What a game ! Danny Anicito comes through with a walk off single in the bottom of the 10th
Chaminade 4, Holy Trinity 3 pic.twitter.com/BpVTK7wBjx
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) March 26, 2025
The calendar might still say March but there’s already a contender for the Game of the Year.
What started as a mundane afternoon affair in dreary weather at Cantiague Park, turned into a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat extra inning battle between two Catholic League rivals.
Here’s the game-tying blast by Kentucky-commit Michael Gardner of Chaminade pic.twitter.com/jeWR9sqrq0
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) March 27, 2025
The Chaminade Flyers erased multiple late-game deficits – a dramatic game-tying two-run shot by Kentucky-commit Michael Gardner in the 9th inning and ultimately won a walk-off single by Danny Anicito in the bottom of the 10th to send the hometown fans happy.
There was a heavy hail that stopped just before game time and allowed this game to begin shortly after the scheduled 4:30 first pitch. Chaminade’s junior RHP Carlos Pereira squared off against Holy Trinity’s senior RHP Joey LaScala.
Early on, the offenses were held at bay, as the game was scoreless through three innings.
In the top of the fourth, the Titans got on the board on an RBI double to right center by Joe Maxwell to score Jalen Josey, who started things with a one-out single to left field.
Opportunities to score were squandered on both sides. While the teams combined for 14 hits, Chaminade also issued 14 free passes to constantly allow Holy Trinity to put runners in scoring position.
The Flyers were able to even the score in the fifth inning. After Colin Cashin was hit by a pitch and stole second, he was taken out of the game appearing sustaining an injury. His replacement, Michael Gardner, came around to score on a wild pitch after he advanced to third on a bunt.
Alex Stoyer came on in relief for the Flyers, and he ran into some trouble by issuing two free passes but he escaped damage with a ground out to the shortstop Collin Anderson.
LaScala was replaced by Matthew Czyz who did his own Houdini act, escaping some trouble during his relief outing. He allowed a leadoff single to Danny Nawrocki in the sixth and wound up on third after a steal of second and third. Czyz struck out Anicito to end the inning.
In the 7th, Holy Trinity once again threatened to score. Three walks loaded the bases but Stoyer struck out Josey to keep the Titans off the board.
Czyz would allow a two-out single to Nolan Fernandez in the 7th but he struck out Dimitri Staphos to send the game to extra innings.
In the top of the 8th, a one out single by Joe Maxwell followed by a Dom Longardino single and a walk to SJ Garneau loaded the bases but Aidan Glynn struck out swinging and Patrick Annello flew out to center.
In the bottom of the 8th, TJ Bradord led off with a single but Czyz struck out Nawrocki and Vaughn Steinert to keep them at bay.
Things got really interesting in the 9th.
Quinn Gillen came on in relief and immediately issued back-to-back walks. After a ground out advanced the runners, Victor Acosta came through with a clutch, two-run double to give the Titans a 3-1 lead. With the way this one was going, you just had the sense Chaminade would not go down easily.
Top 9: Victor Acosta comes through with a clutch 2-R double to give Holy Trinity a 3-1 lead pic.twitter.com/H5hZuKhzwq
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) March 26, 2025
Danny Anicito led the inning off with a single back up the middle. After a strikeout, Michael Gardner absolutely crushed a game-tying blast to left field sending his team into a frenzy and completely taking the air out of the Holy Trinity faithful. Czyz would recover to get out of the inning and send the game to the 10th.
Mid 10: Quinn Gillen strands the bases loaded with a strikeout pic.twitter.com/tzBp2teKdX
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) March 26, 2025
Gillen again walked the tight rope in the 10th, issuing two more walks to start the inning – bringing the total to 14 for the Flyers’ staff. But he did not break, he struck out Alvarez and Christian Poveda before walking Josey to load the bases. With his back firmly against the wall, he made the pitches when he had to and struck out Victor Acosta to end the inning.
With a renewed sense of motivation, the Flyers did not squander their opportunity.
Holy Trinity send freshman SJ Garneau to the mound.
Collin Anderson was hit by a pitch with 1 out, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Anicito came through, ripping his third hit of the day to give the Flyers their first win of the season and first win under new head coach Patrick Kemp.
The Titans, who won game 1 of the series on Tuesday, struck out 15 batters and issued just one walk, but ultimately the runners stranded on base was their undoing.
Chaminade will have scrimmages this weekend against Mineola and Seaford before a big showdown next week against undefeated St. Dominic.
Holy Trinity will face Archbishop Molloy on Saturday in a non-league game and will have a series against St. John the Baptist next week.
