Two of the area’s best baseball programs met to open the 2025 season on March 29 when NDCL and Gilmour squared off at Gilmour’s Sharnsky Stadium. The sky was overcast, and rain fell sporadically. But thanks to stellar pitching and some timely hits, it was all sunshine and roses for the host Lanc ers in a 2-1 victory. Sean Pitrone and C.J. Santagata combined on a one-hitter, Brady Olsen scored both of the Lancers’ runs, and Zac Titas’ third- inning RBI double proved to be the game-winner as Gilmour started on the right foot. “They beat us in a scrimmage earlier this week, but we were playing a lot of (younger) guys,” Titas said. “To finally get that first win under our belt is huge. It’s fun playing with the guys you’re going to be playing with all season, too. That makes a difference.” @GilmourBaseball Zac Titas, a little out of breath after postgame sprints, talks about the Lancers’ 2-1 win over NDCL and his game-winning RBI double pic.twitter.com/fAUu7ujesC — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) March 29, 2025 Pitrone was mostly outstanding on the mound for the Lancers, limiting the Lions to one run on one hit through five innings. He struck out five, walked three and hit three batters. Santagata, who started at shortstop, finished the sixth and seventh innings on the mound and brought the heat, fanning five of the seven batters he faced while walking one. Gilmour coach John Murphy said the game had more of a playoff feel than a season opener, considering the success the two teams have had in the 21st century. The Lions have won two state titles and the Lancers were state runners-up in 2019. Deep postseason runs are common for both squads. “I have a lot of respect for Marc Thibeault and what they do over at NDCL, that’s a great team,” Murphy said. “Is it too premature to say that this felt like a postseason game? Every pitch really mattered, really counted. “We were fortunate that we put the ball in play today, and we relied on our two big guys to slam the door on them.” @GilmourBaseball Coach John Murphy breaks down the Lancers’ 2-1 season-opening win over NDCL and analyzes the dominant pitching performances by Sean Pitrone and C.J. Santagata, who combined on a one-hitter pic.twitter.com/0fZIzUKWJy — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) March 29, 2025 Gilmour scratched across the season’s first run in the bottom of the first. Brady Olsen led off with a walk and raced to third on a single by Pitrone. Pitrone’s steal of second base drew a throw that allowed Olsen to sprint home to give the Lancers and early 1-0 lead. NDCL tied it up in the top of the third when Keenan Ryans drew a two-out walk and came around to score when Frankie Clark laced a double over the left fielder’s head to make it 1-1. PHOTOS: Gilmour vs. NDCL baseball, March 29, 2025 Gilmour answered in the bottom of the frame. Brayden Banisek led off with a walk, and Olsen singled to put two on with no outs. The Lions got a strikeout and caught Banisek off second base for two outs, but Titas picked his teammates up with an authoritative double deep down the left field line that plated Olsen and put the Lancers back in front, 2-1. “Previously, they had been throwing curveballs,” Titas said. “So as cliche as it sounds, I was hunting a curveball, expecting a curveball. I got one and I smoked it.” Although Clark notched NDCL’s only hit and RBI, the Lions had some traffic on the basepaths via four walks and three hit batters. But at-bats were  a struggle against Pitrone and Santagata. “Out of the gate, we faced two of the most high-quality arms in Northeast Ohio,” Thibeault said. “It was the first time we had really faced velocity (including the preseason). Our timing wasn’t there, the front foot didn’t get down in time. “We did a decent job of trying to go the other way with it or be on time for the middle with two strikes. But when the pitcher threw strike one their defense had good energy. They made a couple good plays on 50-50 balls that went their way.” @NDCL_Baseball Coach Marc Thibeault reviews the Lions 2-1 season opening loss at Gilmour despite a solid performance on the mound from Jack Montague and Lucas Marlow pic.twitter.com/DgKneqTIgQ — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) March 29, 2025 Montague surrendered two runs, one earned, on four hits and two walks, and struck out four. Lucas Marlow kept the Lions in the game, as only two Lancers reached base against him in the fourth through the sixth inning, one on an error and one via a walk. NDCL was charged with two errors, but turned a double play and catcher Cian O’Boyle threw out a runner attempting to steal second base. Both teams have high expectations, which usually entails making a deep run in the postseason. Gilmour will host Bay next on March 31, and NDCL will visit Cardinal on April 1. “Everyone knows our schedule and who we play,” Murphy said. “Very D-I heavy. The (change to) seven divisions put us in Division III. We have 39 guys in our program. We’re probably the smallest Division III school, but we really don’t care about school sizes. We’ll see what happens in the playoffs, it might be a little more challenging, and we’re going to have to earn every win.” Part 2 with @GilmourBaseball Coach John Murphy, discussing the Lancers’ 2-1 season-opening win over NDCL and always-high season expectations pic.twitter.com/76HlJ2t3Ia — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) March 29, 2025 NDCL's Charlie Stefancin runs the bases against Gilmour on March 29. (Brian Fisher - For The News-Herald) The score Gilmour 2, NDCL 1 RBI double by Zac Titas for @GilmourBaseball brings home Brady Olsen and would prove to be the game-winner pic.twitter.com/pJrxItkXIB — Jay Kron (@TownCenter2) March 29, 2025 ...read more read less