Baseball team pitches shutout, clinches playoff spot

The 5th grade boys baseball team added to their historic season with a 6-0 shutout win that clinched them a playoff spot Saturday afternoon.

On a windy and foggy 50 degree field, the boys managed to push through the frigid temperatures for the their third straight win to finish the season with some spectacular pitching and timely hitting.

Allen (2-0) started again for the 5th graders and got the second win of his career with four innings of shutout baseball.

He was given an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Michael came around to score after he was hit by a pitch. With some heads up base running, Michael was able to take home after the catcher overthrew the pitcher.

The boys added a run in both the second and third inning.

Jonathan led off the second with a double, and then came around to score on an infield single by Barret.

Then Allen drove in Jason H. with a single in the third.

Defensively, they were solid and made plays left and right. Allen threw out several base runners at first including a nice bare-handed pick-up in the 4th inning that retired the side.

Jason H. also threw out a runner from shortstop, even though he slightly bobbled the exchange.

Jonathan took the mound for the first time in his career with a six run lead and struck out the first two batters he faced on just six pitches.

After walking a batter, he fielded a comebacker, then threw to first to end the game.

With the win, the 5th grade (3-5) is headed to the playoffs. They were winless in their first five games, but won the next three and finished two games ahead of the last place team.

In their first year of baseball, they are the first St. Mary's team to win more than one game in a season.

Their playoff game is currently scheduled for next Saturday. Game time will either be 11:30 a.m. or 4:30 p.m.