Monarchs Get It Done With Offense

As Coach Bob Ickes noted afterward, Mater Dei enjoys playing in the National Classic Tournament because the Monarchs always seem to swing the bat well.

They have needed hot sticks in their two tournament victories, the latest being an 8-5 decision over North Augusta (S.C.) Tuesday at Glover Stadium.

Each win has been a come-from-behind affair. On Monday Mater Dei (9-2) overcame a four-run lead by scoring eight runs in the sixth to beat Mountain Brook (Ala.), 13-9. On Tuesday the Monarchs used a three-run fifth to take the lead for good from their 12-4 East Coast opponents, who had beaten top-ranked Canyon the night before.

A two-run single to center by designated hitter Brett Kay gave the Monarchs’ a 5-4 lead in the fifth. Kay later scored on a sacrifice fly by Nick Harlambakis.

On the mound, Mater Dei got a solid start from left-hander Nick Lovato (4-0), who struck out eight and walked two in five innings. Kris Hernandez, who survived a bases-loaded jam in the sixth, pitched the final two innings for the save.

The Monarchs had trouble on defense, committing three errors that led directly to three of the five North Augusta runs.

“We have not played well defensively in the tournament,” Ickes said. “It seems every time we’ve gotten a lead we’ve done something stupid to give it back. I’m so glad we brought the offense with us.”

The Monarchs weren’t the only ones with cold gloves Tuesday. North Augusta committed four errors, two of them leading to two Mater Dei runs. More than anything, the mistakes extended Mater Dei innings, giving the Monarch bats a chance to do damage.

“Mater Dei is a quality opponent,” North Augusta Coach Drew Hummel said. “And you can’t give them four or five outs an inning and expect to survive.

“We had some chances, especially in the sixth. On Monday we were able to get the clutch hit at the right time. Tonight we weren’t able to. But that’s baseball.”

In other National Classic games:

Capistrano Valley 12, Oakland James Logan 11--Rik Currier capped a five-run bottom of the seventh with a two-run home run to score the winner for Capistrano Valley (6-4-1) in the quarterfinal game.

Ryan Brown was two for four with four runs batted in for Capistrano Valley.

Esperanza 5, Taylorsville (Utah) 3--Pinch hitter Kevin Snapp and Justin Good each had two-run singles in the fourth to give Esperanza a lead it never lost. Brandon Pack singled in the final Aztec run in the seventh.

Canyon 18, Mountain Brook (Ala.) 3--Brian Dane was three for five with a double and four RBIs for Canyon (10-2). Brian Wahlbrink was two for five with a home run and three RBIs for Canyon in a consolation game.