Disastrous 2nd inning eliminates 5th graders

The 5th grade boys baseball team completed the best season in St. Mary's baseball history.

The 5th grade boys baseball team could not overcome a horrific 2nd inning and lost their first ever playoff game 11-1.

After giving up two unearned runs in the 1st inning, the 5th grade didn't do themselves any favors in the field when they made several critical errors in the 2nd inning that opened the floodgates to an 8 run mercy rule inning, which put the 5th grade behind 10-0 after two innings of play.

Ricardo, who started the game for the 5th grade, had a shaky outing as he walked the bases loaded to start the second, putting runners at every base with no outs. 

Then the floodgates opened.

An easy grounder to third base that would've resulted in at least one out was botched, leading to a run. Also, the exchange between catcher and pitcher today was as bad as it has been all season. If the ball goes by the pitcher on the throwback, the runners can advance, and they did so.

Missed grounders by the infielders, balls getting by the outfielders, errant throws. Everything that could've went wrong for the 5th graders did in the 2nd inning and they were down 10-0 after two.

The 1st inning wasn't much better as walks and errors led to the first two runs.

Andy got under a pop-up to left field, but the ball glanced off of his glove. Then a pop-up in the infield hit the dirt when shortstop Jason H. and second basemen Justin both went for the same ball without telling each other. The two collided and the out was never recorded.

In the first two innings, the other team didn't record a clean base hit, and because of the errors and walks, it was 10-0.

At the plate, it was going to be a tough afternoon as the other team had some good pitchers who could bring the heat at the 5th grade level. Runs were going to be a premium and through the first three innings, the 5th grade either struck out or drew a walk.

They had runners on every inning, but failed to get the big hit.

Jason L. drove in Ricardo in the 4th inning when he slapped a hard opposite field base hit to right that rolled all the way to the wall.

After drawing a walk, Ricardo raced all the way around from first to score and Jason L. stood at third, where he was stranded.

The next two batters struck out.

Their defense did make some nice plays in the bottom of the fourth as Justin caught a pop-up. And for the second and third out, Justin snatched a flare and then threw to first base to double off the runner to end the inning.

Jonathan made his second appearance as pitcher and finished the game in relief of Ricardo.

With the loss, the 5th graders end their successful rookie campaign, as they were the first St. Mary's baseball team to record more than one win in the season.

They also became the first St. Mary's team to score a run in the playoffs, as the 2009 team was shutout in their playoff game.

It was a really good season and hopefully a strong foundation for these boys and the rest of the school to build on for years to come.

This sport is not exactly the most popular with parents, so for the 5th grade to come out and have success, hopefully it can change the minds of some moms and dads out there that are hesitant for their child to play baseball.

Putting in two practices a week, the boys were able to make great strides in a span of a little over two months.

With a year of experience and hopefully some work in the off-season, this team could possibly be a perennial playoff contender.