Gaels Hand Carmel First Loss of Season

CARMEL—Just when it looked like Carmel was set up for a breakout inning – the Rams had loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth - Kennedy’s Tom Baroni slammed the door by striking out the next three batters to preserve a 6-1 victory in a non-league game played Monday in Somers. of the sixth, when a base hit and two errors loaded the bases for the Rams. And Baroni’s frustration was starting to show.

Gaels hurler Tom Baroni pumps fist after getting three straight Ks with bases loaded in the sixth. SKIP PEARLMAN But after Gaels manager Bob Fletcher made a trip to the mound to calm his ace, the big lefty dug in and got Bret Viola, Ian Anderson and Chris Harlin – all on strikes.

Kennedy went on to push three more runs across in the bottom of the inning to pull away.

Baroni, a senior, went the distance and picked up his second win of the season against no losses, and allowed just one run on five hits. He struck out 10 and didn’t walk a batter. Baroni said he never expected to get out of the sixth unscathed.

Carmel catcher Bob O’Malley tags out Kennedy’s Ryan Patterson at home in Monday’s game at Kennedy. SKIP PEARLMAN “I wanted to have the inning end with at least the score tied,” Baroni said. “I never thought I’d get three strikeouts. But coach came out and calmed me down… and that helped me stay composed.”

Baroni said he had his best stuff yet this season.

“I had an outstanding two-seam fastball that was hitting the spots,” he said, “then when they adjusted, I went inside. My first-pitch curveball was also working well. I felt like that was probably the best I’ve pitched so far this season. This has become a pretty big rivalry, so this was a great experience. They were undefeated, and we held our own against them. It was a great team victory.”

Kennedy’s JT Flanagan belts a home run in Gaels’ win over Carmel. Flanagan went 3-for-3 with two RBI and a double. SKIP PEARLMAN The loss went to Anderson (4-1), who had picked up four of Carmel’s previous five wins. Anderson struck out two and walked two.

Kennedy’s JT Flanagan ripped a homer, went 3-for-3, doubled, and drove in two runs, and Remy Fields also had a big game, going 3-for-3 with one RBI. Erik Bauer was 2-for-3 with an RBI, Boomer Odell went 2-for-3 with one RBI and Dan Kruylas drove in a run.

Fletcher was impressed with Baroni’s outing. “Tom is always a very calm, cool customer,” he said. “He gets tougher in tough situations, and continues to throw strikes and attack the zone. That was an impressive performance. And Flanagan and Fields were impressive with the bat. Bauer had a very good game at third, and Joe Smith was solid at short. And Fields made a great play to end the game.”

Ryan Shilling of Carmel went 3-for-4 and had three RBI in a win over Arlington. SKIP PEARLMAN The loss snapped Carmel’s fivegame win streak to open the season. Anderson went 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Gaston Rojas was 2-for-4 with a triple.

Rams manager Bob Shilling knew the Rams had their chance to strike in the sixth, but failed to cash in.

“They gave us an opportunity,” Shilling said. “We had a chance to get back in the game, and we didn’t take advantage. Baroni is one of the best pitchers we’ve seen this year, he kept us offbalance. Ian didn’t spot the ball as well as he could have… he was up in the zone a bit, and we made three or four miscues behind him.”

Kennedy also ripped Putnam Valley, 13-1, last Thursday, with Oscar Giret (2-0) picking up the win on the mound for Kennedy.

Carmel’s Ian Anderson picked up four wins before taking his first loss Monday. SKIP PEARLMAN Flanagan had three RBI for Kennedy, Odell went 4-for-5 with three RBI, and Ryan Patterson, Smith and Fields each had two RBI.

Fletcher has been pleasantly surprised by his team’s 4-1 start. “”I have to be very happy,” he said. “We didn’t expect to play so well early with our inexperience, but our pitching and defense has come through. Baroni and Giret – in four games – have not walked a batter.”

Carmel also topped John Jay of East Fishkill, 5-1, in a non-league game last Thursday at Carmel, and the Rams beat Arlington, 5-3, two days earlier on the road.

Last Thursday against John Jay (3- 2), the Rams got a complete-game performance from Viola, who picked up the win, belted a two-run homer, and finished with three RBI. Viola allowed one run on two hits, struck out four and walked four.

Kennedy’s Remy Fields went 3-for-3 and drove in a run in Monday’s win. SKIP PEARLMAN Lugo added an RBI, and Chris Harlin doubled, as the Rams rode a threerun first to victory, adding a pair of runs in the third.

“Viola hit a nice shot, and it was nice t see him pitch a two-hitter,” Shilling said. “He was impressive.”

The prior Tuesday at Arlington (2- 2), Anderson earned his fourth consecutive win on the mound for the Rams. Horton took the loss for the Admirals.

Shilling tripled and went 3-for-4 with three RBI, Rojas had one RBI and went 3-for-4, Lugo doubled in a run, and Anderson and Nick Palmiero each had a double.

Arlington led 2-1 after one inning, but the Rams pushed two across in the third, and clinched the win with a run in the sixth and another in the seventh.

“”Ian pitched a great game for us,” Shilling said. “Ryan also had a real nice game, he set the table, and Rojas had a good game.”

Kennedy was set to host Poughkeepsie today (Thursday) at 4:30 p.m., and the Gaels visit the Pioneeers Friday at 4:30. Carmel is at Yorktown today at 4:30.