Baseball outlasts rain, gets past GRACE

At 9:40 p.m. Tuesday, 5 hours and 10 minutes after its scheduled start, the first-round NCISAA Class 3A playoff game between GRACE Christian of Raleigh and the host John Paul II Catholic High School baseball team finally and mercifully ended, much to the relief of pretty much everyone still in attendance.

After the second extended rain delay of the evening, the Saints came out on a mission in the top of the fourth and really took care of business as they beat the Eagles 7-1 to improve to 15-8. They will play host on Thursday to Forsyth Country Day, which routed Thales Academy-Rolesville 16-3 on Tuesday to improve to a deceiving 6-14. The JPII coaching staff knows the Furies are better than their record indicates and should provide quite a test.

GRACE finished 3-15.

After James Donofrio struck out GRACE’s leadoff batter in the top of the fourth, everyone was ordered inside because of the approach of the second batch of storms of the day. That was shortly after 7 p.m. When play resumed at about 9:15, Donofrio proceeded to strike out two more batters to retire the side, leaving JPII with a 3-1 lead.

Ryker Butcher walked to lead off the bottom of the fourth and quickly stole second and then third — the Saints had 11 steals in the game. Aaron Gregory drove in Butcher as he legged out an infield single on a ball hit to third. Gregory promptly stole second and stayed there as Nike Wiggins singled on a high pop fly just behind second base that no one touched before it landed harmlessly on the infield dirt. 

Gregory and Wiggins both moved up a base on steals. With one out, Gregory scored on an overthrow back to the pitcher. Axel Keller walked, leaving runners on first and second. Wiggins went to third on a passed ball. Then Keller stole second and Wiggins scored on the throw. Keller scored the final run as he came around on a fielder’s choice off the bat of J.T. Williams.

Donofrio got the first two batters of the top of the fifth out on outstanding defensive plays from Noah Sugg at shortstop. The first batter hit the ball up the middle, with Sugg ranging far to his left to make the play. The second batter hit a bouncer to Sugg’s right, which Sugg charged and caught on the short hop before making a perfect throw to first. Donofrio struck out the third batter, and at that point the game was called.

The contest, scheduled for 4:30 p.m., started an hour late because of round one of rain and lightning. GRACE drew first blood with its only run in the top of the second, but JPII responded with a pair in its half of the frame. Donofrio led off with a walk, stole second and took third on a sacrifice fly to right by Max Mason. Ryker Butcher drove in Donofrio with a single as he easily beat the throw to first on a grounder to short. Butcher took second after the first baseman was unable to handle the late-arriving throw. After stealing third, Butcher scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Gregory.

Keller, who had reached on a single to center, scored JPII’s other run in the bottom of the third, eventually coming around on a hard grounder to the third-base side by Sugg.

Ethan Staton was credited with the victory as he left after two innings with a 2-1 lead. Donofrio got the save with three effective innings of relief, striking out seven and giving up one hit and one walk.

Sugg and Ray Shaw had a pair of hits to lead the Saints. Single hits were recorded by Wiggins, Keller, Butcher and Gregory. JPII batters struck out only one time. Defensively, the Saints were perfect.

The winner Thursday will advance to a state quarterfinal on Saturday at top-seeded High Point Christian.