RAIDERS' STATE TITLE HOPES DASHED

Senior pitcher Jordan Crane was the picture of determination in Monday's game at St. Marys. He matched Serra Catholic ace Brian Henze with a three-hitter, but Serra came away with a 3-2 win. Paul Burdick photo

Cameron County's high school baseball season came to an abrupt conclusion Monday evening in an edge-ofyour seat thriller at St. Marys' Berwind Park.

Serra Catholic pitcher Brian Henze, who came into the game with a microscopic 1.05 earned run average, used a dazzling curveball and pinpoint control to tame the potent Red Raider bats in the Eagles' 3-2 win.

Henze retired 14 of the last 15 batters he faced, finishing with a three-hitter. He struck out nine and walked just one.

"Henze was fooling us with his curveball," said CCHS manager Dick Harrier, whose team finished with a District 9 championship and an overall 17-3 record. "He did a good job."

Serra Catholic (22-2) moved into the state's Elite Eight with Monday's win.

Raider hurler Jordan Crane put up a gutsy effort, matching Henze with a three-hitter and striking out seven. However, Crane's first-inning control problems proved costly.

Serra took a 2-0 lead after Henze, batting with the bases loaded, was hit by Crane curveball and Ken Tomko followed with a walk.

Cameron County tied it at 2-2 in the bottom of the third. Darrick Mason drilled a oneout double to deep right field and Garrett Hornung walked.

With Crane at the plate, the Serra Catholic catcher threw wildly to first base on a pickoff attempt.

Mason came all the way around to score on the miscue and Hornung advanced to third. Crane then grounded out to second, sending Hornung across the plate.

The Eagles scored what proved to be the game-winner in the fourth.

With one out, Ryan Caldwell drew a walk. He scampered to second on a ground ball out. Chris Miller then singled to center field. A brief bobble in the outfield was all it took for Caldwell to race around third and come home.

Serra Catholic threatened again in the fifth, but a perfectly executed relay from centerfielder Matt Kriner to shortstop Cory Reed, then on to third sacker Abram Zoschg, nailed an Eagle baserunner who stumbled after he rounded third base.

Mason's two-out single in the fifth inning was wasted and the Raiders went down in order over the final two frames.