The final score didn't make it look as if Catonsville's Class 4A North Region quarterfinal against Perry Hall was a game of inches, but that's what Monday's baseball came down to.
The Comets' Danny Terzi was robbed of a grand slam by Perry Hall left-fielder Josh Benzing with the score tied, 2-2, in the top of the fifth inning. Benzing followed his game-changing catch by hitting a grand slam of his own in the sixth as the Gators scored the final six runs for an 8-2 victory.
Perry Hall (10-6) advances to play at Dulaney in the semifinals on Wednesday.
Catonsville (9-8) saw its season virtually come to a close in Benzing's glove.
"My third baseman (Anthony Montoya) told me my hand was on the fence," said Benzing, describing his catch of Terzi's deep liner. "I think it was going over."
Benzing was playing back because Terzi had already hit a solo home run earlier in the game, along with Eric Sheppard.
"I usually play a lot deeper, especially in close games," Benzing said.
"It was hard to come back from that," Catonsville coach Rich Hambor said. "He had it played well. He couldn't have played it any better."
Said Perry Hall coach Joe Carlineo: "They almost get a grand slam their way and then we get a grand slam. It's a game of inches."
Benzing is used to being in the spotlight against Catonsville.
Last year, he led off the eighth inning and scored the game-winning run in a playoff victory that eliminated the Comets.
Up until the bottom of the fifth inning, shortstop Andrew Yu was the hitting hero for the Gators.
He belted a two-run home run in the third inning and then greeted relief pitcher Terzi's first pitch with a triple to left field to score Tyler Pusloski with the go-ahead run, making it 3-2 in the fifth inning.
Terzi relieved Jake Parrott, who allowed four hits and struck out four in 4 1/3 innings.
Sheppard's home run in the fourth inning made it 2-1, and it could have tied the game, but Perry Hall pitcher Jake Chavis picked off Catonsville's Matt Rehder at first base before the blast.
Terzi's homer tied it in the fourth.
Those two home runs were the first all season for the Comets.
Catonsville trailed 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth when Perry Hall exploded for five runs.
Benzing's grand slam was the only hit in the inning that included five walks (two intentional) an error, sacrifice bunt by Pete Gaither and sacrifice fly from Pusloski.
"We look at our lineup and seven of our guys will be back, another year older and another year stronger," Hambor said.
Catonsville had advanced to the second round of the playoffs after the Comets eliminated Southwestern, 10-0, on Friday.
In that game, Jake Getzendanner and Joe Rubalcaba combined to pitch a five-inning perfect game with 13 strikeouts.
Rubalcaba was promoted from the 14-0 junior varsity that won its sixth straight Baltimore County title.
"We've got a great group coming back and we've got an undefeated jayvee coming up," Hambor said.
Perry Hall will play at Dulaney, a 5-2 winner over Kenwood, on Monday.
"We have been talking about that game all year and hoping we would get there," Carlineo said.