GLT baseball coach Dave McLaughlan watched his team lose 3-1 to Lowell Catholic on Saturday. (File photo by James Thomas)
TYNGSBORO — Seamus Scott dealt with nine different pitches.
The Lowell Catholic baseball team found itself in a bind after being ejected after the sixth inning of a round of 32 game against No. 14 Greater Lowell Tech.
The Gryphons' dangerous Brendan Arsenault walked to the batter's box with the bases loaded and two outs.
Lowell Catholic head coach Matt Stone knew exactly what to do.
Stone gave the ball back to Scott, who forced a liner to right field to secure the save and the win in Saturday's thrilling 3-1 victory.
The 19th-ranked Crusaders (14-7) advance to the round of 16 in Division 3 and will face either No. 3 Hanover or No. 35 Weston.
“I just tried to throw strikes and let the defense take care of it,” Scott said.
Scott pitched a nearly complete game, allowing just five hits and striking out eight, then gave up a two-run double in the third inning to hand Greater Lowell (17-4) its fourth loss of the spring.
“I just yelled out if he could get one batter and he gave me the thumbs up,” Stone said. “That was all I needed.”
Not only did Lowell Catholic pull off the upset, but the Crusaders also avoided a season-ending losing streak to the Gryphons, having lost their previous two games this season.
“Greater Lowell is a great team,” Stone said. “They're very well coached. We've played them this year and it was a tough battle both times. Today it was all about timely hitting.”
Scott's powerful double to center field was just the thing. After walking Aidan Villela and Danny Parent, Scott drove in both of them to give Lowell Catholic a 2-1 lead and the game-winning hit.
“Sheamus is competitive,” Stone said. “He comes from the Scott family. I know his family and I've coached his brothers. They're competitive and they get the job done.”
Scott knew Greater Lowell pitcher Jake Torpey would throw strikes. The left-hander went 6.1 innings, striking out eight batters but was the losing pitcher.
“He's a great pitcher,” Scott said. “He doesn't walk a lot of batters, so I knew he was going to put the ball over home plate, so I was looking to attack and I took that opportunity.”
“Jake's the best I've seen him this year,” Stone added. “He was great all three innings. It's tough to beat the same team three times, but he held us in check again. I can't praise him enough for the way he controls and manages the game on the mound.”
Lowell Catholic added its final run in the seventh inning when Parent singled to right field, driving in Villella. Parent was 2-for-2 with two walks on the day.
That was enough for the Crusaders to win against Greater Lowell, as Arsenault's RBI sacrifice fly in the opening inning was the only offense the Gryphons would generate.
That's not to say Greater Lowell didn't have chances, however, as they had bases loaded chances in the fourth and final innings, but failed to score each time.
I couldn't hit Scott's curveball.
“My curveball was working for me,” said Scott, who was making his first start in about a month. “I think the main thing that got me through that game was my curveball. It gives guys a different perspective than your fastball.”
Lowell Catholic boasts seven returning players from last season's Elite Eight appearance, something the Crusaders hope to use to their advantage.
“Tournament experience can't be taught,” Stone said. “You have to experience it, and we're a very experienced team.”
