The562’s baseball coverage in 2025 is sponsored by the Millikan, Long Beach Poly, and Lakewood baseball boosters.
The562’s coverage of St. Anthony athletics is sponsored by Jane & B.I. Mais, Class of 1949.
Start strong and finish stronger.
That’s been the recipe for St. Anthony baseball this week in the CIF Southern Section Division 5 baseball playoffs, and it’s helped the Saints cook up a return to the semifinals for the first time since 2019.
St. Anthony took an early lead and leaned on its bullpen late on the way to a 7-2 quarterfinal win on Friday at Hillcrest.
Second baseman and pitcher Nick Galluccio was instrumental in executing the St. Anthony game plan. The junior led off with a single, stole second and came around to score the first run of the game before pitching the last three innings to clinch the victory.
“He’s been a catalyst and he doesn’t get blown away by the moment,” St. Anthony coach Kris Jondle said of Galluccio.
“Coach let me be the leadoff hitter for the playoffs and I’ve just got to perform,” Galluccio said. “I love this game and I bleed for it. This is my first year here as a transfer (from Mater Dei) and I’ll die for these guys. We’re all together and there’s never a dull moment (in the dugout) and we just keep it going. We always stick together and fight as a team.”
Top Saints pitchers Jaylen Butler and Benny Lane weren’t available after the marathon second-round win on Tuesday, so Jondle turned to junior Austin Cassidy (2 IP, R, H), senior A.J. Ortiz (2 IP, 2 H, 2 K) and Galluccio (3 IP, R, 3 H, 2 K) who were efficient while stranding 11 runners.
“They looked good and that was huge because we were up against it after Tuesday’s 12-inning game and all of the boys came in and threw strikes,” Jondle said. “We told them, ‘Make us beat them with the bat.’ We didn’t want to start rallies for them.”
St. Anthony third baseman Aidann Ruiz and first baseman Anthony Valdez killed a Hillcrest rally with solid defense in the fourth inning. Ruiz went behind the bag on a slow chopper, and got to Valdez who made a nice pick for the inning’s final out.
“Basically all you have to do is get behind the ball, trust your arm, trust your first baseman and trust your team,” Ruiz said. “If you trust you can make the play, you make the play.”
Ruiz also started the 4-run rally in the seventh inning to add insurance runs to a 2-run lead. The sophomore platted Benny Lane and pinch-runner Matthew James with a double.
Lane scored twice, as did Butler’s spot in the lineup after he scored Galluccio with a double in the top of the first inning. Senior John Arnold also had an RBI knock in the first. The shortstop has reached base in eight of his last nine trips to the plate.
The St. Anthony offense was particularly patient at the plate against Hillcrest ace Chris Sampson. He had 79 nine pitches after three innings and exited after the fourth. The Saints saw three bullpen arms in the 4-run seventh inning.
“We’re playing as a team, no one is above anyone, everyone is together, we’re a great group of guys,” Ruiz said. “I’m proud. It’s my first year here but it feels like I’ve been here for eight (years) already.”
St. Anthony hosts Northwood in the semifinals on Tuesday at Clark Field.
