SAN FRANCISCO — In a masterclass of pitching and opportunistic offense, the St. Ignatius Wildcats blanked their long-time rivals, the Sacred Heart Fighting Irish, 5-0 in Thursday's cross-town clash.

The victory improves the Wildcats to an impressive 6-3 in the challenging West Catholic Athletic League (WCAL) and 11-7-2 overall, firmly positioning them as contenders as the season progresses.

Junior hurler Finn Demuth was nothing short of dominant on the mound, twirling five scoreless innings while scattering just two hits. The right-hander had his full arsenal working, punching out eight Irish batters and surrendering just a single free pass.

The Wildcats wasted little time establishing control, drawing first blood in the opening frame when DJ Delaney's productive ground out pushed across the game's first run.

Junior reliever Tycco Giometti slammed the door with two perfect innings of relief work, striking out three and ensuring the shutout remained intact.

The Wildcats' offensive attack was balanced and relentless, with Emmett Johnson providing the biggest punch. The fleet-footed center fielder went 1-for-4 with a pair of RBIs while terrorizing the Irish defense with two stolen bases. Johnson was just part of a running game that saw the Wildcats swipe seven bags in total, consistently putting pressure on the Sacred Heart battery.

Beau Schaffer, Jack Callen, and Atticus Gibson each added hits to round out the Wildcats' attack, while AJ Wineinger anchored a flawless defensive effort with 11 chances handled cleanly.

With this impressive victory in the books, the Wildcats (11-7-2, 6-3 WCAL) now turn their attention to Saturday's non-conference tilt against Aragon High School, looking to build on their momentum as the season heats up.