It was another great week filled with excellent matchups in CHSAA and private baseball.
On Sunday alone, there were two walk-off wins. St. Joseph by the Sea kept its No. 1 ranking with a 1-0, eight-inning win over Cardinal Spellman and Fordham Prep squeaked out a 4-3 victory over St. Raymond at Richmond County Bank Ballpark on Staten Island.
All four of those teams remain in the rankings and we welcome two new ones – All Hallows at No. 9 and Archbishop Stepinac at No. 10.
For the rest, scroll down:
1. St. Joseph by the Sea (6-0) (Last week: 1)
Brian Russell was absolutely incredible Sunday, striking out 17 and allowing just three hits over eight innings against Cardinal Spellman. Angelo Navetta drove in the winning run in the bottom of the eighth to complete Sea’s impressive 3-0 week. The Vikings beat Monsignor Farrell twice, the second time behind a fine outing from Felician-bound left-hander Chris Falcone.
Next: Salesian (May 1, 1:30 p.m.)
2. Xaverian (8-0) (2)
With superior pitching and a versatile lineup, Xaverian continues to cruise in Brooklyn/Queens ‘AA’ and has almost already clinched the division title. The Clippers’ big win came Wednesday when John Pena outdueled Archbishop Molloy’s Rosario DiLorenzo and the DeAngelis brothers – John and Louis – each hit homers. Blaise Scerbo has been solid in relief.
Next: St. Edmund Prep (April 30, 4 p.m. @ American Legion 2)
3. Poly Prep (9-3) (3)
Poly Prep began the week by thrashing Dalton and capped it by edging Riverdale behind a fantastic performance from ace Andrew Zapata. The Blue Devils have a busy week ahead of them, four games in six days, and can take over the top spot in the Ivy Prep League with a win over visiting Fieldston on Friday.
Next: Collegiate (Apr. 30, 4:30 p.m.)
4. Fordham Prep (8-0) (4)
Anthony Capone has been the team’s best hitter not named Andrew Velazquez and he came up big again Sunday night with a game-winning sacrifice fly in a wild win over St. Raymond at Richmond County Bank Ballpark on Staten Island. The Rams have yet to lose in league play. They have a productive lineup and their pitching behind ace Sean McNamara has been stellar.
Next: All Hallows (May 5, 3:30 p.m. @ Bronxchester LL)
5. Moore Catholic (5-1) (6)
The Mavericks took care of business this week against St. Peter’s twice. Shea Spitzbarth continues to excel on the mound and at the plate. Moore has a crossover game against Xavier on Wednesday, but the following week is where things heat up again – rivalry games against St. Joseph by the Sea and Monsignor Farrell that could decide the division title.
Next: Xavier (May 2, 4 p.m. @ Richmond County Youth Complex)
6. St. Raymond (7-3) (9)
David Sanchez crushed a three-run home run and St. Ray’s clobbered Cardinal Spellman in the rain Thursday, 8-0. The Ravens beat Mount St. Michael, 15-0, on Monday, but their seven-game winning streak came to an end Sunday night against Fordham Prep. The lineup has been great, but the pitching is also very good – Adam De La Cruz was excellent against Spellman.
Next: Iona Prep (May 1, 4 p.m.)
7. Berkeley Carroll (12-1) (10)
The Lions got a reprieve on Friday when St. Ann’s fell to Staten Island Academy as it created a two-way tie atop the ACIS. The division will be up for grabs this week when the two Brooklyn rivals meet on back-back-to-back days.
Next: St. Ann’s (May 2, 4:15 p.m.)
8. Cardinal Spellman (5-4) (5)
Talk about a hard-luck loser. Chris Scholkoff pitched eight brilliant innings Sunday in a 1-0 loss to St. Joseph by the Sea before the Vikings’ walk-off, extra-inning victory. Spellman has now lost three in a row – including a defeat to Fordham Prep on Wednesday and an 8-0 rout by St. Raymond in the rain Thursday – all to top-six teams in these rankings.
Next: Regis (May 1, 4 p.m.)
9. All Hallows (4-3) (NR)
We might finally be getting a glimpse into what All Hallows could be this year. Tulane-bound Stephen Alemais cracked a home run and Lance Montano had a big day at the plate in a 3-2 win over Archbishop Stepinac on Saturday. More importantly, Jason Reyes and Joe Morel both threw gems this week, Reyes over Stepinac and Morel against Regis.
Next: @ Mount St. Michael (May 1, 4 p.m.)
10. Archbishop Stepinac (5-3) (NR)
Julian Ponce gave Stepinac a good outing, but he was outdueled by Jason Reyes in a 3-2 loss Saturday to All Hallows. The Crusaders have been very good on the mound with Christian Huertas, James Decker, Danny Hoffer and Ponce. That should give them an advantage when it comes time for the postseason.
Next: Regis (May 2, 4 p.m. @ Randall’s Island 53)
New: All Hallows (4-3) and Archbishop Stepinac (5-3)
Dropped out: Iona Prep (4-4) and Archbishop Molloy (4-4)
On the bubble: Bishop Ford (6-3), Iona Prep (4-4), Archbishop Molloy (4-4), St. Francis Prep (4-3) and Monsignor McClancy (5-4), Fieldston (9-1), Horace Mann (8-3) and St. Ann’s (5-3)