by Joe DiBlasi

The 1927 New York Yankees have been called the greatest baseball team ever assembled. Their line-up featured Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Tony Lazzeri, Earle Combs and Mark Koenig.  On Tuesday, at Babe Ruth Field on the campus of Cardinal Gibbons High School, the ghosts of Ruth and his "murderer's row" line-up appeared to be haunting visiting St. Paul's, as the host Crusaders wallopped five home runs en route to a convincing 11-0 MIAA A Conference win, which was halted after six innings.

Sophomore Chris Peltz made his first career varsity start for Gibbons, and he twirled an impressive three-hit shutout for coach Lee Schwarzenberg.  Gibbons improved to 1-1 in the MIAA, while St. Paul's fell to 0-2.

Slugging third baseman Robbie Harris led the assault, hammering two 2-run shots over the right-center field fence.  The left-handed hitting power hitter launched his first circuit clout some 370-feet from the plate in the second inning, and he smashed another one in the sixth, some 390-feet to deep right.

Joining the fireworks was centerfielder Blake Thompson, who blasted one 420-feet to deep center in the fifth,  junior Bryan Smith who hit the first homer of the day in the second inning, and left-fielder Dom Frataotuono hit one out in the third.

Harris was 2-for-4 on the day with four RBI and he scored three times.  Smith had two hits, as did second baseman John Marshall.

"This team can hit, from top to bottom," said Schwartzenberg.  "I was very pleased with the way we swung the bat, and just as impressed with the way Chris (Peltz) handled his first start. He has a great knuckle curve."

"I used the curve, a splitter and my fastball," said Peltz.  "I had good movement today."

Gibbons won't have much time to rest on its laurels.  Archbishop Curley, which is off to a 2-0 start in the league, arrives tomorrow at Ruth Field to take on the upstart Crusaders.

Cardinal Gibbons 11, St. Paul's 0
SP  000 000  -  0    3  1
CG  161 012  - 11  11 0
March, Doyle (3), Delviccio (4) and Roane; Peltz and Parker.
2B: SP-Crabill; CG-Staton, Drechsler.
HR: CG-Harris (2), Smith, Thompson, Frataotuono.