Friday May 5 Robert Toombs hosted Grace Christian in the Elite 8.
Game 1 Robert Toombs 6 Grace 1
Britton Tabor picked up the win on the mound pitching 6 innings of 1 hit baseball allowing no runs while striking out 8 on the day. Offensively, the Crusaders found hits up and down the line-up but were lead by both TJ Stanley and Cayden Nance, who had two hits and 2 rbi in the game. Hayden Kight got things going on the scoreboard opening up the bottom of the 2nd with a lead off double coming around to score on a miss play, and the Crusaders would add 3 more runs that inning thanks to rbi double by Tripp Durden and a Cayden Nance single and an rbi Single by Stanley. That's all the run support Tabor would need, even though the Crusader would go on to score 2 more in the 4th.
Coach Fitzgerald after the game " Britton was fantastic with his fastball location today, worked ahead in the count the entire time, and used his breaking ball effectively. His best outing of the year and a big time for it! Offensively we have struggled all season executing in key moments and although we did that a little today also, we also had several 2 out hits, ground balls the other way to advance base runners and made some positive things happen. We had 12 hits in the game so we could have scored more but had some really positive at bats up and down the lineup".
Game 2 RTCA 8 Grace 2
TJ Stanley picked up the win on the mound for the Crusaders pitching 4 inning of 2 hit baseball allowing 2 runs 1 earned and striking out 3, and Cayden Nance picked up the save pitching 3 innings giving up 0 runs on 1 hit. Offensively Rayce Sharpe delivered a bases loaded single in the 4th driving in 2 runs with the Crusader behind 2-1, followed by an rbi from Tripp Durden and Cayden Nance the Crusaders would finally take control of the game. Tripp Durden and Dawson Pinckard both had 2 hits in the game with Durden adding a pair of rbi to lead the Crusaders along with Rayce Sharpe.
Coach Fitzgerald after the game " Just so excited for our guys, we just hadn't been able to put it together consistently, offensively this year but today, facing another quality pitching staff, things clicked a little. Due to last years success and how we brought the program back so quickly, we have seen everyone's best arm, and although we have struggled it has helped us prepare for this moment. Did a lot right today at the plate and on the mound, got to play cleaner defensively as thing are only gonna get tougher next week. Again excited for our guys to have this opportunity".(Courtesy of RTCA)
