By Ashlea Prouty
LIBERTY — April 20, 2010 — The visiting John S. Burke Catholic High School Eagles recorded a 4-3 victory over the Liberty Indians on Thursday afternoon in an Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association (OCIAA) Division IV baseball game.
The game was the last in a best-of-three series which Burke won two games to one.
Burke (3-2, 2-1 Div. IV) took the lead in the top of the first inning as leadoff hitter Rich Douglas reached base and came around to score.
Douglas also scored a run in the third inning, which gave the Eagles a 2-0 advantage.
Liberty (2-3, 1-2 Div. IV) rallied in the bottom of the fifth inning, however. Joe Franke, Will McGuire and Mike Bayer all crossed home plate to give the Indians a 3-2 lead.
But Burke rallied in the top of the seventh. Dan Shannon, who was the Eagles’ starting pitcher, recorded what became the game-winning hit as teammates Douglas and Wilson Montalvo scored on his single.
Franke had two RBIs in the contest, while teammate Tino Casiano had two base hits.
Liberty Coach John Wilhelm noted that all three games of the series were decided by one run.
“Today was a good ball game,” he said. “Good things happen in one-run games.”
Wilhelm noted that his young team is improving as the season progresses.
“There were a lot of mistakes on the infield that don’t show up on the scorecard,” Burke Coach Mike Pavarti said.
But he was very happy with the win.
“It is always nice to come back in the seventh [inning] and win,” Pavarti said.
The Indians were slated to return to the diamond yesterday afternoon to host the Livingston Manor Wildcats in a non-league game.
On Thursday, Liberty will visit Goshen for another non-league game.