Roanoke Catholic starting pitcher Austin Boone was sharp on the mound for Roanoke Catholic Tuesday afternoon.
North Cross starter Justin Jensen proved to be sharper.
Holding the visiting Celtics to three hits, Jensen went the distance on the hill as the Raiders topped Roanoke Catholic 3-0 at Porterfield Field in the “‘Big-11” private school matchup.
Boone took the tough-luck loss for Roanoke Catholic despite only giving up one hit through the first five innings.
After matching goose eggs for 5 1/2 innings, North Cross broke the stalemate in the bottom of the sixth, scoring three runs keyed by the heart of the Raider lineup.
Jensen finished the deal in the seventh by retiring the Celtics in order.
Up to that point, the only North Cross hit had come in the form of a Tanner Smith double in the Raider fourth. Smith was thrown out trying to stretch the blast to right-center into a triple.
The North Cross sixth started with ninth-place hitter Joe Cranwell drawing a base on balls. After a misplay by the Celtics put runners at second and third with none out, the heart of the Raider lineup took over.
Smith connected on a 2 RBI single and Josh Greenway followed with a double to left center that put two runners in scoring position. Smith scored moments later on a bunt by Jack Cranwell that plated the third North Cross run.
Brendan Snow and Peyton Walthall each had a single for the Celtics, while Boone had a 1-out double in the Celtic sixth before being stranded at third.
Bill Turner
