Staff Report
The Holy Spirit High baseball team has a pitching staff loaded with upperclassmen, and that’s a big reason why the Spartans have jumped out to a 5-0 start this season. On Wednesday, the Spartans got another outstanding performance from senior righty Chase Rubenstein, who twirled a 5-inning no-hitter in Holy Spirit’s 11-0, mercy rule victory over Atlantic Tech.
A couple of walks is all that kept Rubenstein from a perfect game, and he finished with seven strikeouts on 78 pitches.
“It was his first start of the year and he did what a senior needs to do — he filled up the zone. I’m proud of the way he battled in blustery conditions, picking up a division win,” said Spartans coach Steve Normane.
The Spartans’ offense had just three hits in the game, but took advantage of eight walks by the RedHawks’ pitching staff. Jack Murray had a pair of RBIs and Jordiel Rivera went 1-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI. Bernie Hargadon, Ryan Mallen and Breckin Weiss each scored a pair of runs.
So far this season, Spirit is hitting .386 as a team and has scored 78 runs in its first five games, while the pitching staff has allowed just four runs while striking out 49 and issuing just eight walks.
The rest of the April schedule gets tougher, though, as Spirit is scheduled to face West Deptford, Ramapo and Lenape (in the Downbeach Coaches vs. Cancer in Margate on April 25), as well as Cape-Atlantic League rivals Buena, St. Joseph Academy, Oakcrest, Absegami and Lower Cape May. At the moment, Spirit sits a game behind Cedar Creek in the CAL National standings, and a half-game behind Absegami. All three teams are undefeated.
