While refusing to use it as an excuse, Moore Catholic coach Nick Doscher has complained about his team’s youth all season, even before they stepped on the field for a CHSAA contest.
But, according to senior ace Neil Connelly, the Mavericks’ youth is a big reason for a remarkable seventh-inning rally in Game 2 of the best-of-three CHSAA Class A intersectional third round qualifying series.
“The younger they are, the more hope they have,” the southpaw reasoned. “That’s why we rallied because we have so many young kids.”
One of those newbies is sophomore catcher Joe Todaro, who delivered a dramatic game-ending three-run double to left with two outs in the seventh inning to lift No. 14 Moore Catholic to a 6-5 win against fifth-seeded Bishop Ford at Kaiser Stadium on the campus of St. John’s University.
One out of from a season-ending defeat, the Mavericks (10-8) forced a decisive Game 3 to be played Sunday at 5 p.m. back at St. John’s.
“No matter what happens this is a big confidence builder for these kids,” Doscher said. “We only have three seniors here so it’s big to keep going and for the younger kids just to get this experience.”
Connelly tossed a complete-game, two-hit shutout Monday in a 1-0 win against Archbishop Molloy and was solid against Bishop Ford’s powerful lineup. He allowed four earned runs on seven hits, striking out five with four walks in 6 2/3 innings against what he called “the best hitting team I’ve faced in my entire career in high school.”
“The whole year he’s battled, he’s pitched some gems for us,” Doscher said of Connelly. “He goes right at them. They hit 1-9, they swing the bats.”
Connelly was especially impressive against Ford’s power-hitting first baseman Esteban Gomez, who has drawn interest from several area Major League scouts. After a pair of two-out walks with the bases empty, Connelly went at the left-handed hitting first baseman in his last two at-bats, twice striking him out looking.
“I was just trying to throw sliders on the inside and mix in some fastballs every once in a while,” Connelly said.
Still, when Doscher pulled Connelly for Anthony LoBello after Ford catcher Matt Molbury (3-for-4, three RBIs) put the Falcons (14-5) in front, 5-3, it looked like it would be the end of Connelly’s career.
With a runner at first and two outs, Frank Smith walked and John Baggs loaded the bases with an infield single. Ford coach Mike Hanrahan pulled reliever Nelson Lopez and called on Molbury to close the game. Instead Todaro, who has struggled at the plate this season, took Molbury’s inside fastball and drove it down the left-field line.
Anthony Foust chased and lunged, but the ball deflected off his glove. Todaro ended at second and was soon joined by his teammates and the celebration was on.
“I was thrilled, it was awesome,” Todaro said. “I can’t even describe it. It’s probably the happiest moment of my life.”
As jubilant as Moore Catholic was, it was a devastating defeat for Bishop Ford.
“You win games like that, you lose games like that,” Hanrahan said. “You can’t carry it into the next day. I don’t see that happening, not with this group.”