absent from the starting lineup were no less than four players, including senior shortstop Brian Luderer, an All-Southern Section selection last season.

Luderer, as well as teammates Christian Dempsey, Robert Hirsh and Jon Cuccias, all came off the bench. Luderer and Hirsh delivered pinch-hit singles and Cuccias capped the eight-run rally with a grand slam, his first home run of the season.

Muckey declined comment, saying only that a few players were being disciplined.

“We had some problems and it’s a matter that has been taken care of,” Muckey said.

Added Luderer, who played catcher the final two innings: “Everything is cool.”

Crespi roughed up starter Clint Mackay (0-1) in the second inning--all after the junior left-hander had retired the first two batters.

Chris Crawley, who was two for four and scored twice, singled and stole second to begin the rally, which included back-to-back doubles by Barry Matthews and Tomy Salazar.

Matthews (1-0), a senior left-hander, held Alemany in check until the Indians loaded the bases with none out in the third.

B.C. Andreasen followed with a run-scoring single and Bill Scott had a two-run double.