By Five Boro Sports
Everything was going right for Teo Ramirez. On the mound, the St. John’s Prep senior right-hander tossed a complete-game two-hitter, striking out 10 and, at the plate, he was three-for-four with a pair of doubles and four RBIs to lead the Red Storm to a 13-3 win against Rice in the CHSAA Class B championship game.
It was a perfect night for Ramirez, who led the Johnnies to a second consecutive ‘B’ title June 8 at Kaiser Stadium on the campus of St. John’s University.
That is, until it was time for the post-game celebration.
“That was great,” Ramirez said. “They almost killed me, but it feels really great.”
Ramirez, who played in a third consecutive ‘B’ championship game, said the feeling is the same as it was last spring, when the Red Storm won their first title since 1989, beating Cathedral Prep in a 14-inning thriller.
On Monday there would be no extra-inning drama, as St. John’s Prep (15-3) rallied from a 2-0 first-inning deficit to score twice in the third and fourth innings, once in the fifth and blow the game wide open with a seven-run sixth inning.
Because the Red Storm was in control from the beginning, first baseman Dan O’Brien, who struck out 14 and gave up four hits Sunday night in a 3-0 loss to Rice, said this year’s championship is even sweeter.
“It’s better for some reason,” the senior said. “Last year, playing 14 innings was fun … but to go out with two in a row, you couldn’t ask for anything more.”
As for Red Storm Coach Jason Bigeni, the overwhelming feeling was relief.
“Everyone was saying we were the favorites, that we were going to win back-to-back titles,” Bigeni said. “I was saying on the bus coming over here to the assistant coaches that it wasn’t that much fun when you’re expected to win it, but this is a big relief.”
Bigeni said the pressure was on his team from the season’s outset, but the Red Storm never faltered. Sure, there were two regular-season losses to rival Cathedral Prep, but the Johnnies were the most consistent team during the season.
“We have a good group of guys and we just stayed confident all season,” Ramirez said.
Despite two straight titles in three championship game appearances, Bigeni said the pressure will be off his team next year, especially with seven starters graduating. Rice (12-7), which returns every player from this year’s surprising championship run, should be the favorite.
“I tip my hat to Rice, they’re a phenomenal team,” he said. “They’re the team to beat next year. We’ll look to challenge next year with seven starters leaving …. The pressure is off, someone else can have it. We’ll be playing with house money next year.”
But Bigeni and the Red Storm aren’t concerned about next year right now. The squad is basking in the glow of yet another championship under the lights at St. John’s.
“You couldn’t have written a better script for our seniors, guys like Teo, Danny, Sean Lomax and Mike Zapata really stepped up,” Bigeni said. “The kids battled.”
