A Comeback for the Ages
The Saratoga Central Catholic baseball team turned a 3‑2 deficit into a 5‑3 victory over Tuckahoe, rallying in the seventh inning to force a Class C state final berth. Relief pitcher Luke Dejnozka entered the game in a high‑pressure situation, inheriting a bases‑loaded count after a rain delay and limiting the opposition to just two hits over 5 1/3 innings while striking out ten batters.
Carson Moser delivered the decisive RBI single that tied the game, sparking the comeback that would see the Saints pull ahead. Earlier, Max Britton’s own RBI single had brought the team within one run at 3‑2, setting the stage for the final rally.
Pierce Byrne is slated to take the mound for the Saints in the championship game, where they will meet Kendall, the Section 5 champion, in a highly anticipated clash. The upcoming final promises a showdown between two of the state’s most competitive teams.
Connor Brice, who finished with 14 strikeouts for Tuckahoe, was praised by Dejnozka for his pitching excellence, underscoring the high level of competition that defined the game.
The Saints’ offense was bolstered by solid contributions from Phonsey Lambert, Jay Romeo, Sandy McDonald, Kihl Kelly and Kyle Carney, each adding key hits and defensive plays that helped steer the team through a tightly contested match.