By Anthony Bosco
The Holy Cross Knights extended their season by a day Sunday, winning a play-in against the Monsignor McClancy Crusaders, 3-2. But the team’s hopes of making it into the citywide intersectionals were dashed the following day when it lost to the Christ the King Royals for the fourth time, 7-1.
The Royals and coach Walter Tuthill saved ace Kenny Gleason and went with Leon Kruset on the mound, a decision that almost cost them early in the game.
After CK pulled ahead in the first inning on Danny Echevarria’s RBI-double, scoring Rafael Castillo. The Knights tied it at 1-1 in the third inning when Chris Cialone came home on a fielder’s choice.
The Royals would not have to wait long to retake the lead.
Christ the King rallied for three runs in the bottom of the third inning, sealing the win. Joe Roman started the scoring, stroking an RBI single, while Kruset drove home two with a double to right field.
Kruset was pulled in the fourth and Echevarria came in to quell a Cross rally. Roman then came on to pitch three innings of shutout ball.
Christ the King, 22-9 overall after the win, was scheduled face Monsignor Farrell in the first round of the citywide playoffs.
St. Francis Prep 3, St. Edmund 2. Brian Morgan went this distance, giving up just four hits as the Terriers advanced to the intersectionals. Nick Theoharis had two doubles, in the first and third innings, to score Randy Belfiore both times. Jason Leberfeld also doubled in the third and scored when Belfiore bounced to the shortstop and the throw to first was wild.
St. Edmund scored one in the third and one in the fifth, but could not get the equalizer against Morgan and Prep, which improved to 15-9 with the win. St. Francis was slated to play Mount St. Michael Wednesday in the first round of the intersectionals.
Holy Cross 3, Monsignor McClancy 2. Cross’ Patrick Hogarty allowed the Crusaders just four hits, while fanning 10 in a play-in game Sunday. Chris Cialone provided the offense, belting a two-run triple in the fifth inning.
St. John’s Prep 3, Cathedral Prep 2. The Red Storm’s Frenchy Schneider smacked a single in the bottom of the seventh to bring home the winning run, preserving a no-hitter by sophomore Greg Jones and keeping the St. John’s Prep season alive. The Red Storm raised its record to 12-10 on the year with the win.
Archbishop Molloy 9, Holy Cross 4. The Stanners locked up first place in the Brooklyn/Queens Diocesan with this win Friday. Phil Kuhner was a perfect 5-for-5, knocking in three runs, while Matt Bunyan earned the win with four innings of shutout relief. Molloy improved to 15-2 with the victory.
Xaverian 13, St. Francis Prep 4. In the first of two games for the Clippers Friday, Tom Curry allowed just three hits through six, while John DeFendis had four hits, including a double and a triple.
Xaverian 10, Monsignor McClancy 7. Danny Christiansen fanned six through five innings as Xaverian improved to 15-3 on the year.
Christ the King 1, Holy Cross 0. Omni Sanchez’s solo blast in the fourth inning was the only run the Royals would need, as pitcher Joe Roman held the Knights to just four hits. Christ the King improved to 11-6.
St. Edmund 5, St. Francis Prep 2. St. Edmund locked up fourth place with this win last Thursday, thanks to some spectacular defense by outfielder Vinny Miller.
Reach Sports Editor Anthony Bosco by e-mail at TimesLedgr@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 130.
