By Dylan Butler
He couldn't think about St. Francis Prep's remarkable and unlikely run through the CHSAA intersectional baseball playoffs or how close his team came to winning the school's first city title in 10 years. Or even how well he pitched, scattering five hits and striking out six in the biggest game of his life.All the senior pitcher could think about was one pitch, a 2-2 changeup that Moore Catholic catcher Nick Doscher crushed over the left field fence. That one pitch in the fifth inning was the difference as Moore (20-1) won its first CHSAA title in 22 years at Keyspan Park on Coney Island June 9.”I knew it was going as soon as he hit it,” Fleck said. “It's the worst feeling in the world.”Doscher lived a 24-hour period most can only dream about. First he was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the eighth round and not only hit what proved to be the championship-winning homerun but he came in for injured starter Gerard Tingos and tossed five no-hit innings. The only ball to leave the infield was Richie Armento's fly out to right in the seventh inning.”We've been together for so long, we're best friends,” Doscher said of his Moore teammates. “I'm thrilled to do whatever I can to help this team win. Yesterday's not too shabby but today, winning a city championship is amazing.”St. Francis Prep (23-10) had chances to score off Tingos, who hurt his back, in the opening two innings. But Kevin Benway, who led off the first with a single to center, got caught off of first base and the Terriers loaded the bases in the second with two out but Jason Kaye grounded out to third to end the inning.”They did themselves proud, they did their families proud, they did the Prep proud,” said St. Francis Prep coach Bro. Robert Kent. “It's just hard to play 11 games in 13 days. They were mentally and physically drained but they played on their heart.”Reach Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
