Varsity Baseball | 5/16/2025 9:44:00 AM

The Union Catholic baseball team has advanced to the semifinal round of the Union County Tournament for the first time in 41 years!!!

With their 6-2 win over Oratory in the quarterfinal round on Thursday in Scotch Plains, the Vikings, seeded No. 3 in the tournament, earned a berth in Saturday's semifinals vs. No. 2 seed Westfeld at Johnson High in Clark at 3 p.m. It's the first time the Vikings have reached the county semifinal since the 1984 team won the first and only Union County Tournament baseball title in school history.   

The Vikings controlled the game vs. Oratory behind its usual great display of small ball, timely hitting, strong defense, and strong pitching.   

Sophomore catcher Brayden Morrison, one of the best hitters in the state, continued hs torrid season at the plate. The cleanup hitter went 3-for-3 and drove in two runs and stole a base. Greg Viloria stole four bases and scored three runs for UC. Brian McCabe stole two bases, singled, and turned a big double play when he gunned down a runner at first base after making a catch in right field. The Vikings stole nine bases in the game, including one by leadoff batter Josiah Sharpe, who has now stolen 34 bases on the season without being caught!!! 

The Vikings didn't commit any errors and turned two double plays behind winning pitcher Nick Anderson. The senior righty scattered eight hits, struck out five batters and allowed just two runs over six innings. Freshman Luiggi Sacca closed out the game for UC, striking out two batters in his one inning of work.