by Joe DiBlasi

Archbishop Curley got a clutch two-run double from Mike O'Neill in the top of the ninth, sparking a five-run uprising as the No. 7 Friars defeated ninth-ranked Cardinal Gibbons, 12-7, in a MIAA A Conference contest Wednesday afternoon at Babe Ruth Field on Caton Avenue.

Curley (8-2 overall) got four strong innings in relief from left-hander Norm Cushing, pitching out of several jams to keep the Sinclair Lane school unbeaten in league play and tied with Archbishop Spalding in first at 3-0.

"Norm was very effective when he had to be," said Curley fourth-year coach Jack Thomas. "He got out of trouble a few times, and made big pitches."

The Crusaders, who slammed five home runs in an 11-0 win over No. 10 St. Paul's School Tuesday, got another homer from third basemen Robbie Harris, who has three in the last two games. Keith Fritz had three hits and three RBI for Curley.

The Crusaders, who fell to 9-3 overall and 1-2 in MIAA A competition, will travel to John Carroll Friday afternoon. Curley will host defending champ and No. 1 Calvert Hall College, Friday afternoon. The Cardinals trounced Mount St. Joseph, 14-3, in Irvington Wednesday afternoon.

Archbishop Curley 12,  Cardinal Gibbons 7, 9 innings
AC  030 300 105  -  12   10   6
CG  302 100 100  -   7     9    4
Fritz, Cooke (4), Cushing (5) and Waltman; Staton, Drechsler (6), Schillenberg (9) and Parker.
2B: AC-O'Neill, Wilson.
3B: AC-Fritz, Dove, Waltman.
HR: CG-Harris.