After a narrow two-run loss in their previous game, the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders returned to the field determined to bounce back in a big way. Playing on their home turf Thursday afternoon, March 12, the Raiders delivered a dominant performance, overwhelming the Pine Crest Panthers with an emphatic 11–1 victory.
St. Thomas Aquinas set the tone early with strong pitching and consistent offensive production. On the mound, Joseph Hendren turned in one of the best outings of his season. The right-hander was in complete control throughout his four innings of work, allowing just two hits and no earned runs while striking out six batters. His six strikeouts marked a new career high and helped keep the Panthers’ offense off balance all game.
Hendren credited his focus and rhythm for the strong outing. “I felt so locked in on the bump,” he said, “and then I knew I was getting all the batters out easily!”
The Raiders’ offense provided plenty of support behind him. Mauricio Clement delivered one of the biggest hits of the day, finishing the game 1-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs. His four runs batted in also marked a career high and gave the Raiders a commanding lead.
Nico Sabatino also contributed offensively, helping keep the pressure on Pine Crest’s pitching staff throughout the game. Meanwhile, Hunter Mercer made his presence felt on the basepaths. Mercer went 1-for-2 at the plate and added two stolen bases, one run scored, and one RBI, showcasing the Raiders’ aggressive approach.
Overall, St. Thomas Aquinas displayed excellent plate discipline and offensive consistency. The Raiders finished the game with an impressive .533 on-base percentage, meaning more than half of their plate appearances resulted in a player reaching base. In contrast, Pine Crest struggled to generate offense and ended the game with an on-base percentage of just .176.
With the victory, St. Thomas Aquinas improved its record to 10–3 on the season and extended its home winning streak to six games. The Raiders’ success at home has been fueled largely by their offensive production, as the team has averaged 7.8 runs per game during that stretch.
Pine Crest, meanwhile, fell to 4–5 on the season after dropping its second consecutive game.
Looking ahead, both teams will try to bounce back or build momentum in their upcoming matchups. St. Thomas Aquinas will host King’s Academy on Saturday, March 14, at 7:00 p.m. The Raiders’ pitching staff will face a tough test, as the Lions have averaged 7.2 runs per game this season. Pine Crest will return home Friday to face Somerset Academy Canyons at 4:30 p.m., a team that has struggled to contain opposing hitters this year.
If Thursday’s performance is any indication, the Raiders appear to be gaining confidence as the season continues, and their combination of strong pitching and explosive offense could make them a difficult team to beat moving forward.
