Aquinas walks off with District crown

   STA scores in the bottom of the seventh, edging St. Joseph's 6-5 in the baseball final

Thursday May 14, 2018

By Rob J. Ross 

ST. THOMAS - The London Aquinas Flames walked off to a championship.

Matt Schmidt slapped out a one out single, scoring a runner from third base and lifting the Flames over the St. Joseph's Rams, 6-5, in the bottom of the seventh inning, of the District baseball final, at Cardinal Field.

"We pitched well. Ethan Johnson pitched really well. We made some good plays in the field," Flames manager Pete Legg said. "You tell the kids to trust what they do, trust their instincts and know what to do before the ball gets pitched."

Johnson entered the game in relief, to pick up the win.

The Flames led 4-1 after three innings and 5-3, following five inning, but the Rams knotted the affair, with two runs in the top of the sixth inning.

"Ours boys battled hard," Rams' manager Andrew Mann said. "A one run game between two really good teams can go either way."

St. Joe's Branden Johnston batted three for four, including a pair of doubles and one RBI, while Joe Grey was three for four, with a RBI and run scored. Mike Vanderhyden slapped out a RBI single and scored two runs.

Schmidt finished with a pair of RBI's, while Will Pollard led the Flames with a double, single, a base on balls and scored twice.

The Rams left the bases full on three occasions. In the top of seventh inning, with one out, the Rams had a runner at third base thrown out by Flames catcher Ryan Farragher.

"He has an incredible arm," Legg said. "If you're a little too far, he'll catch you."

Aquinas advances to to their fifth consecutive WOSSAA tournament, hoping to finally win the title.

In the District semifinals, St. Joe's dusted Woodstock St. Mary's, 13-3 and Aquinas beat London Mother Teresa, 10-4.