In a crazy back and forth game yesterday afternoon in the Charlottesville Region the St. John's Red Strom lost 6-4 to ECU ending their season.
The Johnnies just didn't have enough to get over the hump yesterday as they went down early 3-0. Starter Brendan Lobban went only 3 innings giving up those three runs before he was pulled for Eddie Medina. Medina (3-2) and Matt Carasiti threw 6 innings of 3 run relief to keep the Storm in the game.
It all started for ECU with a run in the second inning and then a two run bomb by Corey Thompson. Thompson was on base all day as he went 3-4 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored.
St. John's came back to tie it at three when they got two in the third and one in the fourth. Jeremey Baltz was 1-3 with two RBI and Frankie Schwindel had an RBI double to tie the game.
ECU got an insurance run in the ninth off of Carasiti off a bloop RBI single from Matt Ussery, who hadn't had a hit the entire tournament. St. John's got a two out single in the ninth but Joe Panik, the teams best player, grounded out to end the season for the Johnnies.
St. John's ended their campaign at 36-22. St. John's had a great season that everyone should be proud of. I know they didn't meet their goal of making it back to Omaha and the College World Series but they ended up with a tough draw and did they best they could.ECU was eliminated later last night when they lost 13-1 to Virginia. Virginia ran rough shot through the Regional and strangely the team that played best against them was Navy who was the first team eliminated.
MLB DRAFT
Next up for junior and senior St. John's players is the MLB Draft happening today, June 6th through June 8th. Eligible for the draft from the Johnnies team are: superstar shortshop Joe Panik. Second baseman Matt Wessinger, senior catcher Joe Witkowksi, senior first baseman and St. John's hit king Paul Karmas, relievers Eddie Medina and Stephen Rivera and starters Brendan Lobban and Kevin Kilpatrick.
Now this doesn't mean all of these players won't return, even if drafted. Except Witkowski and Karmas, if drafted the players can still return to St. John's for their senior season.
Also be on the lookout for St. John's basketball recruit Amir Garrett, who is drawing interest from some major league teams, such as the Mariners and Red Sox. Garrett has raw baseball talent with a 92+ mph fastball that will take some time to develop.
There are many rounds in the MLB Draft and 4 players were selected in last years draft. If anyone from the Red Strom is drafted you will be informed right here on the Rumble.