By Anthony Bosco
Let it rain.
The bad weather that blanketed Queens and the rest of the Northeast wreaked havoc on the CHSAA’s baseball schedule, postponing most games over the past week. Sunday’s brief reprieve from the wet conditions, however, did allow three borough teams to play in the seeding round of the league’s playoffs.
“It happens,” said Archbishop Molloy head coach Jack Curran. “You can’t control the weather.”
All three Queens clubs, Molloy, the defending city champ, St. Francis Prep and Monsignor McClancy, all lost games Sunday. The loss shouldn’t hurt Molloy, which is already a lock for the intersectionals, but Prep and McClancy will have had to win two straight games Tuesday and Wednesday to qualify for the intersectionals.
Molloy was upset by Iona Prep, 3-2, at Stanner Field Sunday. Starter Mike Montali, who had not pitched in two weeks going into the game, was hung with the loss, giving up two singles and a three-run home run in the sixth to account for all three Iona runs.
Molloy nearly pulled even in the bottom of the seventh, but Iona was able to hold on for the win.
In the final inning, Sean Chang led off with a double and moved to third on Ed Hackimer’s line drive single. Ryan Roberts was then hit by a pitch with one out to load the bases. Catcher Nick Derba then hit a fly ball that was misplayed, allowing Chang to score from third.
With the bases still jammed, Matt Rizzotti hit a blooper over the pitcher’s head and was out at first, but Hackimer scored on the play to pull Molloy within one. But with runners on second and third and two gone, Jovan Santos struck out to end the game.
Molloy came back to defeated Moore Catholic Tuesday, 4-1, in the team’s final seeding game.
Monsignor McClancy got by first-round opponent Regis last week, 7-2, behind a complete game six-hitter by Kevin Conlin, who struck out eight. David Copello was 3-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored in the win, which set the Crusaders up for a second-round match against Cardinal Spellman Sunday.
Spellman defeated McClancy, 10-5, turning a competitive game into a runaway win by breaking it open in the fifth. McClancy had to defeat Spellman twice on Tuesday and Wednesday to stay alive for the intersectionals.
“Lose and we’re done,” said McClancy coach Nick Melito.
McClancy defeated Spellman, 7-1, Tuesday.
St. Francis Prep fell in its first playoff game Sunday to Monsignor Farrell, 3-1. Danny Weinman gave up all three runs early before giving way to Joey Ivaves, who pitched the rest of the way.
Prep then beat Farrell, 3-1, Tuesday.
With their wins, the Terriers and Crusaders kept their seasons alive, with two deciding game threes that were slated to be played Wednesday.
Reach Sports Editor Anthony Bosco by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 130.
