Strong Work Ethic Vital to Gaels’ Title Run

SOMERS—After losing in the Class B championship game a year ago, the goal for the Kennedy Catholic baseball team was clear: the Gaels wanted another shot.

Joe Smith SKIP PEARLMAN Many didn’t expect JFK—the 2008 state champion—to have the guns to get the team back to the championship game, but as the 2010 season developed, the picture came into focus.

The Gaels dominated their league, and won the League 1D title, then went to work on the section. Kennedy found itself back in that championship game, and this time walked off with the Class B title, beating Briarcliff, 7-6, in extra innings after trailing by two in the bottom of the seventh.

Kennedy went on to the state tournament, beating Marlboro in the regional opener, then eliminating South Hampton in the regional final. That put JFK in the state final four, and again Kennedy came up big, topping Saratoga Catholic in the state semifinal, to advance to the championship game. But Kennedy’s title run came to an and against the defending state champ – Westhill.

Tom Baroni SKIP PEARLMAN “It was a tremendous year,” Kennedy manager Bob Fletcher said. “The kids had a great year, they worked really hard. Our goal was to win a league title, and hopefully do some damage in the sectionals. So we went well above and beyond that.”

Fletcher said that the presence of some players from the 2008 championship team benefited this year’s club.

“We had some players who were on the 2008 state championship team, so they brought that work ethic, and that rubbed off on the young players,” Fletcher said. “It was a whole team effort, they had the hunger to be better – especially after last year.”

Eight Gaels were awarded with post-season honors.

Senior team captains Tom Baroni and Joe Smith were both named to the All-Section and All-League teams. Baroni, a lefty, went 9-1 this spring, and closes a stellar three-year high school career at 17-1. Smith, a shortstop, hit .432 during the regular season, and upped the number to .592 in the playoffs. Baroni will head to Bates College this fall, while Smith is off to Iona.

JT Flanagan SKIP PEARLMAN Senior outfielder JT Flanagan and junior third baseman Ryan Patterson both earned All-Section Honorable Mention and All-League honors. Flanagan batted .437 this season, and had 11 RBI in the playoffs. Patterson hit .463 for the season.

Senior David Odell (LF, .432), ju- nior Remy Fields (2B), and sophomores Erik Bauer (P/3B) and Oscar Giret (P, 6-2) were all named to the All-League team. Bauer went 6-2 on the mound this spring, and hit .444 with 10 RBI and three homers during Kennedy’s playoff run.

“They all did a fabulous job,” Fletcher said. “Each and every one of them got some clutch hit, or made a great defensive play … Baroni was our money pitcher, he was great in big games. And the younger players really followed the lead of the older players, and became seasoned vets. They really stepped up in the playoffs.”

Ryan Patterson SKIP PEARLMAN Fletcher also pointed to solid contributions from senior John Giordano (C, .444 BA, and nine RBI in playoffs), soph Mike Ennis (OF, .320 BA), junior Steve Kessler (1B), and freshmen Matt Kern (P) and Skyler Bates (P).

The Gaels lose four position players and two pitchers to graduation, but have some strong talent returning next spring.

“Our pitching will still be young, with Kern, Giret and Bates,” Fletcher said. “The problem will be the batting order – we lose our 2-3-4 (Odell, Smith, Flanagan) and a lot of power and RBI. We will have Kevin Mee back, we missed him this year (injury), and we’ll look for some younger players to step into roles. I’m looking forward to it.”