Victorious in early morning rain

   St. Thomas edges Saskatchewan, 6-5, in a game that ends at 1:20 a.m.,

      at the 21U men's National baseball championship, improving to 2-0  

Saturday, August 18, 2018

By Rob J. Ross 

ST. THOMAS (2 a.m.) -  While most people were sleeping or perhaps just leaving the local bar, the St. Thomas Tomcats were playing baseball.

It was late night, or early morning, but certainly a midnight oasis, as the Tomcats improved to 2-0, holding on to defeat Saskatchewan, 6-5, at the 2018 21U men's National championship, at Emslie Field.

  Tournament schedule

Tomcats' right fielder Jacob Mansfield made the final out around 1:20 a.m., ending a game that was played in not heavy, but constant rain showers.

Trailing 6-2, entering the seventh inning, Saskatchewan woke up their sleepy fan base, scoring three times and pushing the potential tying run to third base.

"It got a little scary," Tomcats' manager Bob Lofgren said. "The mound was horrible. Austin Hassani did a great job. He was doing anything to keep his footing and from not falling down. I knew if he threw strikes and the guys made plays, we'd be ok."

St. Thomas jumped out to a 2-0 lead, in the first inning, before Saskatchewan tied the affair in the fourth inning.

The Tomcats responded in the home half of the fourth, with three runs. Daniel Lichty smacked a two run single and the Tomcats scored another run when the throw home missed the Saskatchewan catcher.

St. Thomas added a run, in the sixth inning, on a wild pitch, for a 6-2 advantage.

"It felt good to help the team at the plate," said Lichty, named player of the game for St. Thomas, with two singles, two RBI and a pair of walks. "We were staying mentally strong because it was rainy and wet. You just go out fighting for the team. We were running out everything. When we had a ground ball, we were running to first as hard as we can, to put pressure on them."

Tyler D'Alessandro batted three for four, for the second consecutive game. Mansfield, in four plate appearances, drew a pair of base on balls and was hit by a pitch twice. Troy Lofgren had two singles.

Both defences made three errors and missed mile high pop ups, balls which were lost in the rain and lights.

Tomcats' starting pitcher Michael Mommersteeg went three and two-thirds innings, allowing no earned runs, on three hits, while striking out five batters. Hassani's line read three runs, two earned, four hits surrendered.

"Mommer was great," said Lofgren. "It was the weather. He really should have got in to the fifth. We made two errors. Then we had to get him out on the pitch count."

Cole Rathgebar led Saskatchewan with two singles and a RBI.

St. Thomas faces Quebec at noon today in a battle of 2-0 teams.

"The guys did a great job today. Two wins. I used four pitchers and all four can come back on Sunday," said skip Lofgren, not too worried about team fatigue. "Adrenaline will kick in. We're playing Quebec. It's a key game to finish first and get that bye into the semifinal. We'll be alright. I got Jackson Jones going (on the mound). He's a hard throwing righty."

Quebec will be well rested having finished their second game by 6 p.m. on Friday.

Related articles:

   St. Thomas defeats Windsor in 21U National opener

 Nova Scotia's Sanford takes home run derby title

 Tomcats set for 21U men's National championship