By Adam Martini
The John Adams baseball team showed no mercy Friday to Telecommunication in the second round of the PSAL ‘A’ playoffs. The fifth-seeded Spartans cruised to an 11-0 win in front of a vociferous home crowd, without a mercy rule in effect to halt the game after the score differential reached double digits.
Brooklyn West ‘A’ champ Telecommunication (10-4 PSAL), seeded 12th, defeated Curtis, 9-4, in the opening round. Adams (32-7-2) topped Columbus, 6-2, to advance to the second round.
The Spartans, who were upset in the second round last year, advance to the quarterfinals to face No. 13 Madison, 3-1 winners over fourth-seeded Grand Street Campus.
On paper, the match-up between the first-round winners appeared to be a good one, but the Spartans’ seven-run fourth inning turned the game into a laugher.
Frank Maynard walked three of the first four batters in the fourth to set the stage for John Adams’ outburst. Reliever Robert Akleh promptly surrendered an RBI double to Johnny Lluberes and a two-run triple to Jose Soriano as the Spartans raced to a 10-0 lead. Papo Cabrera, who had an RBI in the second, Carlos Guzman and Alex Cordero each drove in a run in the inning.
“The offense is hitting its stride,” Adams’ coach Glenn Beyer said. “I have confidence in everyone in the lineup.”
Mark Rios, who missed most of the season with a hand injury, shut down the Yellow Jackets through 5.2 innings. He allowed three hits and fanned six before giving way to Xavier Carpio, who completed the game.
Nelson Hernandez, the Yellow Jackets ace, had been bothered during the week by elbow soreness and did not make the start. He batted third (0-for-2) and played first base. His replacement, Maynard, did not have his stuff, but can look forward to a bowling scholarship at St. John’s University next year.
Maynard “struggled with his control today,” Telecommunication coach Ed D’Alessio said. “Your pitcher has to throw strikes and the defense has to make plays when you face a top team like John Adams. We did neither today.”
Cardozo 8, George Washington 7. Danny Rosenbluth’s pitching has helped lead Cardozo (27-5) into the playoffs this season, but it’s his bat that lead the Judges into the quarterfinals Friday as the junior belted a solo homer in the top of the seventh to lead No. 9 over eighth-seeded George Washington Friday. Rosenbluth, who is the Judges top pitcher, also earned the win in relief of starter Mike Lenzo.
Shortstop Bernie Estevez put Cardozo ahead 1-0 on a leadoff home run in the top of the first. The Judges, who advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 1993, will face top-seeded Lehman in a game scheduled for Tuesday.
Grand Street Campus 2, Richmond Hill 1. The Lions, who made the playoffs for the first time since 1996, went ahead 1-0 in the top of the first inning when Jason Martinez drove in Jorge Rivera. But after that, No. 29 Richmond Hill (9-10) couldn’t touch Grand Street starter Robinson Reyes, who fanned 17. Jorge Minaya’s solo home run and Elvin Vargas’ sacrifice fly in the third inning sealed the win for Grand Street (25-7).
James Monroe 4, Bayside 2. The upset-minded Commodores (9-11), seeded 30th, jumped ahead 2-0 on RBIs by Carl Freda and Anthony McCarty, but the third-seeded Eagles (33-4) responded with three runs in the bottom of the second, highlighted by Jose Collado’s two-run double.
Port Richmond 5, Grover Cleveland 3. After falling behind 4-0 in the second inning, the 26th-seeded Indians clawed their way to within one, 4-3 before No. 6 Port Richmond added an important insurance run in the bottom of the fifth. Gabe Aracena was 2-for-4 with a run scored and Daniel Fruggiero drove in a run for Cleveland (18-12)
Midwood 6, Francis Lewis 1. Midwood pitcher Anthony Vaglica tossed a four-hitter, striking out three and Omar Baez and Adam Chasin drove in two runs apiece to lead No. 10 Midwood (23-7) past 23rd-seeded Francis Lewis (9-10).
August Martin 9, Queens Vocational 6. Trevor Shamblee’s two-run home run highlighted an eight-hit, eight-run second inning for No. 8 seeded August Martin (14-2) in a first-round ‘B’ playoff game. Brandon Plair improved to 8-0, allowing seven hits and striking out nine for the Falcons. No. 25 Queens Vocational (9-7) was led by Luis Domenech, who went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
Forest Hills 9, Graphic Arts 8. Tony Marino (3-for-4, three RBIs) scored the winning run for No. 14 Forest Hills (22-11) on a delayed double steal with no out in the bottom of the seventh inning. Adam Smilowitz was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs.
Bryant 10, Global Studies 0. Hendinson Baez belted a home run and struck out 13 and Jason Bansil went 2-for-4 with four RBIs for No. 6 Bryant (15-2).
Flushing 11, Humanities 0. Jose Diaz was 3-for-3 with four RBIs, Daniel Dioguardi was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and allowed just one hit while striking out four and Lukas Brito and Edward Caba each belted home runs for No. 5 Flushing (16-2).
Franklin K. Lane 11, Hillcrest 7. Melvin Cartagena went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, Joel Mariani added a home run and Chris Caamano scored three runs to lead No. 4 Lane (20-5) past 29th-seeded Hillcrest (8-9).
South Bronx 12, Robert F. Kennedy 2. After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, No. 30 RFK (6-11) went ahead 2-1 with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth on RBIs by Joe Floria and Steve Colorundo, but No. 3 South Bronx (18-1) responded with seven runs in the bottom of the stanza to put the game away.
Morris 12, Townsend Harris 0. Misael Valdez pitched a two-hitter with six strikeouts, Joshua Leon added a three-run triple and Carlos Verdejo, Willin Balbuena and Valdez each drove in two runs apiece to lead No. 20 Morris (11-7) past 13th-seeded Townsend Harris (11-5).
Chelsea 15, Campus Magnet 2. Joey Irizarry allowed one earned run on two hits, striking out eight for top-seeded and defending champion Chelsea (18-1). Edwing Garcia had an RBI double for No. 32 Magnet (8-9).
— Dylan Butler contributed to this story
Reach contributing write Adam Martini by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 229-0300, Ext. 130.
