The Cardinal Mooney baseball squad etched a historic milestone on Tuesday night, claiming its first Division IV regional championship in dramatic fashion.
A 5‑4 final score emerged after a seesaw battle that saw the Cardinals rally from early deficits, highlighted by a flurry of triples and timely RBI singles.
Defining moments of the championship game
Vince Gentile opened the scoring in the second inning, driving in the first run for Mooney and setting the tone for a resilient offense.
Ford Stacey followed with a two‑out RBI single that brought Gentile home, giving the Cardinals a 2‑1 lead and a surge of confidence.
The tide turned in the fourth when Taco Verocco’s RBI single tied the game at 2‑2, but the Cardinals answered back with a burst of momentum.
Luke Kollar’s third triple of the inning cleared the bases, extending the lead to 4‑2 and putting the team in a commanding position.
Kaden Reese added a fifth run as two wild pitches slipped past the opposition, widening the gap to 5‑2.
Relief pitcher Jacob Gugliotta steadied the ship in the fifth, limiting Central Catholic’s comeback attempt to a 5‑4 margin.
Andrew Bushey closed out the game with a save, sealing the victory and sparking celebration among the players and fans.
Looking ahead to the state semifinal
The Cardinals will meet Sandusky Perkins on June 13, a matchup that could determine the state champion and cement the program’s rise.
Coach Ed Reese praised the team’s resilience, noting the collective support that fueled their run and the excitement building around the upcoming game.
With the state championship game slated for June 14, the community eagerly anticipates a potential title run that could bring even more glory to the school.