Avonworth's Michael Giampole catches the ball as a Vincentian runner attempts to slide into second base. Photo by Tom Steiner for The Citizen

By JIM RUMBLE

Having a tough time finding their offense again, the Avonworth baseball team was no match for section leader Vincentian when the teams played at home this past Wednesday.

The Royals, on the other hand, used a 17-hit attack in disposing of the Antelopes 15-2.

Vincentian got five of those hits in the top of the first against pitcher Frank Restelli to take an early 2-0 lead.

The Antelopes responded with a lead-off double by Coby Croft and an RBI hit to center by Carl Pietrusinski to put the score at 2-1.

The score remained that way until the Royals combined two hits and a couple of Avonworth defensive errors to lead in the third inning, 4-1.

Vincentian then put together six hits, including a two-run homer, to score five runs and lead 9-1 in the fourth inning.

The Antelopes had the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth but could manage only one run with a walk to Tom Turnbull, scoring Croft from third and creating a 9-2 Royals lead.

Vincentian went to work on reliever Croft to add six runs in the top of the sixth to put the final score at 15-2.

Avonworth could muster only five hits offensively, including two doubles by Croft and singles by Pietrusinski, Bryan Bartram and Nick Hobbs.