Top-ranked St. Dom’s scores the winning run on a passed ball in the bottom of the seventh to nip No. 9 Winthrop.
By Mike O’Hara
Staff Writer

AUBURN – Ryan Turgeon scampered home with the game-winning run on a passed ball in the bottom of the seventh inning to give No. 1 St. Dom’s a 2-1 win over No. 9 Winthrop in the Western Class C baseball quarterfinals.

St. Dom’s (14-3) will host Monmouth at 3 p.m. today in the semifinals.

Winthrop (7-10) jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Ian McCarthy singled, advanced to third on a steal and fielder’s choice and was awarded home plate when the Saints’ pitcher lost the ball off his leg for a balk.

St. Dom’s lineup was held in check by Matt McCarthy, who held the Saints scoreless for the first three innings before Tyler Turgeon led off the fourth inning with a sharp single, advanced to second on a fielder’s choice by Josh Dwinal and raced home with the tying run when Jack Lavoie lined a single down the right field line.

St. Dom’s (14-3) squandered a couple of chances in the fifth inning. The Saints put together a pair of singles by Mike Carpenter and Jim Mayo, but a throw from Winthrop’s centerfielder Ian McCarthy cut down the potential winning run. Chad Garwood blocked the path to the plate and applied the tag as Carpenter tried to slide around the Ramblers’ backstop.

Ryan Turgeon allowed a single hit in each of the first four innings. Other than the balk, however, Winthrop could not rattle the Saints’ top hurler.

“One of the things that Ryan has done over the last three seasons is become more composed. He doesn’t let things rattle him,” said St. Dom’s coach Allan Turgeon.

“My defense is really solid behind me,” Ryan Turgeon said.

That was never more evident than in the third inning with one out. With the Ramblers’ speedy leadoff hitter Tavis Hasenfus on first, Ian McCarthy hit a hot shot to Nick Albert at second.

Albert flipped the ball to Tyler Turgeon, who stepped on second and fired the ball to first to comple the double play.

That play sparked the Saints’ offense in the bottom of the inning, as Turgeon and Lavoie combined to tie the game at 1-1.

Turgeon got stronger as the game went on, shutting down the Ramblers 1-2-3 in the last three innings and setting the stage for the improbable seventh inning.

Albert led off with a solid single. Winthrop elected to replace Matt McCarthy with older brother Ian, who promply walked Ryan Turgeon, then gave up a single to Ian Pullen. Albert was cut down at the plate for the first out of the inning on that play.

Tyler Turgeon hit into a fielder’s choice, and it looked like the game was headed into extra innings. Then a strikeout and a miscue by the Ramblers’ catcher allowed Ryan Turgeon to cross the plate with the winner.

“It wasn’t pretty, but we’ll take it,” said Allan Turgeon.