Criss blast helps keep Oxford Academy perfect

CYPRESS - Maintaining a perfect league record can be a hard thing to do.

Just ask Oxford Academy, which managed to remain undefeated despite being outhit Tuesday in an Academy League matchup against second-place St. Margaret’s, defeating the Tartans, 7-2, at Oxford Academy.

Although the Patriots (20-2, 13-0) only recorded four hits compared to six by St. Margaret’s (13-7, 10-4), they were able to get the job done with what they had.

Tartans senior starting pitcher Joe Sego walked three batters, one with the bases loaded, and gave up an RBI single to start the bottom of the second inning. Sego then struck out the next batter looking and appeared to be on his way out of the jam.

But with two outs and the bases loaded, Oxford Academy senior Steve Criss blasted a towering grand slam to left-center field to put the Patriots up, 6-0.

It was the only grand slam Criss could remember hitting, and it came on a day when Oxford Academy was honoring its graduating seniors.

“I probably hit (a grand slam) when I was little but not in high school, not at this stage,” Criss said. “It was definitely really, really cool, especially because it was senior night. It’s probably our last league home game so that was really cool.”

The Patriots scored their seventh run in the fifth inning. Senior catcher Hayden Higger hit an RBI double that put the Patriots up, 7-2.

The Patriots will try to start perfect when they play their final league game Thursday against St. Margaret’s. 

“The main thing is building to get ready for the playoffs,” Oxford Academy coach Cory Williams said, “Hopefully we’re hitting our peak at the right time.”