Radnor, PA - In Cabrini Baseball's 2024 season-opener, the Cavaliers defeated the Defenders of Clarks Summit University 8-0 on Saturday afternoon. The Cavaliers employed six pitchers in their combined nine-inning shutout, allowing just three hits on the day. Cabrini's bats generated 8 runs off 14 hits, with a 4 run third inning and 3 run seventh. 

The Cavaliers welcome two more United East - Skye division opponents to Cabrini-Carroll Field next weekend, as they'll host Cairn on Friday and Rosemont on Sunday.

How It Happened
Dom Marotta was given the opening day nod and the first two innings of work for Cabrini. He'd retire the first six batters in order, forcing four groundouts and striking out two Defenders across the first and second inning.

Blake Weinstein replaced Marotta in the top of the third, earning the win for his lone inning on the mound. The southpaw put two men on base with walks, but picked off both to record the first and third out.

After the Cavaliers' offense left two stranded in each of the first two frames, Cabrini saw four baserunners cross the plate in the bottom of the third. Leading off the inning, Alan Bautista crushed a fly ball off the center field wall, but he met glove before base in his effort to leg out a triple. Jaden Dickerson and Christian Strickland followed with back to back 1-out walks. Dickerson and Strickland advanced one bag on a passed ball, setting up Ryan Dipper's 2-run single to left field. Zack Brook singled to center before Colton Narciso drove in both runners with a double in the gap to cap off the inning.

Hunter Kraiza entered for Weinstein, as he pitched a comfortable fourth and fifth inning. Kraiza allowed just one man on in the fifth before inducing a 6-4-3 ground ball double play. Andrew Smith got out of the sixth inning unscathed, followed by Josh Colon's 1-2-3 seventh inning. Colon got a fly out to right field and caught the next two Defenders looking at strike three.

Cabrini got back on the board in the bottom of the seventh, where Ryan Dipper opened the inning with a walk. Dipper advanced twice off pitches to the backstop, allowing Colton Narciso to knock him in from third with a single. Brady Campbell then drove Narciso home with a double to left, followed by Jacob Roberts bringing Campbell across the plate with a single. Roberts stole second and third base in the inning, but stood pat there as Dickerson and Strickland loaded the bases with walks before a fly ball to center ended the seventh inning.

The Cavaliers tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, as Dipper and Brook reached base with singles to the left side. Both took the extra base on a wild pitch, leading to Brady Campbell's sacrifice fly. 

Ricky Dombrowski kept the shutout intact, forcing a fielder's choice at second for the final out of the contest.

Notables
Ryan Dipper reached base in each of his five plate appearances, as the first baseman garnered three hits, a walk, and a hit by pitch. Jaden Dickerson collected the same feat, reaching base with a double, a single and three walks in his five plate appearances. Colton Narciso had 3 RBIs on the day, while Brady Campbell and Ryan Dipper each delivered a pair.

The Cavaliers' combined shutout required scoreless outings from Dom Marotta (2.0 IP), Blake Weinstein (1.0 IP), Hunter Kraiza (2.0 IP), Andrew Smith (1.0 IP), Josh Colon (2.0 IP), and Ricky Dombrowski (1.0 IP). Cabrini's opening day staff surrendered 3 hits and 5 walks to Clarks Summit, with no Defender's safely reaching third base on the afternoon. 

Due Up
The Cavaliers return to Cabrini-Carroll Field next weekend for a Friday meeting with Cairn at 3pm on Feb. 16 and a Sunday, 1pm game with Rosemont on Feb. 18.