Kennedy Catholic Train Keeps Rolling

The Kennedy Gaels congratulate starter and winner Tom Baroni (44) after Monday's regional win over Marlboro at SUNY New Paltz. SKIP PEARLMAN It was the bottom of the seventh inning in the Class B championship game, and the Gaels were down two runs to No. 5 seed Briarcliff, trailing 6-4, with a man on first. Two out.

It looked like Briarcliff was seconds from celebrating a sectional championship, and ending Kennedy’s season.

The Bears are still waiting. That’s because funny things happen in baseball. As a wise man with World Series 10 rings once said – ‘it ain’t over until it’s over.’

Never was that quote more appropriate.

JFK’s Remy Fields could have made that last out, but instead he was hit by a pitch, and went to first. Next, a wild pitch allowed the runners to advance to second and third.

Kennedy ace Tom Baroni gave the Gaels another clutch performance Monday, beating Marlboro in the first round of the state tournament. SKIP PEARLMAN Suddenly the Gaels had breath. And when Ryan Patterson came up next, he brought the team back to life – tying the game with a two-run, line-drive single to right field.

After Kennedy reliever Matt Kern (who got the win) retired the Bears in order in the top of the eighth, it didn’t take long for Kennedy to seal the deal. Joe Smith led off with a triple that rolled to the wall, forcing Briarcliff to intentionally load the bases – with no outs.

John Giordano then finished the job, swatting a sac fly that scored Smith with the game-winning run, giving No. 3 Kennedy – the 2008 state champion – its second Section 1 championship in the last three years. The game was played at Dutchess Stadium last Thursday.

Michael Ennis delivered two RBI in sectional title win over Briarcliff. SKIP PEARLMAN Manager Bob Fletcher admitted he thought his team might be heading home for the summer before Fields managed to work his way on base.

“With two out, it sure didn’t look good,” Fletcher said. “But after Remy got hit, and the passed ball (wild pitch)… I saw the light. And the Giordano hit was huge. That took all the wind out of their sails, and put it in ours.”

The Gaels (21-5) have been favorites the past two years, but not many expected this year’s team to be in this position.

“It never gets old,” Fletcher said of winning the title. “No one expected us to do it. The last two years we had more pressure because we had a strong team. But we hit much better than I expected. I was very happy for the seniors to get it… especially after the letdown a year before (losing in the final last year).”

J.T. Flanagan of Kennedy strokes an RBI triple Monday against Marlboro. SKIP PEARLMAN David Odell went 3-for-5 with two RBI for Kennedy, Michael Ennis and Ryan Patterson each had two RBI, Giordano had one, and Smith had a triple.

Briarcliff closed the season at 14-9.

The Gaels went on to face Section 9 champion Marlboro in the first round of the state tournament Monday at SUNY New Paltz, and behind another sterling performance from lefty ace Tom Baroni, walked off with a 9-5 victory.

Kennedy was scheduled to take on South Hampton (LI) Tuesday in a state quarterfinal (too late for this edition). The winner advances to the state semifinals, which will be in Binghamton Saturday. The final is also Saturday.

Baroni (9-1) was in total control, and breezed through the first six innings, allowing one first-inning run on three hits in that span. Baroni tired in the seventh, and gave up four runs on three more hits, but still got the completegame victory.

Kennedy's Joe Smith (24) drove in a run and scored twice Monday against Marlboro. SKIP PEARLMAN Marlboro manager Dave Onusko, whose team opened the season at 1-4 before rattling off 16 consecutive victories, gave props to Baroni. “He did a real nice job,” Onusko said. “He hit the corners, worked the count, he was solid. And they took advantage of our mistakes and capitalized. Their three through five guys did a real good job.”

Baroni said he felt some fatigue late in the game, but got the defensive help he needed.

“I felt a little off toward the end,” he said. “A little tired…But my fielders really had my back. Smith, Fields, Erik Bauer… they were all key. Early on I felt good, so I was glad coach Fletcher had the faith in me to finish it out.”

The Kennedy Gaels walk the high-five line following Monday's win over Marlboro at SUNY New Paltz. SKIP PEARLMAN Baroni said the team has been hitting its stride. “It all feels good,” Baroni said. “We’re running on all cylinders – our hitting and fielding has been outstanding… and we don’t want to stop here.”

Kennedy came up with three big runs in the top of the first, and sailed home from there. A four-run fourth – highlighted by a Boomer Odell two-run double – gave the Gaels a 7-1 lead, and they tacked two more on in the top of the sixth to put Marlboro in an even deeper hole.

JT Flanagan finished with three RBI, scored twice and tripled, Odell had a double and two RBI and Smith finished with one RBI and two runs scored.

“Our bats were working well today, and we had no worries with Tom on the mound,” Flanagan said. “We can score runs… we just need to play good defense, and that’s kept us in games. No one thought we’d be here now… but to get this far feels great.”

Kennedy's Remy Fields slides safely into second as Marlboro's Peter Guido applies late tag. SKIP PEARLMAN Fletcher said the fast start was a key factor in setting the tone of the game.

“The first inning was huge,” he said. “It took the pressure off Tom… with Baroni pitching, a three-run lead is good. He’s been outstanding. He’s 17-1 in three years, and today was vintage Tom. And we made the plays on the field. Our offense has been a surprise… everyone in the order had a hit today. Smith has been solid for us at short, he’s been fabulous. Fields was outstanding all year in the field, Bauer has been solid at third, and JT has been doing it all year. And David Odell has become one of our best clutch hitters.”
Kennedy manager Bob Fletcher has conference at the mound Monday. Pitcher Tom Baroni tired in the seventh, but still got the complete-game victory. SKIP PEARLMAN