New London rally falls short

BURLINGTON - After trailing by five runs to start the final inning, the New London baseball team put quite a scare into Notre Dame on their own home field, but the Tigers couldn't quite come back, falling 6-4 in the district final.

New London took the first lead of the game when Shae Summerfield blasted a solo home run in the top of the second inning, but Notre Dame quickly responded. They tied it up with a run in the bottom of the second and added three in the third and two in the fifth to take what looked to be a commanding lead.

Things seemed fine for the Nikes until a chaotic final half-inning. New London starting pitcher Holvin Catala drew first blood in the inning with a solo home run, which cut the lead to 6-2, but the hits kept coming for the Tigers.

New London eventually cut the Nike's lead to 6-4 and had the bases loaded and two outs with leadoff man Josh Catala at the plate. The sophomore lined a ball back to the pitcher, a hit that could've scored two if it slipped into the outfield, but the ball was knocked down and thrown to first to end the rally and knock the Tigers out of the postseason.

H. Catala took the loss on the mound, giving up six runs (five earned) on six hits, three walks and a hit batter. He struck out five. Kooper Schulte came in to get the last two outs of the bottom of the sixth, both strikeouts.

H. Catala went 2-for-3 at the plate with a single and a home run. Summerfield was 1-for-2 with a solo shot of his own. Ryan Richey and Seth Bailey each had an RBI as part of New London's last-gasp effort.

The Tigers finished the year 14-4, having won their last eight games before the loss on Saturday. Notre Dame (13-2) will play a 7-7 North Cedar Squad in the Class 1A Substate 4 final on Tuesday night.