by Tucker Terranova
Farmingdale State College hosted the NSCHSAA Quarterfinal Round on Sunday afternoon featuring two matchups between the top four seeds in perhaps Long Island’s most historic and competitive conference.
The latter of the day’s action showcased the No. 2 Kellenberg Firebirds and No. 3 St. Anthony’s Friars duking it out for the right to advance to the semifinals. The two rivals met twice in the regular season with Kellenberg sweeping the season series.
However, they knew this was a different team than the one they faced in April.
St. Anthony’s entered the playoffs as the hottest team in the conference, boasting a 7-1 record in the month of May. They maintained their momentum today, edging out Kellenberg in a gritty 3-2 victory.
“We’ve had a good mindset all season but put it together towards the end,” said St. Anthony’s starting pitcher Kevin Baez in a postgame interview with Axcess Baseball.
St. Anthony’s came out of the gate red-hot as Anthony Carlo led off the game with a single and CJ Alfano was plunked on the very next pitch.
The Friars capitalized on Kellenberg’s mistakes early on. Carlo scored on a wild pitch, and Alfano added another run with a heads-up, bang-bang play at the plate, crossing home on a dropped third strike, putting St. Anthony’s up by 2 in the top of the first inning.
“Having those guys come through in big spots early in the game is huge for a pitcher’s mindset going ahead,” said Baez.
They added another to their tally in the top of the third, as Phil Mazzola kicked the inning off with a single before Alex Bono crushed Jack Durso’s offering to the center field fence for an RBI triple, giving St. Anthony’s a 3-0 lead.
Durso would hold St. Anthony’s scoreless the rest of the way. Going the distance for Kellenberg, Durso surrendered three runs on seven hits, striking out five and walking two but ultimately surrendered the loss.
Baez retired the first seven batters he faced with ease but ran into trouble in the bottom of the third. Michael D’Angelo’s single and Kenny Noe’s walk set the stage for Thomas Pasqua, who perfectly placed an RBI single between the Frairs’ shortstop and left fielder to cut the lead to 3-1.
The Kellenberg offense kept their momentum going in the bottom of the fourth, as Will Cowan kicked off the inning with a hard-hit single to left before a four-pitch walk of Brian Cadieux put runners on first and second with no outs.
Kevin Baez discusses what was working for him and the mindset of a red-hot St Anthony’s team. pic.twitter.com/BL2qCSLUr3
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 19, 2024
They made sure not to leave the inning empty-handed, as Mario Coscia’s sac fly brought home Cowan and made it a one-run ballgame through four.
The bottom of the fifth looked to be a turning point in the afternoon for Kellenberg. After walking Noe, Pasqua crushed a ball to deep center field that was mere inches from being a SportsCenter Top 10 worthy catch from Brenden Howard but instead landed for a double and gave Kellenberg two runners in scoring position with one away.
After a brief mound visit, St. Anthony’s manager Paul Parsolano stuck with Baez to face the middle of the Firebirds’ order and he rewarded him, forcing Jimmy Ernst to line out and Cowan to fly out, escaping the jam untouched.
The senior right-hander provided six innings of two-run baseball, allowing four hits, striking out five, and issuing three free passes on his way to the win.
“I was trying to attack with everything, making sure to trust my defense behind me.”
Kellenberg wouldn’t roll over in the seventh inning. Ryan Langner kicked off the frame with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice by Noe. Pasqua, staying red-hot, singled and then stole second. Ernst was intentionally walked, loading the bases with one out for Cowan.
Just when the game seemed to be slipping away from the Friars, St. Anthony’s closer John Didden bore down, striking out Cowan to bring up Brian Cadieux with two outs.
After an intense back-and-forth at-bat, Cadieux lined a ball that seemed destined to find a hole and win the game for Kellenberg.
Unfortunately for Cadieux, St. Anthony’s second baseman Adrian Tavarez made a game-saving, leaping grab to secure a thrilling 3-2 victory in an instant classic.
St. Anthony’s advances to play Holy Trinity on Monday 5/20, while Kellenberg will look to keep their season alive against St. John the Baptist on Monday 5/20.
