In an unforgettable comeback, Notre Dame baseball rallied from a 6-0 deficit to defeat Allentown Central Catholic 8-6 in Saturday’s District XI 3A semifinal showdown.

Scoreless through the first five innings, the Crusaders erupted for eight runs in the top of the sixth, turning the tide and silencing the Vikings’ early momentum. Key contributions came from Jason Frederick, who went 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs, and Clemente Cintron, who helped his own cause with 2 hits and an RBI while also earning the win on the mound.

Cintron pitched 5 innings, allowing 6 runs (4 earned) on 7 hits and 5 walks, before Michael Martino came in to shut the door with 2 scoreless innings of relief and 3 strikeouts.

Offensively, Notre Dame’s lineup showed patience and resilience, drawing 5 walks and delivering clutch hits when it mattered most. Paul Smith and Connor Albert also drove in key runs during the sixth-inning surge, while Michael Wachter and Austin Casal each contributed with hits and runs scored.

With the dramatic win, the Crusaders now advance to the District XI 3A Championship, where they will face Palmerton at 4 PM on Tuesday at DeSales University.