10/04/2025
Painting today at the championship game!
🚨🔥Senior Playoffs - Finals🔥🚨
Holy Cross are one win away from capturing the 2025 Senior Championship title! After a WILD game 3 that went 10 innings, the Crusaders emerged with the 2-1 series lead. Saturday's forecast looks great and this series has been incredible so far. The Shamrocks have the aim set to force a game 5 Monday night.
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St. Pat's
Saturday Oct. 4
1:00pm - McNiven's Pub Shamrocks Vs Holy Cross Crusaders
Game 4 - Best 3 of 5 (Series tied 2-1)
*** Senior Recap – Wednesday, October 1, 2025***
2025 Senior Finals - McNiven’s Pub Shamrocks Vs Holy Cross Crusaders
Game 3 – Best 3 of 5
HC lead series 2-1
Holy Cross Crusaders – 6
McNiven’s Pub Shamrocks - 5
(10 innings)
As the calendar turned to October, the temperature and weather made its impact. As the Shamrocks and Crusaders prepared for the most pivot game yet, the cold winds blew across St. Pat’s and the rain at times, not far from hail, pelted players and onlookers alike. For the players though, the temperature of this series was about to turn up. The game that unfolded Wednesday night will go down to anyone that was there to watch, as one of the most entertaining baseball games you will get to see – and in the Finals no less!
Graham King took the mound for the green and gold, and he would retire the first two batters, before Nick Evans doubled and was knocked in one batter later by Evan Reid on a line drive to left. The Shamrocks would get that one back in the bottom though, as Dylan MacKenize doubled to lead off the game, stole third, and scored on a Raygan Gulliver fielder’s choice, but Evan Reid would retire the next two batters to take a 1-1 game into the second.
King would throw only 10 pitches in the second and pick up 2 K’s along the way, but Evan Reid would keep pace, holding the Shamrocks again. Both teams would go three up three down in the third and, in the top of the fourth, Cross would take the lead as the first three batters would reach base (Evans – Walk, Evan Reid – Single, John Cribb – Single) before scoring two runs on small ball, before Jacob McGrath ripped an RBI single to stretch the lead to 4-1. The Shammies would get one back in the bottom as Steve Abbott would single and score, but Cross responded immediately in the fifth, as Jacob Reid tripled to start the inning and scored on a double from Evans (who is having a series!)
With the score 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth, Parker Gulliver would reach base to start the inning and would be plated on a HUGE RBI double from Josh Langmead, followed immediately by a triple from MacKenize. The defending champs would cap the inning with a Redmond Hunt RBI single, tying the game 5-5. In the top of the sixth, rookie Ethan Power laced a two-out double, and was pinch-ran for by Dean Hammond. After Jacob Reid was intentionally walked with first base open, Darcy Cribb would single through the infield but Hammond would be cut down at the plate to end the inning.
Dave Penney would single to lead off the bottom of the sixth and was moved to second on a Parker Gulliver sacrifice bunt. Evan Reid would pick up two big outs, including a big strikeout, before Josh Langmead singled to put the go-ahead run at third base, but Reid would induce a popup to the infield the escape the threat. King would walk Evans to start the seventh, but retire the next three batters to take a 5-5 game to the bottom. The first two Shamrocks would reach base, including Hunt’s second hit of the game. With the winning run in scoring position (Raygan Gulliver) and two outs, Ryan Symonds ripped the 0-1 pitch down the third base line, which would easily score Gulliver, when – cue the TSN music – Jacob Reid made a game-saving diving stab to get the ground ball and proceeded to dive to third base to record the inning-ending force out. Incredible!
Into extras and the top of the 8th, where the first two batters would be retired before Dean Hammond would single and steal second base. With first base open, the Shamrocks again intentionally walked Jacob Reid. Darcy Cribb would hit what looked like the go-ahead single to left but Ryan Symonds made a fantastic sliding grab to end the inning and the threat.
Sean Janes would come on in the eighth and The Shamrocks would go quiet, but King, whose pitch count was “gimme the ball the bah” would strand an Evan Reid double to keep things moving. Another incredible defensive play would highlight the 9th for the Crusaders . Dylan MacKenzie would single to lead things off and was moved to second on a sacrifice from Raygan Gulliver. After stealing third, MacKenize was 90 feet away, representing the winning run. Steven Abbott would hit a chopper to third where, for the second time of the game, Jacob Reid made a game-saving play fielding it on the run and throwing out MacKenzie at home, taking a 5-5 game to the 10th!
Declan Barron would double to the lead off the inning and was moved to third with two outs. For the third time in the game, Jacob Reid was intentionally walked before Darcy Cribb singled on a line drive to right to break the deadlock and make a 6-5 game. Sean Janes would sit the Shamrocks down in order in the bottom of the 10th, sealing the memorable playoff win and handing the Crusaders a 2-1 series lead.
What an incredible game with some great stats. Graham King pitched all 10 innings for the Shamrocks. Jacob Reid was intentionally walked three times. Dylan MacKenzie had a double, triple and six total bases. Evan Reid didn’t record a single walk in seven innings.
The Crusaders are one game away from the 2025 Senior Championship title. Game 4 goes Saturday afternoon 1PM at St. Pat’s.
