
St. Brendan baseball breaks up no-hitter, then rallies to clinch series vs. Calvary
It mattered little that for most of the game, St. Brendan's baseball team couldn't touch Calvary Christian starter Braden Rosenthal.
When it counted the most, the Sabres found a way.
St. Brendan entered the bottom of the sixth inning trailing the Eagles, 1-0. The way Rosenthal was pitching, that score probably felt like 11-0 as he faced just 16 batters and had not given up a hit.
But that all came crashing down for the senior Samford commit and his Eagles team when the Sabres blitzed him with four hits and plated a pair of runs that proved to be the difference as St. Brendan, the No. 6 seed, rallied for a 2-1 victory over No. 3 seed Calvary Christian in the third and decisive game of a best-of-3 Region 4-3A quarterfinal series at St. Brendan.
Already enjoying their celebration, Sabres players got even better news a few minutes after securing their win when they learned that No. 7 seeded Miami Killian had upset No. 2 Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest in the opposite bracket.
St. Brendan (17-12) will enjoy homefield advantage on Monday when they host Killian at their field in Game 1 of a Best of 3 regional semifinal.
'Our kids, they finally put it together in that inning,' St. Brendan coach Jorge Robles said. 'The Rosenthal kid, he's a tough kid and he was really doing a job out there. But give our kids credit, they kept battling the whole game and stayed with it. Just a matter of time before we got a few big hits.'
Jan Perez Fernandez began the inning by breaking up Rosenthal's no hitter when he hit a slow roller down the third base line. Third baseman Selvy Lopez fielded it cleanly and made a perfect throw but with good speed, Fernandez beat the throw.
Jorge Heredia, the No. 9 hitter in the lineup, attempted a sacrifice bunt but popped out to the catcher. Fernandez then took off and successfully stole second and the timing was perfect. One pitcher later, leadoff hitter Luciano Nava stroked a soft liner to left. There was a play at the plate but Fernandez beat the throw home and Nava went down to second on the throw.
Two batters later, after Nava made it to third on an infield ground out to second, the big moment arrived when Kevin Leon took Rosenthal's first pitcher and drilled an opposite field shot off the left field fence scoring Nava and sending the Sabres dugout into a frenzy.
'We had been seeing his cutter all game so I was sitting on it to see if I would get it and I did,' Leon said. 'He left it up and outside and I just went with it opposite field. It was our third time around against him so we'd been trying to go to school throughout the game. What a great game, both pitchers were throwing well and it was crazy game for sure. But we were determined find a way and it feels great to be moving on.'
The Eagles (15-11-3) did not go quietly though as they put a rally of their own together in their final at-bat.
A one-out Nicky Lombardo base hit to right center, only Calvary's second hit of the game as St. Brendan starter Giancarlo Guzman and reliever Alex Rizo had been nearly as brilliant as Rosenthal, got the rally going.
After Lombardo advanced to second on an infield groundout, pinch hitter Luca Erazo walked bringing up No. 9 hitter Cole Diehl. Down to his last strike, Diehl drilled a shot right up the middle that likely would've been an RBI single to center. But the ball hit Rizo's knee and bounced away for an infield single loading the bases.
Looking for a lefty on lefty matchup, Robles then went back to his bullpen and brought in Henry Perera to face, of all people, Rosenthal, the Eagles leadoff hitter.
Perera promptly threw three consecutive balls for a 3-0 count as the Calvary bench got noisy. But Perera kept his cool, calmly throwing one down the middle for strike one before Rosenthal hit a ground ball right back to him.
Perera reached up and speared the ball with his right hand, bobbled it before cooly firing to first for the final out.
'My mind was racing obviously at that moment,' said Perera when the count went to 3-0. 'But it was just a matter of calming myself, slow my breathing down and just make the pitches I knew I was capable of. In the end my team and my defense was there.'
The Eagles got their only run of the game in the fourth when Carlos Lugo led off with a walk and Preston Bielec followed with Calvary's first and only base hit off Guzman to right center.
Blake Sundberg then hit a shot to first base that got under the first baseman Brandon Roca's glove for an error, scoring Lugo and leaving runners on the corners with no outs. Primed to break things open, the Eagles will look back at a lost opportunity as Lombardo struck out and Wes Altidort lined out to Roca who then doubled back Sundberg at first for an inning-ending double play.
'A great game between two terrific teams that just didn't go our way,' said Calvary Christian coach Wayne Rosenthal, Brandon's father. 'We just coudn't get enough going offensively and it wound up coming back to cost us.'

