DORCHESTER, Mass. -- Not one blade of grass existed in the infield. Stray dandelions spurted throughout the outer lawn. A random cricket game was being played in center. The team was depleted due to after-school detentions, forcing even more inexperience into key roles. The team arrived in Dorchester just before three o’clock and didn’t leave until after eight. And it was facing a veteran baseball team that had more talent than the previous two opponents.

No matter. The CCSC Cougars, in the most dramatic and inspirational event in school history, pulled out the most unlikely of victories, 13-12, in extra innings at Boston Collegiate’s home venue.

After Steven Rodenas scored on a Louis Bacci triple in the first inning, the BC Hurricanes stormed in six runs thanks to five walks and two hits. The Cougars trimmed the lead to make it 7-3 at the end of two as Mitchell Moise stroked his first hit of the season and combined with Ariel Garcia and Duncan Bowers for seven steals in the stanza. Gradually, the team began to find its rhythm as Bacci’s soon-to-be epic battle on the mound was just heating up.

Although CCSC did not take the lead, it closed the BC gap to two runs as the Cougars took their game to an unprecedented level in the fifth and sixth innings. A series of strikeouts by Sweet Lou held the Hurricanes at bay, as did one of the most spectacular plays in CCSC lore. A hard line drive was hit to third base where it was almost certain to swoop over the stoic Michael Elysee and into leftfield. Elysee had other plans. He exploded vertically at the precise moment necessary, extended his reach, and snagged the ball out of the air for the third out of the inning. The play was so memorable that the ousted hitter sprinted to Michael to congratulate him on the magnificent feat as Elysee’s own teammates hugged him in awe.

In the sixth, the Cougar defense also featured the first pickoff play in school history as Bacci surprised the opposition on first with a perfect throw to Prez Veiga. Then, Prime Time Morgan chased down a long ball deep into center (and the cricket match) for the second out. After a runner reached the bases on another walk, Manny Saez threw him out at third after gathering a passed pitch and gunning it to Elysee.

The game was just within reach at 10-8 when CCSC rallied behind hits and steals via Rodenas, Saez, Bacci, Morgan, and Elysee, who drove in Prime Time to even the game at 10. After a BC three-up, three-down set, the Cougars prepared for their ultimate take. Moise reached the running path on a walk, stole second and third, and then scored on a BC error to put the visitors in the lead for the first time. Following the go-ahead run, Rodenas singled, Prime Time smashed a ball for his second double of the day, and Elysee recorded one more hit and eventually the 13th and final score for CCSC.

The Hurricanes didn’t go away pleasantly. They scored two quick ones in the bottom of the eighth to make it 13-12. A relentless Bacci, who pitched the complete game plus extras, then showed sheer will and focus by fighting inevitable fatigue. With runners at the corners, two outs, and a one run lead, he worked the last batter standing into a full count. And then, with a sole pitch from the soul, slung a heater past a swinging Hurricane.

With that last gasp of guts, Bacci broke his own single game record with 13 K’s and propelled the Cougars into the win column for the first time ever.

“This was the most exciting and meaningful baseball contest I have ever witnessed as a coach,” said an exhilarated Coach Turner. “What a game. And the nine of you did it together.”