Stepinac on Top of Tight CHSAA AA Division Race
This is the year of the pitchers in high school varsity baseball in the City of White Plains. White Plains High School has their “Big Three” starting pitchers, including seniors Daniel Lotito and Brendan McDonough and outstanding sophomore Spencer Lodes. Comparably across town on Mamaroneck Avenue, Stepinac High School has some potent starting arms as well with senior pitchers, Steve Boscia, Nicholas Antenucci and Jack Ryan.
However, one of the “top guns” for the Crusaders, righty starter Antenucci injured his elbow and could be out for the remainder of the regular season. Therefore, the Crusaders are looking for junior relief pitcher Austin Mercado to pick up the slack. They also have sophomore lefty Richie Rodriguez who can start and relief pitcher Edwin Feliciano coming out of the bullpen.
Nonetheless, with the steadfast pitching of Boscia and the recent accuracy and success of Ryan on the mound, the Crusaders can probably hold off AA Division opponents Iona Prep, Fordham Prep and Kennedy Catholic, during the second half of the season.
It is no secret, that if Antenucci was healthy and Stepinac had their effective starting rotation in tact, they would be the favorite to win the CHSAA AA Bronx/Manhattan/ Westchester Division this season, especially with Mercado closing games.
Presently, the Bronx/Manhattan/Westchester Division is up for grabs with Stepinac in First Place at 9-3 overall and 6-2 AA. Iona Prep is second at 7-3 AA, followed by Fordham Prep and Kennedy tied for third place with 6-3 Division records and Salesian, St. Raymond and Regis High Schools battling for fourth place with 5-4 records.
Stepinac at mid-season looks strong but as does Iona Prep and Fordham Prep. The Crusaders began their second-half of 2016, by beating All Hallows High School, 4-1, at Stepinac, on Friday, April 22.
Ryan won his second consecutive game on the mound in as many starts. The senior righty threw six innings, allowed only two hits, one run, with seven strikeouts and three walks against All Hallows. Remarkably, this was Ryan’s second best performance on the mound in his two starts.
Eight days prior on April 14, Ryan threw a complete game for a 2-1 win over Monsignor Farrell High School, on Staten Island. Ryan relinquished a mere three hits, one walk and one run while striking-out five Lions. “I know the key is to just throw strikes because we have a great defense and I know that they are going to make plays for me,” commented Ryan.
With Antenucci on the Disabled List, Ryan’s performance is key to the Crusaders success during the remainder of the regular season. If Ryan can maintain anything even close to his first two starts to complement Boscia, the Crusaders will be hard to catch in the CHSAA AA Bronx/Manhattan/ Westchester Division.
“Jack (Ryan) was great last week, he went out to Farrell and beat a tough team and he was great again against All Hallows. He has really stepped it up on the mound for us and he has been a big key for us this season,” stated Head Coach Keith Richardson.
Crusaders Team Captain and second baseman Richie Wells batted 2-for-4 at the plate against All Hallows. Wells a three-year varsity letterman reveals that he has a good feeling about the Crusaders going down the stretch. “The team feels really confident. We know that we have a good group of guys with a lot of talent and we can win some games and do something really special,” said Wells.
The Crusaders began the 2016 season with a five-game winning streak, which saw their offense pound-out 20 runs against Cardinal Hayes High School on April 6.However, since the five-game winning streak, the Crusaders are 3-3 and have not won back-to-back games as of Saturday when they beat All Hallows.
Nevertheless, a regular season Division determining factor is forthcoming, when Stepinac host Iona Prep, on Wednesday, April 27, at Stepinac High School. Game time is 4 p.m. but you better get your seats early for this rival contest, as First Place in the AA Bronx/ Manhattan/ Westchester Division could be on the line.
