Greg Modica got his career league victory as a head coach against his alma mater.
On the back of Patrick O’Reilly’s gem, Christ the King blanked Archbishop Molloy, 4-0, in CHSAA Class AA baseball Friday afternoon in Briarwood. Modica said it was a different kind of feeling being across the dugout from his old coach, legendary Jack Curran.
“Anytime you get to coach against Coach Curran especially after playing for him, it’s a pretty good feeling,” said Modica, who took over in CK’s dugout this year for Billy Oettinger. “Just to be on the same field with him is an honor – win or lose.”
O’Reilly pitched a two-hit shutout, striking out 10 for Christ the King (1-2), which was coming off losses to Xaverian and St. Francis Prep. Isaiah Torres was 1-for-2 with an RBI triple and two walks and Jesse Toscano was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. Molloy (1-1) was playing without Evansville-bound star Jonathan Ramon, who is out indefinitely with a pinched nerve in his back.
Modica has been using O’Reilly primarily in relief, but he threw a one-hitter last week against Monroe in the Monroe Tournament and has emerged as Christ the King’s top arm. The coach said the win over Molloy, a premier program, was significant in his rebuilding job with the Royals.
“We’re pretty much irrelevant,” said Modica, who coaches over the summer with the Midville Dodgers. “I know we’re not winning a city championship this year, but I don’t want people falling asleep on us. … I just want to put them on the map where they used to be. I want to try to build a winning program.”
And beating his alma mater? That was just gravy.
“Anytime you go back to Molloy, the tradition there, you want to try to come out on top,” Modica said. “Christ the King doesn’t beat Molloy very often.”
Iona Prep 4, Monsignor Farrell 1: Matt D’Ariano gave up just one run on one hit and struck out five in five innings to lead Iona Prep (2-1). Jack McDermott was 1-for-2 with two RBIs and Matt Henry and Mike Briganti each drove in a run apiece. Matt Mottola picked up the two-inning save. Kevin Garzona gave up just two earned runs on five hits in 5-1/3 innings for Farrell (1-1).
All Hallows 12, Salesian 1: Lance Montano went 4-for-4 with three RBIs and Justin Soto was 4-for-4 with two RBIs to lead All Hallows (2-2), which had lost two straight to Iona Prep and Moore Catholic. Jason Reyes went six innings to pick up the victory. Salesian is 1-2.
IVY PREP LEAGUE
Horace Mann 11, Riverdale 10: Ricky Fernandez drove in the tying and game-winning runs with one out in the seventh inning, Cameron Brown tossed 1-2/3 innings for the win and Harrison Bader belted a three-run home run for Horace Mann (4-1, 3-0), which rallied from an early five-run deficit. The Lions visit Poly Prep Monday at 4:30 p.m. Cole Dreyfuss had two hits for Riverdale (2-3, 1-2), which meets Collegiate Monday at 4:30 p.m.
NON-LEAGUE
Packer Collegiate 5, Cathedral Prep 4: Nick Morton and Michael Waken each had two hits, scored once and drove in a run, Lucas Slevin scored a run and added an RBI and Michael Duffy fanned nine in five innings of three-hit, one-run ball for Packer. The Pelicans (5-2) visit Staten Island Academy Saturday at 11 a.m. Chris West had two hits and two RBIs for Cathedral Prep, Daniel Debiase also had two RBIs and scored once and Anthony Laporta fanned 11 and allowed three runs on five hits in six innings.
OTHER SCORES
Collegiate 11, Dalton 4