Matthew Condon pitched effectively through four innings and shortstop Jake McCaffery drove in runs and scored twice as Crossroads defeated Brentwood School 7-2 in a Gold Coast League matchup Tuesday.
The victory improved Crossroads' record to 2-2 in league play, while the loss dropped Brentwood in the standings.
Condon, the starting pitcher for Crossroads, struck out four batters while displaying a full repertoire of pitches that included a fastball, curveball, slider and occasional changeup. His curveball proved particularly effective against Brentwood hitters.
"He throws a fastball, curve ball, slider. That's probably what you'll see today. Sometimes a changeup," said Sarah Rosenhouse, Condon's mother, before the game.
McCaffery, who has committed to New York University, went 3-for-4 at the plate with one RBI and two runs scored, leading the Crossroads offensive attack.
The visiting Crossroads team took control early, scoring two runs in the first inning. McCaffery led off the game with a single and scored on an error by Brentwood pitcher Hayden Prince. Avery Deutch also reached base and scored on an RBI by Jesse Abrams.
Crossroads extended their lead to 4-0 in the second inning, utilizing a strategic bunting approach to manufacture runs. Oliver Winkler executed a successful bunt to bring home Miles Zoog, and McCaffery followed with a sacrifice fly that scored Winkler.
Brentwood managed to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning when Bradley Selma scored on a Crossroads fielding error at first base, cutting the deficit to 4-1.
Despite the error, Crossroads displayed solid fundamentals throughout the game, with clean fielding and disciplined base-running complementing their pitching performance.
"Pitchers only need about two days rest. Typically these guys only go about 3 innings," said Jay Ackerman, a Crossroads parent, explaining the team's pitching rotation strategy.
Relief pitcher Leo Le Blanc entered the game in the fifth inning and maintained Crossroads' lead. Le Blanc showed competitive fire, notably celebrating a strikeout by slapping his glove as he walked toward the dugout.
Crossroads added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth, Abrams laid down a bunt that allowed Le Blanc to score, extending the lead to 5-1.
The visitors sealed the victory in the seventh inning when Lukas Lin and McCaffery reached base, and Deutch drove them both home with a hit to left field, making the score 7-1.
Brentwood managed one final run in the bottom of the seventh, but Le Blanc closed out the game for Crossroads. The rally ended when Deutch made what was described as an "incredible play" in the outfield to secure the 7-2 victory.
The win demonstrated Crossroads' balanced approach, combining effective pitching, timely hitting and smart base-running. The team's use of bunting and sacrifice situations showed their commitment to fundamental baseball strategies.
Prince took the loss for Brentwood, struggling with control issues that led to multiple errors and allowed Crossroads to build their early lead.
The Gold Coast League rivals will continue their seasons with Crossroads looking to build momentum from this convincing victory, while Brentwood will attempt to regroup after the home loss.
Both teams displayed competitive spirit in what proved to be a well-played high school baseball game that showcased the talent level in the Gold Coast League.