WEST PALM BEACH — Top-ranked baseball programs Benjamin and Cardinal Newman delivered on a highly touted showdown with a walk-off thriller on Tuesday evening.
The Crusaders (11-3-1) walked away with their eighth win straight this spring after an RBI single from Alex Thompson scored Gabe Acevedo to break a 5-5 tie. Three runs in the third inning, highlighted by a two-run RBI double from Brady Bitove, saw Benjamin sit ahead 5-2 until Newman put up three runs in the sixth inning.
"We're happy about the win. Not as happy about how we played," Newman coach Joe Russo said. "We'll take it though."
Here are three takeaways:
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Benjamin double plays nearly dominate Crusaders
Newman's earlier attempts at creating opportunities to settle the score were denied by a domineering Benjamin (9-4) defense.
A 6-4-3 double play from Drew Buchanan to Ben Swank to Harrison Ashley in the third inning preceded a 5-4-3 double play from Derek Rubin to Swank to Johnny Havlicek at first base in the fourth inning.
"We kept our dugout loud because we were getting in their heads a little bit," Newman junior Blake Anderson said.
"I could see that they were starting to fall down."
Anderson shines in first relief appearance
After entering the game to pitch in the fifth inning, Anderson didn't give up a hit and struck out seven. Offensively, he had one run on one hit and one RBI.
Starting pitcher and Florida commit Sam Lovitz proved to still be finding his footing back on the mound after two surgeries. Through four innings, the junior recorded a wild pitch, hit two batters, allowed seven hits and struck out six.
"I came out of the bullpen pretty hot and I just needed to get after those batters," Anderson said. "I had the ball in my hand so I knew the game was over."
Before Tuesday, Anderson was used to the starter role, one he became very familiar with leading Wellington to 7A state playoffs last spring. At Newman, the uncommitted junior has a team-high 60 strikeouts and 2.42 ERA over 26 innings.
"That was actually his first time out of the bullpen this year," Russo said. "We had this plan going in it was going to be Sam and Blake's game. Obviously, was hoping we had a lead when we went to Blake. I mean, Sam pitched well, too. We didn't help him out defensively."
Newman excited for remainder of season
"I love the coaching staff here and all the kids. It's a great team," Anderson said of his move. "I think we're hot right now."
"Hopefully, we'll keep it on and be at states pretty soon."
Compared to last spring's 14-12 finish in the program's first year under Russo, to say the Crusaders' current record is a trend in the right direction is an understatement. In 2023, back-to-back losses to Benjamin in district championships and 3A region quarterfinals sent the Crusaders home for the summer.
Newman reached 3A state semifinals as recently as 2022, falling in a controversial one-run loss to ultimate champion North Broward Prep.
Now, Newman is another year wiser, hosting nine seniors, and battle-tested by a tough slate of opponents.
Sure, the pain of last year's exit to the rival Bucs stung, but losses like an 8-6 final at American Heritage-Plantation three weekends ago are fresh memories.
"We've played a pretty decent schedule," Russo said. "There's been some leads we've lost late in games where we didn't hold leads, and I think that's kind of woke us up and smacked us around a little bit. At Heritage-Plantation, we were up five-zip and lost."
"We don't really have to say much to them, because I think they think they're going to win in the end. Hopefully, that's always the case."
Emilee Smarr is a sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: High school baseball: Cardinal Newman's Blake Anderson shines in walk-off win over Benjamin
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