By Ryan Fennell
Red Bank – The Red Bank Catholic Caseys rallied twice on Tuesday morning to capture an 8-6 win over Ocean to improve to 3-0 on the year and hand the Spartans their second loss of the season.
RBC fell behind 4-1 in the third but a two-run double in the Caseys’ half of the inning by freshman Gabrielle Bram cut the Spartan lead to one at 4-3.
In RBC’s next turn at bat, senior Morgan Chayes stroked one to left that skipped past the left fielder, allowing Chayes to round the bases and knot the score at four.
However, Ocean retook the lead at 5-4 in its half of the fifth and held the slim lead until the bottom of the sixth when the Caseys’ struck again.
With no outs and runners on first and third, Chayes again stepped to the plate. Sarah Dnistrian stole second on the first pitch to put herself in scoring position. Chayes grounded to the second baseman, but instead of getting the out at first she threw home, but freshman Brynne Bauman beat the throw and scored the tying run.
One out later and runners on second and third senior Gabriella Klecko blasted a homerun to right center to give the Caseys an 8-5 lead.
Ocean managed a run with two outs in the top of the seventh, but the Caseys’ held on for the win with Emily Simon on the mound.
“That’s the way we’re going to be this year, fighting to the end and a lot of runs,” Red Bank Catholic head coach Tony Flego said. “We’re going to give up a few and we’re going to score a lot, hopefully.
“We got key hits at key times [today],” Flego added. “Gabby [Klecko] connected with that three-run homer in the bottom of the six, Emily Simon came through big pitching four strong innings. I can’t ask for anything more.”
