By Anthony Bosco
The St. Francis Prep Terriers scored seven runs in the third inning en route to an 18-1 blowout win over crosstown rivals, the Holy Cross Knights, in the opening game of the Brooklyn/Queens Diocesan varsity baseball season for both teams Monday afternoon at the Preller Baseball Complex in Bellerose.
Holy Cross starter Brett Swiatocha fanned P.J. Gorynski on three pitches to start the game, but that was as good as it would get for the host Knights. Swiatocha walked the next three batters and gave up a run-scoring ground out to St. Francis second baseman Joey Ivazes.
Swiatocha got Jason Leberfeld to ground out to third to end the inning.
The Knights got one back in the bottom of the frame when lead-off man Jimmy Purcell reached on an error by Gorynski, who bobbled the ball at short then misfired on the throw to first, allowing Purcell to advance to second. Purcell took third on a wild pitch and then came home on Michael Mondesir’s sacrifice fly to center.
Neither team scored in the second frame, but Prep blew it open in the top of the third. Swiatocha, who threw more than 30 pitches in the first inning and close to 20 in the second, simply tired, giving up an infield single and a walk before Leberfeld broke the tie with a single to left, scoring Mike Aglialoro from second.
When he walked Brian Forman on four pitches, head coach Doug Manfredonia pulled his starter in favor of Will Montanaro, who fared no better. With the bases loaded, Montanaro walked Daniel Weinman to make it 3-1 and then gave up a single to center off the bat of James Forgione, bringing home another run.
With the bases still loaded, Gorynski drew the fourth walk of the inning, making the score 5-1. The big blow came following Peter Mazzurco’s strikeout when Aglialoro drilled a bases-clearing triple to right field to make the score 8-1. Aglialoro scored moments later on a wild pitch before Montanaro fanned Ivazes to end the onslaught.
Prep added 10 more runs for the final score.
Christ the King 12, Bishop Ford 6. Jose Diverge got the win, going 4.2 innings for the Royals in a non-league match-up with Brooklyn’s Bishop Ford Monday. Sophomore rightfielder Elvin Millan crushed two home runs to win. CK, 10-0 through the exhibition season, drew a bye Monday and was slated to begin its league schedule Wednesday.
Monsignor Scanlon 12, St. John’s Prep 5. The Red Storm dropped this darkness-shortened non-league affair Monday.
CHSAA Softball scores
St. Francis Prep 12, St. John’s Prep 0. Karla Grabher tossed a two-hitter, striking out 12, as the Terriers dominated the St. John’s Prep Red Storm Monday in Queens action. Eileen Strohm led the offensive attack, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs. St. Francis is not 2-0 in league play, 3-4 overall under head coach Ann Marie Rich.
Stella Maris 5, Christ the King 2. Kate Scotko was superb on the mound, allowing just two hits and going the distance for the victors Monday. Mary Caitlyn Cunnen drove in two in the first inning with her double for Maris.
Reach Sports Editor Anthony Bosco by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 130.
