And just like that, it was over.
St. Thomas Aquinas – the last Greater Middlesex Conference team standing in the state playoffs – lost 10-0 in a five-inning Non-Public North B title game, with Miami-bound Tate DeRias throwing a no-hitter for victorious Gloucester Catholic, which won by the mercy rule in walk-off fashion.
For the Rams, it was their record 21st state title – the closest teams to them have only eight – and they did it in style, scoring seven runs in the first inning, then punching across three more in the fifth to end the game, as DH Gavin Franchetti tagged a ball to left that scored Jason Bogart.
St. Thomas starter Gavin Sansone allowed six runs of the seven first-inning runs, facing seven batters, recording only one out. But it wasn’t sloppy. There was one hit batter, there were no errors; the Rams just hit the ball where the fielders weren’t – between infielders, and in the gaps.
Luis Rizzolo came in to face the No. 8 hitter, and he stopped the bleeding, allowing one run, and escaping much more damage. He the Rams off the board until the fifth, trying to give his team a chance.
But against the velocity, movement, and placement of DeRias – who threw his second career no-hitter, both five-inning games, and both coming this year – it was too much for Aquinas.
DeRias allowed only two baserunners, both on walks, and matched a career high with 13 strikeouts, all of which came before allowing a ball to be put in play. The first 13 outs he recorded were Ks, with Jack Valenzuela’s bunt in the top of the fifth with one out the only ball St. Thomas put between the foul lines. That was the second out of the fifth, then Louis Cassino flew out to first.
And Aquinas wouldn’t get to bat again as the Rams walked it off.
Gloucester Catholic finishes 27-2, winners of the Group B crown two straight years now. Aquinas finishes 19-9.
Click below for postgame reaction, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:
