METAIRIE — For Jesuit-based Retif Oil, frustration quelled perfection.
For Brother Martin-based K’s for Kids, brilliance in the field and clutch on the mound saddled a 4-2 win over the Oilers on Wednesday night at John Ryan Stadium.
Despite relentless contact, Retif (9-1) didn’t register a hit from the second inning until there was one out in the sixth and faltered when lights brightened late.
K’s for Kids (7-0) applied enough pressure to tally four runs. In a Crescent City Sports Prep Summer League heavyweight bout, the Crusaders delivered on Coach Jeff Lupo’s message to play within themselves.
“We played the way we needed to play,” Lupo said. “Like I told them, it’s always going to be about us. Play the way we’re capable, don’t beat ourselves and good things can happen.”
While its bats played coy, its gloves were anything but. A diving grab in center by Brady McClusky, a leaping catch at short by Kamber Keller and a sliding dig at third by Bronson Leaumont were just a few run and hit-savers that guided K’s for Kids’ victory.
“They played really well defensively tonight,” Lupo said. “Outfield defense was really good going to get some long fly balls, it’s a big park.”
Blaise Tingstrom’s strong four 2/3 innings of overhead slinging were credited for the win. He surrendered two hits, one run and three walks but came through in high-leverage spots.
Jacob Chan took the loss for Retif after two 2/3 innings. The right-hander finished with two earned runs and four walks.
Chan pitched on short notice. A ball thrown pregame struck original starter Beau Matulewski in the mouth, leading to a late scratch and shift in rotation.
With two outs in the second and runners on the corners, Austin Guedry dealt Retif’s first blow. He punched a single up the middle, making it 1-0 Oilers.
But it wasn’t long before K’s for Kids countered, capitalizing on Chan’s rough command. Back-to-back walks and a sacrifice bunt led off the third, then Leaumont roped a single that drove in the tying run.
Three batters later, Tyler Durand made it 2-1 with a sacrifice fly that ended Chan’s outing.
Keller collected another sac fly in the fourth, tacking onto K’s for Kids’ lead.
In the sixth, K’s for Kids used a costly error to gain more insurance. Kai Uhlman dashed for second, and Guedry’s throw was wild. A waiting Dominic Toten at third paced home to make it 4-1.
A frame later, Retif loaded the bases with two outs. Up came Guedry with a shot at redemption. But when Drake Amedee’s 3-2 fastball painted the outside corner, all he could do was stare.
Heat turned up in the seventh, but Amedee stayed cool to finish off Retif.
Joe Bosco delivered an RBI single that barely escaped the diving glove of McCluskey, making it 4-2.
Runners crowded the corners with two outs, but Amadee was lethal. He ended the game by punching out the go-ahead run with a pinpoint backdoor slider.
“It’s his turn to shine, it’s his turn to step up,” Lupo said of the senior. “He came in tonight and got some big outs for us down the stretch.”
With one week of CCSL play remaining as its reigning champs, K’s for Kids certainly has a path to finish undefeated and defend its crown. The Crusaders host Chalmette-based Gulf Coast Bank next Monday.
As for Retif, the road won’t get any easier. Unbeaten Rummel-based Malcolm M. Dienes comes to town on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. CT.
FINAL
K’s for Kids 0021000 4 5 0
Retif Oil 0100001 2 5 2
WP — Blaise Tingstrom
LP — Jacob Chan
SV — Drake Amadee
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