Crusaders score 32 runs in doubleheader sweep at Middletown

By barstoolfanatics on April 11, 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

File photo – Michael Manzi

The Crusaders took a break from conference play in baseball on Friday but it didn’t slow them down any.

The St. Bernard’s boys traveled to Middletown for a doubleheader and won both games with a huge day at the plate.

They racked up 32 runs on 29 hits on the day, winning both games by identical 16-1 scores, the second in five innings.

With the two wins, they stretched their winning streak to nine games and improved to 11-3 on the season.

“I am very proud of the boys,” head coach Matt Tomlin said. “They showed up ready to play from the start and pounded the baseball for 12 innings.

“We got all 15 players into both games of the doubleheader and played great baseball.”

Several players impressed in the sweep.

In game one, standout junior Michael Manzi finished 2-for-3 with a home run, a double and two RBIs, while senior team captain Tyler Maples went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.

Luke Brunton also continued to impress and was 2-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.

Tyler Hinrichs, TC Rinker, Garrett Shanahan and Adam Wagner each also had two hits in the win, including a double and two RBIs by Wagner.

Rinker also drove in two runs.

Manzi got the win on the mound, throwing 4.1 innings and giving up just one hit and three walks, while striking out seven.

Hinrichs pitched 1.2 scoreless and hitless innings in relief and struck out four.

The SB bats continued to make contact in game two, with Maples and Brunton leading the way.

Brunton finished 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs and scored twice.

The impressive junior also got the win on the mound, throwing a complete-game five innings and allowing just one unearned run on three hits and three walks and striking out eight.

Maples continued to impress at the plate and 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs and scored twice.

Shanahan added a double and an RBI and scored twice, while Mason Noel was 1-for-2 with two RBIs and also scored twice.

Next up, the Crusaders will return to conference play when they host Hoopa on Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m.