St. Thomas Aquinas Routs D'Arbonne Woods in Postseason Opener

No. 13 Falcons cruise to 11-1 victory in Division III Select bracket first round

Apr. 18, 2026 at 2:54am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting the dynamic action of a high school baseball game, with players, bats, balls, and the field rendered in sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes of bright, vibrant colors.St. Thomas Aquinas' decisive playoff victory over D'Arbonne Woods showcases the Falcons' postseason potential through a cubist lens.Hammond Today

The No. 13 St. Thomas Aquinas Falcons run-ruled the No. 20 D'Arbonne Woods Timberwolves 11-1 in just 5 innings in the first round of the Division III Select postseason bracket. Keegan Lyons pitched a complete game for the Falcons, striking out 5 batters and allowing only 1 hit and 1 run.

Why it matters

This dominant win for St. Thomas Aquinas sets them up well to advance deeper in the Division III Select playoffs, as they look to make a run at the state championship. For D'Arbonne Woods, the lopsided loss ends their season earlier than expected.

The details

The Falcons scored in every inning, including a 4-run 4th frame that broke the game open. Rhett Fugarino, Cameron Gangi, and Graham Gares each had singles in that big inning, with Gares also scoring on a passed ball. D'Arbonne Woods' lone run came in the 4th as well, but they were unable to mount a comeback.

  • The game was played on April 17, 2026.
  • Game two of the series is scheduled for April 18, 2026 at noon, with D'Arbonne Woods as the home team.

The players

Keegan Lyons

The starting pitcher for St. Thomas Aquinas, who threw a complete game with 5 strikeouts, 1 run allowed, and only 1 hit.

Rhett Fugarino

A St. Thomas Aquinas player who had a single in the 4-run 4th inning.

Cameron Gangi

A St. Thomas Aquinas player who had a single in the 4-run 4th inning.

Graham Gares

A St. Thomas Aquinas player who had a single and scored a run on a passed ball in the 4-run 4th inning.

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What they’re saying

“We came out focused and ready to play our best baseball. Keegan set the tone on the mound and the offense did its job to get us this big win.”

— Rhett Fugarino, St. Thomas Aquinas Player

What’s next

Game two of the series is scheduled for April 18, 2026 at noon, with D'Arbonne Woods as the home team. St. Thomas Aquinas will look to close out the series and advance to the next round of the Division III Select playoffs.

The takeaway

St. Thomas Aquinas' dominant performance in the playoff opener showcases their potential to make a deep postseason run, while D'Arbonne Woods' early exit is a disappointing end to their season after a promising regular campaign.