Crusaders end skid against Jesuit

Matt Quevedo gets it done on the mound and in the lineup for Tampa Catholic.

By THOMAS SIMONETTI
Published March 9, 2005

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TAMPA - Starting pitcher Matt Quevedo led Tampa Catholic 6-1 past Jesuit on Tuesday for the Crusaders' first win over the Tigers since 2001.

Quevedo (2-0) pitched a complete game and yielded just one run (unearned). He struck out three and walked three for the Crusaders (5-0).

"I had a great defense behind me," Quevedo said. "And a lot of run support. That helped a lot."

A big part of that run support was his doing.

Batting third in the lineup, Quevedo padded Tampa Catholic's lead with three RBIs, including a two-run home run.

He said hitting well translated to better pitching.

"It definitely motivated me to finish it off," Quevedo said of going the distance. "After that hit, I got really pumped up. I wanted to finish it myself."

The Crusaders gave up an early run in the first inning but made up for it in the bottom of the inning with a pair of runs. Quevedo got the first of his RBIs on a sacrifice fly and a second run scored on a Jesuit error.

Tampa Catholic struck again in the fourth inning when Jason Robb scored on a fielder's choice.

The Crusaders opened it up in the sixth inning. With two outs, shortstop Ralph Valiente completed a 3-for-4 day with an RBI single before Quevedo's two-run blast.

"It's coming together," said coach Tom Reidy, who was 0-5 in three seasons against the Tigers. "I could lose every game, but if I beat Jesuit twice a year I would keep my job."

The loss was the first for Jesuit (5-1) this season.