Gorman beaten by Pa. school

Zack Hall

Thursday, April 6, 2000 | 9:29 a.m.

If it wasn't for the experience of playing in a tournament filled with some of the stiffest competition from around the country, the Bishop Gorman baseball team would have considered the week a total loss.

But the experience of playing against players headed to top college programs such as LSU, Cal State Fullerton, Miami (Fla.) and Loyola Marymount will help with the rest of their season, the Gaels figure.

In their own tournament, the Bishop Gorman Desert Classic, the Gaels (8-9) took a beating, losing all four of their games. The final loss came at the hands of Cathedral High (Erie, Pa.) -- the seventh ranked team in the East according to USA Today -- 10-8 Wednesday afternoon at Hadland Park.

"I think we are going to get out of this exactly what I expected from the beginning," said Gorman coach Ben White. "Playing good competition is going to make us step up a little bit, make you a little better, make you a little stronger person."

After getting blown out against teams from Miami and Rialto, Calif., the Gaels seemed to make adjustments and played their best game against the Ramblers, scoring the most runs of any of their tournament games.

No player made a bigger adjustment than leadoff hitter Parker Brooks, who went 3-for-3 with a double and three runs scored.

"Coach (David) Padilla helped me before the game," Brooks said. "He made me look at the release point (of the pitchers). He really stressed that during the game, so that helped."

Cathedral Prep put the game away in the seventh inning. Up 6-5, the Ramblers started a two-out rally when Zac Cline walked and Jeremy Pryce singled. Jake Lynch and Dennis Brandel hit back-to-back doubles that scored three runs.

The Ramblers scored one more run for a 10-5 lead heading into the last half-inning.

The Gaels rallied for three runs but fell short when Doug Mangiapani flied out to center, stranding Zach Miller at third base to end the game.