The Catholic High Crusaders belted three doubles and got another solid pitching performance on the mound as they ran their record to 22-2 on the year and added another district championship to its trophy case with a 9-1 win over Taylor County in the District 1-4A championship game on Saturday at Gulf Coast State College.
Catholic High pitcher Evan Floyd was recently named Rawlings/Perfect Game All-American.
The Crusaders will now play host to the District 2-4A runnerup at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Richard LaBounty Field.
After having the originally-scheduled 7 p.m. game rained out Friday, the teams threw out the first pitch at 11 a.m. this morning and Taylor County got off to a good start as they pushed across a single run in the first for a quick 1-0 lead.
But it didn’t take long for Catholic to answer, as the Crusaders scored two runs in the second when Donovan Benoit led off the inning with a double.
Two innings later, the Crusaders exploded for four runs highlighted by a double by Carl Gindl.
Catholic put the game away with three more runs in the sixth inning.
Evan Floyd shook off the early run to once again have a solid outing. He gave up three hits while striking out nine and walking three batters.
Matthew Estrada pitched the final inning and got two strikeouts and a groundout to end the game.
Gindl was 2-for-4 with two RBIs, two runs, two stolen bases and a double to lead Catholic.
At Gulf Coast State
Catholic 9, Taylor County 1
TC…100 000 0–1 3 4
Catholic…020 403 X–9 11 1
WP – Evan Floyd (6 IP, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 H, 9 K, 3 BB); LP – Cole Wentworth (5 IP, 6 R, 3 ER, 10 H, 4 K, 0 BB). TC hitters – Cole Wentworth 1-3; James Parker 1-2; Willie Elder 1-3; Catholic hitters – Carl Gindl 2-4, 2 RBIs, 2 runs, 2B, 2 SBs; Matthew Estrada 2-3, run, double; Donovan Benoit 2-3, 2 RBIs, double; Devin Whitehead 1-4, run; Brent NeSmith 2-3, run; AJ Yates 1-3; Donovan Whibbs 1-3, run.
What’s next?
•Who: Trinity Christian/Providence loser at Catholic
•What: Region 1-4A semifinals
•When: 7 p.m. Thursday
•Where?: Richard LaBounty Field
