St. Bernard one win away from crown
By Brian Girasoli
As the St. Bernard High School baseball team takes to the field at 12:30 p.m. today, two key members of the top-seeded Saints will be anywhere but Yale Field in New Haven.
Coach Mike Garvie and senior Ben Nossek will not be allowed in the dugout -- or anywhere in the stadium -- in today's Class S championship game against second-seeded Northwest Catholic-West Hartford. Each was ejected during Wednesday's semifinal win over Trinity Catholic and Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Association rules state those ejected can't be in attendance for the following game.
Despite the loss, it may actually be a good thing.
"When I got ejected on Wednesday night, I looked at the kids' faces as I left and it kind of spurred them a little bit," Garvie said. "It gave them a reason to rally. If they played harder, it kind of spurred them. At this point, it kind of gives them a little more of a reason to bring this home."
Adversity is something St. Bernard has faced all season, but has been able to overcome to the tune of a 22-1 record.
Just like against Trinity in the semifinals, when the Saints trailed 2-1 before scoring three times in the bottom of the sixth for a 4-2 win.
Just like against Ansonia in the second round, when St. Bernard trailed 3-2 into the bottom of the sixth and scored five times for an 8-4 win.
"It seems to be this year, more than other years, when push comes to shove, they've been able to respond," Garvie said. "(They've) made the big play; in crucial situations, they've been doing all the right things."
Sophomore righty Jeff DeLucia (7-0), who has a five-pitch repertoire, earned the starting assignment for today's game. Garvie said DeLucia "throws strikes and gives us an opportunity to make the plays behind him."
Indeed, DeLucia felt his infield of three seniors (third baseman Mike Aldrich, shortstop Tyler Turgeon and second baseman Grant Livingston) and one junior (first baseman Harrison Smith) makes his job that much easier.
"We have a good mix of old and young players," DeLucia said. "Someone's always picking the guys up when we're in trouble situations."
Northwest, a fundamentally sound club, features two pitchers who will play Division I baseball next year. The Saints beat Northwest, 13-3, in last year's Class S quarterfinals.
"They're bringing back the same team as last year," Garvie said. "They've gotten bigger, faster and stronger. ... I feel we've prepared well for this game."
There's also bulletin-board material --DeLucia read where the New Haven Register picked Northwest Catholic (22-2) to win and that's given the team some extra motivation, aside from having their two leaders missing in the dugout.
"(Friday's practice) was pretty positive," DeLucia said. "Garvie, he wants us to win; he realizes we have a pretty good team. Nossek gave us a speech; he wishes he could be there. He said he made a mistake, but he wants us to play our best."
Over the last 23 games, St. Bernard has played its best 22 times. There's one last hurdle today.
Reach Brian Girasoli at 425-4213 or bgirasoli@norwichbulletin.com
