McClancy nips Molloy in extra innings

Monsignor McClancy had already coughed up a three-run lead and blown several scoring opportunities, including a bases-loaded, one-out situation in extra innings. On the road at Archbishop Molloy, the Crusaders had no business leaving victorious. But, that is when they are most dangerous - when the odds are slim.
“Overall,” Manager Nick Melito said, “we find a way to win.”
In the opening round of seeding play, sophomore Lou Perez played the hero, stroking a two-out, two-strike bloop double down the left field line off Molloy starter Pat Brown - who went the distance, striking out five and scattering eights hits while throwing 134 pitches - to lift McClancy (11-4) to a 5-3 nine-inning win over the Stanners at the Briarwood school.
It was an afternoon full of missed opportunities for each side, punctuated by McClancy’s inability to plate the winning run in the eighth after loading the bases.
The Crusaders built a three-run lead, only to see the Stanners strike for three runs off McClancy right-hander James Roubal in the bottom of the fourth; Conan Leon’s run-scoring double igniting the rally.
In the fifth, Molloy loaded the bases with one out, but could not score. They put the first two on in the sixth, but against failed to take advantage, as was the case in the seventh when two Stanners reached with two outs.
“It was a very good game, we just didn’t get the hits when we needed them,” Molloy Manager Jack Curran said. “We had men on base three or four times. They just couldn’t get the hit.”
The loss does not vanquish the Stanners’ recent hot stretch. Behind a solid four-man rotation of Brown, Kasparas Vilimas, Christopher Franzese and Leon, they have won three of five after starting 3-6.
“The playoffs,” Curran said, “we should do pretty good.”
McClancy, meanwhile, is certainly confident. The only team to beat Brooklyn/Queens regular season champion Xaverian, they are eyeing a second seed in the upcoming city playoffs depending on how they fare the rest of the week in seeding play. Led by their three aces - Roubal, Joseph Hermann and Stephen Cotov - and top relievers Will Colomer and Frank DiMaria, the Crusaders often find themselves in one-run games. Twice, they have been victorious in 1-0 affairs.
“They want to work, they want to win and they’ll sacrifice individual [pursuits] for the team,” Melito said. “That’s the best compliment I can give them.”
Whether it is a sacrifice bunt, or a clutch hit, they have often gotten the job done.
“Everybody,” Perez said, “trusts each other.”
Added Colomer, who got the win with three shutout innings: “We can beat anyone. We beat everyone in the league before. We plan on doing it again.”