It wasn't a hitters' day on Monday as 3A Gilbert Christian and Bourgade Catholic played their first baseball game in more than a year at Bourgade High. Through five innings Bourgade owned a 1-0 lead it held since the first inning - an unearned run at that.

Once, however, Gilbert Christian was able to get to Bourgade's bullpen, the flood gates opened in the sixth and seventh in a 7-1 victory for the Knights over the Eagles.

"We're young," Gilbert Christian coach Bob Hershey said. "As the game went on we had better at-bats through the lineup. Our pitching was very good. It's nice to start with a win."

Pitching dominated (eight hits total, six by Gilbert Christian and only three combined the first five innings. That was due to a fine pitcher's duel between Bourgade left-hander Peter Laborin and Gilbert Christian southpaw Hunter Lang. Laborin entered the sixth with a one-hitter and had retired 14 of the last 15 hitters he faced.

The toughest out for Laborin was Gilbert Christian leadoff-hitter Matt Hershey. Hershey had the Knights' only hit to that point - a double in the third - and was robbed of a hit in the first inning on a fine grab by Bourgade center fielder Matthew Espinoza. Hershey again doubled to lead off the sixth and Laborin walked the next two hitters loading the bases with no outs.

Bourgade coach Bobby Delgado made a change bringing in Jimmy Hill, who started for the Eagles at third base. Hill surrendered a tying fielder's choice to Luke Webb.  A pickoff of a runner at second base left Bourgade with one out to get and leave the rally with only a tie. But a passed ball plated the tie-breaking run and three straight hits and steal of home brought in two more.

                                           Gilbert Christian's Nick Wojnarowski delivers and provides three shutout innings. (AzPreps365 photo)

Bob Hershey took Lang out after the fourth inning opting for right-hander Nick Wojnarowski, who started in center field, to take over. Wojnarowski pitched the final three innings with near-spotless work. Wojnarowski allowed no hits, walked two and struck out seven. His teammates added three runs for him in the seventh with the key hit a two-run double by Webb (three RBI for the day). Webb scored twice as did Hershey.

Bourgade is right back at it Tuesday at Tonapah Valley while Gilbert Christian's next game is Wednesday evening at Pusch Ridge.