By Dylan Butler
You see, that's what I do. When the Terriers lost to Stepinac 24 hours earlier, it meant their next game could be their last and it's my job to cover that game.But little did I know that I would spend the week covering St. Francis Prep.That's because the Terriers kept winning. They beat Iona Prep, and then Monsignor Farrell and then Stepinac and headed into Monday's game against Xaverian one game away from the championship round at Brooklyn's Keyspan Park.Here I thought I was in for one game and I turned into the Prep beat writer for a week.Unfortunately, the entire sports section this week can't be dedicated to Prep and I can't fully write about each game, only the closest one to Thursday's publication date.So here, in this column, I will detail some of the most memorable moments in what has been one very memorable week for the Terriers.It started last Thursday with a special pitching performance by junior Rob Casal. He shook off a leadoff home run by Jay Hanft on the second pitch of the game to toss a complete-game gem in a 9-2 win. He struck out 11 and only allowed two first-inning hits.On Friday, the Prep road show made its way to Molloy College in Rockville Centre where the Terriers again staved off elimination by beating Farrell in a 5-4, nine-inning thriller.This game provided a season's worth of highlights in a pressure-packed contest played under a steady, but light, rain.Alex Pinto blasted a pair of doubles and Dino Chiodo drove him in both times as St. Francis Prep kept pace with Farrell. There was the gutsy performance by Jason Kaye, who defiantly stayed in the game after twice picking himself up off the ground with what appeared to be a pulled hamstring.And there was the relief pitching of senior Riche Armento, who got out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh inning by striking out Nick Diaz in a breathtaking 10-pitch at-bat that seemed to take two hours. The Prep season nearly came to an end in the eighth when Farrell had runners at second and third with one out. But Armento fanned Frank Esposito and got Tom Visciano to ground out to second.In the top of the ninth Kevin Benway, the school's quarterback/fullback/defensive back/catcher, put Prep ahead with a single that glanced off the top of Farrell second baseman Ryan Saulle's glove. And in the bottom of the inning, sophomore first baseman Paul Karmas made a stunning over-the-shoulder diving grab in foul territory down the right field line to help ensure Prep lived to play another day.Another defensive gem by Chiodo set the table for Prep in a 3-1 win over Stepinac Sunday at Molloy College. With Chris Mentrasti leaning off third base, Chiodo fielded a grounder towards the bag, tagged Mentrasti and threw to first for the inning-ending double play.Not to be outdone, Rob Schnur gave the Terriers just what they needed on the mound – a complete game. He gave up one run on four hits and retired 11 of the last 12 batters he faced on three days' rest.Although I meant to cover just one game, it has been a great week on the St. Francis Prep beat. It's more than just seeing some great high school baseball. It's getting to know the parents and their catch phrases (Alex Pinto's mother yelling out “You can do it!” sticks out for me), knowing who the siblings and girlfriend are and watching them nervously pace and pray for a strikeout.It's sitting in the sun – and in my case getting a pretty bad sunburn – eating sunflower seeds and watching some ball. Nope, not a bad week at all.Reach Sports Editor Dylan Butler by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 143.
