Corniel struck out and allowed just three hits. (Lauren Marsh)
George Washington’s city title last spring was memorable because of the storyline attached to it, the Trojans winning the crown without legendary coach Steve Mandl.
But Mandl, suspended by the PSAL for illegal recruiting, wasn’t the only key member of the team unable to contribute. Right-hander Edwin Corniel was ruled ineligible by the league after he was granted a safety transfer from A.P. Randolph.
“It was like being in a dungeon and we were both locked in,” Corniel said. “It was crazy. I couldn’t get on the mound for my biggest year.”
He’s been making up for lost time this year, establishing himself as one of the Trojans’ two aces, along with Kevin Torres. He pitched No. 4 GW back to the PSAL Class A semifinals on Tuesday. The hard-throwing senior tossed a complete-game three-hitter and struck out six in the Trojans’ emphatic 10-2 victory over No. 5 Norman Thomas at Grand Street Campus in Brooklyn.
George Washington (17-2) will meet No. 8 Telecommunications, a 6-5, nine-inning upset winner over No. 1 Cardozo, in a best-of-three semifinal series starting Friday at 3:30 p.m. at Old Boys High Field in Brooklyn.
Corniel and Mandl have developed a bond because of what they both went through last season. Corniel always tells him they were both suspended, though that isn’t entirely true. After losing to Norman Thomas (16-3) two weeks ago, a setback that cost the Trojans the outright division title and possibly the top seed in the playoffs, Mandl went right back to Corniel.
“He’s a bulldog,” Mandl said. “He’ll go after you no matter what. That’s why I love him.”
He rewarded his trust, shaking off Paul Garcia’s leadoff homer with a brilliant effort. After Garcia sent a first-pitch fastball over the wall in left, Corniel allowed just two hits the rest of the way, infield singles to Jeffrey Ledesma and Andy Rodriguez.
Unlike the previous meeting, the Trojans roughed up Thomas righty Garbin Villar. They waited him out, refused to chase pitches out of the strike zone and took advantage when he lost command in the fourth inning.
“We took a better approach at home plate,” Mandl said. “We were more patient. We didn’t try to hit homeruns.”
He walked Marvin Camps and Fernelys Sanchez to start the frame, Henry Rodriguez reached on a bunt single and Randy Rodriguez lashed a one-hopper up the middle. Shortstop Keven Rodriguez was unable to handle the hot shot, which scored two runs. Michael Richardson, recently elevated into the two-hole, followed with a ringing two-run double off the wall in left field and Bryan Mejia plated him with a single.
“When we come through with the bats, nobody can stop us,” Richardson said. “We did every little thing we could do to score.”
George Washington added on a run in the fifth and two in the sixth on a two-run single by Henry Rodriguez, but by then Corniel was in cruise control. He capped the performance by blowing a fastball past William More. He flung his glove in the air and screamed out “we’re going back to the semifinals!” All day, he was telling his teammates it was a mere formality; then he went out and proved himself psychic.
“They weren’t going to beat me again,” he said. “It felt great. Coach gave me so much confidence. I took the loss against Norman Thomas and he gave me the ball again.”
It’s been an enjoyable spring for Corniel and Mandl after last year’s trying times. They watched the run last year, happy even if they were on the outside looking in.
Now they are a part of what they hope will be another title journey for George Washington.