Can Saints Rise To Occasion One More Time?
SB Has Made A Habit Of Responding To Challenges In Tourney

By Ned Griffen, Day Sports Writer

Published on 6/09/2007 by The Day

There were times this season when Mike Garvie was annoyed that his team wasn't playing up to its potential.

St. Bernard High School has shown its coach, however, just how tough it can be when necessary.

The Saints rallied to win twice during the CIAC Class S baseball tournament, including a game in which Garvie and senior Ben Nossek were both ejected, to advance to today's state championship game.

Top-seeded St. Bernard (22-2) plays No. 2 Northwest Catholic of West Hartford (21-2) at Yale Field in West Haven at 12:30 p.m.

“They've responded really well when they've had to,” Garvie said. “We hope we'll see that (today), when push comes to shove, that we show that kind of perseverance.”

It is St. Bernard's first championship game appearance since losing to Fitch, 2-0, in the 1990 Class L final. The Saints won Class M titles in 1967 and 1977, as well as the 1982 Class L title.

They also beat NW Catholic, 13-2, in the 2006 quartefinals.

St. Bernard won its first eight games of the season en route to its fourth straight Eastern Connecticut Conference Small Division title, but Garvie felt the Saints were going through the motions.

“As a coach, they can test you're patience, but you hope they give 100 percent every day” he said. “Some days you don't get that. I could start to see the last couple of weeks at the end of the season that they got to where I thought they should be all year. Walking the straight and narrow through an entire three- or four-month period can be difficult, but you'd rather they'd be focused now then April 1.”

The Saints trailed Ansonia, 3-2, in bottom of the sixth in the second round on May 30, but senior Kyle Brahm and junior Anthony Ruffo each hit two-run singles as St. Bernard scored six times to win, 8-4.

Garvie and Nossek were both thrown out of Wednesday's semifinal against Trinity Catholic of Stamford — making both ineligible for today's game — and the Saints trailed 2-0 after 21/2 innings.

St. Bernard scored once in the bottom of the third and three times with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to win, 4-2. Tyler Turgeon began the sixth-inning rally with a double and scored on Ryan Brahm's game-tying double. Kyle Brahm followed with an RBI double and scored on an error.

“We had our backs against the wall in the second game,” Garvie said. “With a little bit of turmoil going on (Wednesday), they battled through adversity. I could see it in their eyes (that they'd win). I had confidence they were going to win that game without me.”

Seniors Mike Aldrich, Kyle Brahm, Dan Eagan and Turgeon have led the offense. The pitching staff, which graduated 19 of last season's 21 wins, evolved quite nicely as this year went on.

Senior Grant Livingston, junior Patrick Lowery and sophomore Jeff DeLucia anchored the staff, and DeLucia (6-0) will start today.

“Jeff DeLucia has thrown a lot of big games for us,” Garvie said. “I think he's a good matchup against (Northwest).

“He mixes his pitches well, and is not as predictable (as some other pitchers).

Northwest has a strong 1-2 combination in senior pitchers Kyle Sumple (9-0, 1.98) and Jack Wagoner (8-0, 1.12 ERA).

Sumple will play at Sienna, Wagoner at Sacred Heart.

“It's the first time in school history that we've won our conference (the Northwest Conference) and the first time in school history that we've ever been to the final,” Indians coach Cory Carlson said. “We're looking forward to getting another shot at St. Bernard because they whacked us pretty good last year in the quarters.

“I know they have a pretty good team coming back, but so do we.”

n.griffen@theday.com or 701-4346

Montville