Steward School scored four runs in the sixth inning and held on to defeat

the defending VISAA D2 champion Atlantic shores by a final tally of 4-3.

The D2 semi-final matchup was a classic pitchers duel as starting pitchers Julian Wolz of Steward School and Kyle Valentine of

Atlantic Shores, were hitting their spots. Both teams combined for only

six hits through five innings. Wolz finished with four strikeouts while Valentine recorded seven.

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the sixth

inning when a double by Nic Enright keyed the 4-run inning. Catcher Dan

McCarthy followed with a bunt single and sophomore Theron Powell plated

both baserunners with a double to right field. powell finished 2 of 3 from the plate. A RBI single by Jay Charity

gave the Spartans a 3-0 lead. Charity would score the final Steward School

run on a single by leadoff hitter Craig McLane.

Wolz took the mound with a 4-run cushion in the seventh but as Nic

Enright's mom correctly concluded, Wolz had lost some velocity on his pitches. He surrendered three straight hits to start the inning including two doubles to Casey Turner and Noah Babcock that cut the Spartans

lead to 4-1. Enright relieved Wolz with two on and no out but he forced two

ground ball outs to Mitchell Morrell and Davis Watson. Both baserunners

scored on the play reduce the lead to 4-3. Enright struckout Jacob Flora to

end the game.

Steward School will face The miller School for the VISAA D2 Championship.