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
NFL Analyst Gives Eagles' Jalen Hurts Controversial Ranking
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. It looks like it might be another war-filled year between Philadelphia Eagles fans and analysts who comment on the game. Despite just winning the Super Bowl and being named the MVP a few months ago, Jalen Hurts recently landed in the top 10 of Chris Simms' 2025 quarterback rankings list. Typically, the top 10 is a decent score for any passer, but in Hurts' case, being 10th overall might be seen as disrespectful by fans. "He brings a skillset to [the Eagles] offense that makes them almost indefensible with all the talent they have," Simms said of Hurts, complimenting the veteran quarterback's game. Still, No. 10 won't sit right with Eagles fans, as several names ahead of him have proven less at this stage in their careers. Quarterback Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles warms up prior to a game against the Green Bay Packers during the NFC Wild Card Playoff at Lincoln Financial Field on January 12, 2025 in Philadelphia,... Quarterback Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles warms up prior to a game against the Green Bay Packers during the NFC Wild Card Playoff at Lincoln Financial Field on January 12, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. MoreWho Ranked Higher Than Jalen Hurts? Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield and LA Chargers' Justin Herbert come in at nine and eight. Both QBs are veterans who have been around long enough to have a resume that gives them a decent argument to be hovering around the top 10. Two out of the next three rankings are where it gets a little more controversial. Houston Texans' CJ Stroud comes in at seven after wrapping up his second NFL season. There's no doubt Stroud is one of the better young passers in the game, but he saw a regression in year two, throwing for 3,727 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. LA Rams' Matthew Stafford is in a good place, ranking sixth. Then comes Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, who is coming off an impressive rookie effort. Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts, 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels, and Matthew Stafford headline first batch of top ten rankings of @CSimmsQB's Quarterback Countdown, now on Chris Simms Unbuttoned and Pro Football Talk More: — NBC Sports PR (@NBCSportsPR) June 9, 2025 The NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year earned a Pro Bowl nod in his first season. He helped the Commanders shock the NFL with a 12-5 record, as he threw the ball for over 3,500 yards, 25 touchdowns, and just nine interceptions. In addition to his passing, Daniels rushed for nearly 900 yards and six touchdowns. The recently-revealed QBs below Daniels had to prove a lot over the years to get where they are. Clearly, Simms is betting big on another Daniels masterclass in 2025 for his sophomore effort. As for Hurts, he'll have to continue living with the narrative that suggests he's just outside of an elite class. Since the Eagles are coming off a season where they relied heavily on Saquon Barkley and the run game, Hurts' 2,903-yard, 18-touchdown campaign came with just as much criticism as support. Hurts supporters might be fed up with the narrative heading into the 2025 NFL season, but the Eagles are likely content, as they have nothing to hang their head about these days.


USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Former 49ers castoff has transformed himself into an Eagles training camp sleeper
Former 49ers castoff has transformed himself into an Eagles training camp sleeper Danny Gray is a talented pass catcher, and the former 49ers draft pick could be an under-the-radar player to watch during Eagles OTAs Say what you will about NBA summer leagues, MLB spring training, and anything else that gets the blood flowing. Seldom does anything compare to the expectancy experienced during a Philadelphia Eagles summertime camp. Veterans who have been sitting out the voluntary portions return to work. New faces in new places bring new optimism. Philadelphia enters mandatory minicamp with a dozen wide receivers on the 90-man offseason roster. We're counting Avery Williams in that number. He has also been called a returner and a running back, but you get the idea. Williams will enjoy both cooperation and competition with the likes of A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Jahan Dotson, but don't rule out a former San Francisco 49ers prospect. He's been turning heads, and there are theories that his stellar play might continue through the summer. Keep an eye on Danny Gray at Eagles minicamp Every year, there are those handful of guys. Undrafted rookies and former castoffs... Newly-acquired Birds who are hoping for a fresh start in a new city. They face challenging climbs, trying to impress the right people and secure a spot on the 53-man roster. Of the aforementioned dozen Eagles wide receivers, six will probably find their way onto the active roster. The rest are auditioning for opportunities on the practice squad or, if they're lucky, a chance to play elsewhere. Brown, Smith, and Dotson will make the Eagles' team. It's also wise to place wagers on Johnny Wilson, Ainias Smith, and Avery Williams. So, in keeping with the theory of six wideouts, if the math is correct, we've seemingly named them, so where does that leave someone like Terrace Marshall? How about someone with a longer shot of earning his place on the depth chart? Feast your eyes on Danny Gray. He returns for another chance at glory after winning a Super Bowl as part of Philadelphia's scout team last season. He'd rather be on the field, though, and he's doing all he can to achieve that. He's done what guys in his position are asked: Make the most of every opportunity. As a result, he enters mandatory minicamp with some buzz. As OTAs wore on, it became apparent that A.J. and DeVonta wouldn't be attending. Gray's opportunities increased. He made the most of them by impressing coaches and fellow teammates, which is precisely what he should do. Gray doesn't have much of a regular-season sample size to grade him on. He was a third-round choice of the San Francisco 49ers during the 2022 NFL Draft. He appeared in 13 games as a rookie, played 87 offensive snaps, and caught one pass for ten yards. It bears repeating. Gray's chances of making this Eagles roster are slim, razor thin, almost, but don't tell him that. He has come to compete. With good coaching and a little luck, good things may happen. Might there be a little Zack Baun in him? Time will tell. Keep an eye on him. There's a possibility we're in for a preseason show.


USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
7 Things to watch for during Eagles' mandatory minicamp
7 Things to watch for during Eagles' mandatory minicamp Philadelphia is holding one mandatory minicamp practice on Tuesday, and we're looking at seven things to watch as the Eagles take the field for one final time before training camp in July Unlike most of the teams around the NFL, Philadelphia will hold one mandatory minicamp practice on Tuesday before taking a five-week break until training camp. The mandatory minicamp is part of Phase 3 of the NFL offseason. During mandatory minicamp, teams can participate in 7 on 7, 9 on 7, and 11 on 11 drills, provided no live contact takes place. Like in OTAs, players cannot wear pads except protective knee and elbow pads, though helmets are permitted. With Tuesday's session about to begin, we're looking at seven things to watch as the Eagles take the field for one final time before training camp in July. New personnel on defense The Eagles saw cornerbacks Darius Slay Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, James Bradberry, Avonte Maddox, edge rushers Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat, safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and defensive tackle Milton Williams all exit this off-season. Starting linebacker Nakobe Dean is still rehabbing from a torn patellar tendon and "won't be back for a while," according to defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. The Eagles will add cornerback Kelee Ringo, safety Sydney Brown, and defensive lineman Moro Ojomo to the rotation. At the same time, new additions in cornerback Adoree' Jackson, edge rusher Azeez Ojulari, and rookies Ty Robinson and Andrew Mukuba are expected to compete for those spots. First-round pick, linebacker Jihaad Campbell (shoulder), will eventually be in the mix, but won't be on the field until sometime in August, per Vic Fangio. Will there be any surprise no-shows? DeVonta Smith, Lane Johnson, Avery Williams, Reed Blankenship, and Cam Jurgens were among the Eagles who missed OTA sessions. Tuesday is mandatory, and with no lingering contract issues, Tuesday should see the team have perfect attendance. Rookies take the field The 2025 NFL draft is over, and Eagles GM Howie Roseman deserves to be commended for acquiring ten athletic and versatile football players. In this draft, Philadelphia focused again on big-game experience and leadership. Every player drafted had spent three years in school or had served as a captain. Jihaad Campbell could still be weeks away from a clean bill of health, but we will still be watching Drew Mukuba, Ty Brown, and Smael Mondon, among others. Toughness must be maintained despite Super Bowl win When Nick Sirianni was initially hired, team leaders convinced the first-year head coach to eliminate the mandatory Minicamp and focus on keeping players healthy. Philadelphia had the lightest OTA workload of any team in the league, but that changed after the 2023 collapse. After winning the Super Bowl, the Eagles will balance maintaining that toughness while lessening the load slightly. Pace and competition It'll be year No. 5 for Nick Sirianni with a slightly retooled coaching staff. Sirianni has preached competition since the beginning, and things will be intense with a new offensive coordinator, a new quarterbacks coach, and several new faces on the defensive side of the football. There's continuity with Jalen Hurts, and the entire offensive personnel will be needed during an offseason of change. Re-tooling the Tush Push The Tush Push or Brotherly Shove remains for the 2025 season as the NFL owners rejected a proposal from the Green Bay Packers during a vote at the league's Spring Meeting to ban the play. The Packers' proposal was rejected. The proposal needed 24 of the 32 votes to pass. Philadelphia had already taken steps to enhance the short-yardage scenarios with the signing of A.J. Dillon and linebacker Ben VanSumeren, making the permanent switch to the fullback position. The Eagles have encountered a lot of hate, and the next few months are about adding wrinkles to a play that most of the NFL will spend the summer working to stop. Position battles A.J. Dillon against Will Shipley, Tyler Steen against Kenyon Green, and Kelee Ringo against the field are among the looming training camp battles that'll officially begin on Tuesday. Today's session could provide insight into potential depth charts for July.