GENTILLY — They just keep rolling.
K’s for Kids, the reigning Crescent City Sports Prep Summer League champions, remain unbeaten through six contests. The Brother Martin-based squad took care of De La Salle-based United Rentals at Farley Field on Tuesday, 11-2, in a five-inning mercy rule.
Lightning delayed the contest by half an hour and caused a back-end shortening by the umpires, but soggy skies parted enough for five lopsided innings.
The loss was United Rentals’ (3-3) second by mercy rule this season.
K’s for Kids (6-0) hasn’t rusted a bit, with two commanding victories this week (8-4 over Calcutta Gold on Monday) despite nearly two weeks without playing a full game.
“They’re eager to play,” K’s for Kids coach Jeff Lupo said. “We’re still fairly athletic, and we’re still able to put consistent pressure … It’s been a balanced offensive effort up and down the lineup and consistent pitching. That’s been the key.”
K’s for Kids starter Nolan Amato lived and died by the strikeout, but he proved immortal.
The incoming junior and usual reliever honed powerful velocity to punch out eight batters over three innings, stranding five runners on base in the process.
“Nolan’s got really good stuff, and he threw a lot of really big innings for us this year,” Lupo said. “He’s having to adjust his mindset a little bit. He’s used to coming in on the back end where he’s high intensity, only for a couple [of] innings.”
Cam Fisackerly was credited with the Cavaliers’ loss.
Haphazard command ended Fisackerly’s day after just four batters. Three straight walks triggered Gio Sanchez’s entry, but his wild pitch allowed Brady McClusky to score.
Brody Shannon drove in another with a groundout to make it 2-0 after the first.
After Amato escaped a bases-loaded jam in the second, Luca Catanzaro turned on his jets to pad the lead. He reached via infield single, swiped second and zipped to third while dodging an errant throw down to score the game’s third run.
United Rental’s self-inflicted wounds snowballed in the third, and the ‘Saders were due.
Sanchez walked, balked and wild-pitched Dominic Toten to third, then free-passed Hayden Nunez before Kamber Keller tagged a fastball into left-center to score one.
Brady McCluskey followed it up with a two-RBI single into right, then Bronson Leaumont drew curtains on Sanchez’s outing with a towering three-bagger that scored a seventh run.
Shannon reached on an error that tallied his second RBI and a five-run frame for K’s for Kids.
K’s for Kids put the cherry on top in the fourth, with a ninth run scoring via passed ball and Toten driving in the 10th with a blaring double into right-center. Keller notched his second RBI with a productive groundout.
Lefty reliever Luke Gab allowed United Rentals to grace the scoreboard with its presence. Raleigh Nelson slugged a one-out double that scored two runs in the fifth. Gab finished the frame after a long at-bat with Austin Schott.
The Crusaders’ greatest test and heated rival comes knocking on Wednesday. A battle of unbeatens with Jesuit-based Retif Oil (8-0) is set for Farley Field at 5:15 pm.
“It’s about us,” Lupo said of his message to the team. “That’s what we’ve been saying … More often than not, it’s about the guys in your dugout than what they do. So, I know our guys will be ready.”
United Rentals looks to rebound on the road against Riverside-based Peyton Falgoust Band on Wednesday at 4 pm.
FINAL
United Rentals 00002XX
K’s for Kids 2153XXX
WP— Nolan Amato
LP— Cam Fisackerly
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