By Michael Kiral / L’Observateur / March 7, 1998

METAIRIE – Brother Martin jumped out to 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first, defeating Destrehan, 7-1, Tuesday night at Zephyr Field.

G.J. Vitrano and Jason Smith combined to hold the Wildcats to six hitswith Vitrano picking up the victory. Wildcats starter Kenny Wenning tookthe loss for the Wildcats.

Justin Colletti opened the game for the Crusaders with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Beau Keller followed with a double toleft to bring in Colletti. Joey Quilio then reached on an error to putrunners at first and second with no one out.

Vitrano followed with a sharp grounder to third which Mike Bierman snared, stepped on the bag and fired to first base for a double play. ButPatrick Egan kept up the rally with a drive over the left field fence, making the score 3-0.

The Crusaders cushioned that lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the second.

Keith Berger led off the inning with a walk and Jonathan Stevenson followed with a hit-and-run single to center, putting runners at the corners with nobody out.

Colletti followed with a grounder to third with Bierman tagging Berger out in the run-down. Berger stayed in the run-down long enough to allowthe runners to advance to second and third, which the Crusaders took advantage of as Keller hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Ross Keller running for Stevenson. Quilio then reached on an error by Bierman,allowing Colletti to score the second run of the inning.

Destrehan trimmed the lead in the top of the third as Josh Donaldson led off with a walk and advanced to second on a ground out by Jason Pick. Oneout later, Todd Picco brought Donaldson home with a single to left, bringing the Wildcats to within 5-1.

Pick prevented damage in the bottom of the inning with a sliding catch of Jarrod Gonzales’ looping fly ball to right.

The Crusaders increased their lead in the fourth as Keller and Quilio singled and Vitrano walked with one out. Destrehan reliever Craig Naquinthen hit Egan to force in a run. Jonathan Samitkkwan followed with asacrifice fly to right to make it 7-1.

Naquin pitched out of a two-out, bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the fifth by getting Vitrano to ground out to second.

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