Why Jason Fultz was the main factor for Cathedral Prep's baseball victory at McDowell
The new field turf on McDowell’s baseball diamond paid quick dividends Tuesday.
It was there the Trojans and Cathedral Prep Ramblers played the last 3½ innings of their rivalry game in various degrees of rainfall. Such weather in past encounters likely would have forced delays or suspensions of play.
Not this time. Hundreds of fans for each program remained for most of the overcast action, which also took place under the field’s new lighting system.
Also paying dividends, much to McDowell’s dismay, was Jason Fultz. The junior demonstrated why Clemson University recruited him throughout Prep's 5-1 victory.
The Ramblers improved to 13-2 overall, but more importantly 10-0 atop Region 5’s standings. They severed their first-place tie with the Trojans, who dropped to 9-1, 11-5.
Connor Cross, McDowell’s second batter for the game, accounted for its lone run when he homered off Fultz. The second baseman was mobbed by his teammates after he circled the bases.
Unknown to them during that celebration was only one other teammate would advance as far as third.
Fultz was the reason for McDowell’s dearth of further scoring chances. The right-hander only allowed two hits over 6⅔ innings and struck out 15, which included streaks of four and five in a row.
Fultz also made amends for the Cross homer with his own. His solo shot off McDowell starter Nick Hamilton in the top of the fifth upped the Ramblers’ advantage to 3-1.
“Jason is a self-motivated individual,” Prep coach Josh Constable said. “He holds himself to an extremely high standard and he elevates others to play at the top of their game. He gave up that homer to Cross, but more important was his response after that. It was really sound and it showed his maturity.”
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Bottom of order was top rate
Andrew Costello and Jacob Koshan also drove in runs during Prep’s road win. Koshan accounted for its last run in the top of the seventh when his suicide-squeeze bunt scored Costello.
However, the bottom of the Ramblers’ order was second to Fultz as far as notability.
Mathius Sprickman and brothers Daniel and Matt Oblich, their 7-8-9 hitters, combined to reach base four times. Daniel Oblich scored Prep’s second run and drove in its fourth on an RBI groundout.
“Our job is to get on base, just like everyone else,” the senior center fielder said. “Our guys at the top of the lineup are really crushing the ball right now, so when we get on it’s their job to score us.”
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Downtown rematch
McDowell won’t wait long for its chance to avenge Wednesday’s loss.
The Trojans and Ramblers play again May 16 at UPMC Park, the home of Eastern League champion Erie SeaWolves. Their scheduled 6:30 p.m. first pitch will double as the teams’ regular season finale.
Mike has worked for the Erie Times-News editorial department since 1997 and full time with its sports department since 2004. He was the sports editor for the former Titusville Herald from 1991-93.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Cathedral Prep beats McDowell in first of baseball rivals' two games
