Late A-R homer hands Serra Catholic first loss

By JEREMY TEPPER

MVI Sports

In a competitive game between Serra Catholic and Apollo-Ridge, the difference between the two teams was rather clear in Brian Dzurenda’s eyes.

The Eagles left too many men on base while Apollo-Ridge was able to capitalize on its opportunities.

The result of that imbalance was a 5-4 win for the Vikings, who handed the previously 10-0 Eagles their first loss of the season and their first at home since 2016.

“When you leave 13 guys on base, you’re not gonna win too many baseball games,” said Dzurenda, the Eagles’ coach. “We didn’t deserve to win today. We didn’t earn it.”

The Vikings took the lead in the top of the seventh inning when Bradey Schrock mashed a two-run homer to left field. Before Schrock’s homer, the Eagles erased a 3-0 deficit and took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth.

“I regret calling a fastball in that situation since the kid had struck out on a curveball the time before,” Dzurenda said. “I called the pitch, it’s my responsibility.”

Apollo-Ridge took a 3-0 lead in the first inning off of a two-run single by Schrock and an RBI single by Jake Fello. Serra Catholic starting pitcher Joey DeMoss pitched just two innings, letting up four hits and three runs.

“We can’t spot teams runs in the first inning. That’s been our (pattern). We keep getting behind in the first inning,” Dzurenda said. “I think it’s the sixth time out of 11 games we’ve been behind in the first. I’m not really sure what’s going on. I don’t know why that is.”

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