All Hallows’ James Norwood struck out four in two shutout innings of work. (Christina Santucci)
Baseball bragging rights again belong to the CHSAA.
For the second consecutive year, the league defeated the PSAL to win the Mayor’s Cup, winning this year’s nine-inning all-star game, 9-3, at MCU Park in Coney Island.
“They always think they have the better league, but it just goes to show that while they might have more talent we [play] cleaner and better then do,” Xaverian catcher Elvin Soto said. “It’s definitely bragging rights. I’m excited to go back home and start messing with the George Washington kids.”
A week ago, Soto and his Clippers teammates won the CHSAA Class AA final for the seventh time and first since 2008. On Friday night, they joined with the best seniors from the CHSAA for one last game of their high school careers.
“It was more than I thought it would be,” Monsignor Farrell pitcher Nick Thorgersen said. “It was a pretty good experience, something you only get one shot at in high school.”
Xaverian’s Victor Bautista went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored to earn MVP honors.
“We were just all having fun out there, it’s the last time we were playing with each other and I enjoyed it,” Bautista said. “It can’t get any better than this.”
Bautista spent much of the season in the shadow of Soto, Kevin Martir, Antonio Nunez and Tommy Midolo, but he shined brightest Friday night.
“What’s special about Victor is where he came from last year to where he is now,” Piccola said. “He struggled a bit, a bit unhappy and then this year he solidified his position all year. There’s a lot more upside for someone like him who is going to work hard and maybe develop into a real good college player.”
However, it was the CHSAA’s pitching depth that proved to be the difference. St. Louis University-bound James Norwood set the tone, striking out four in two shutout innings. He was followed by Iona Prep’s Rob Ambrosino, Xavier’s Sean Meekins, Steven Pastrana from Xaverian, Dean Sadik from Archbishop Molloy, Thorgersen and Manhattan-bound Joe Mortillaro from Christ the King closed it out.
Thorgersen had the envious position of attempting to keep his concentration while the Friday night fireworks at 10 p.m., a weekly Coney Island summer tradition, went off behind him.
“It actually scared me a little bit, but it was pretty cool,” he said. “You get a little taste of what the minor leagues play on.”
Unlike last year’s one-run game, this one was never close. The CHSAA raced out to a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning and never looked back.
“I told the guys before the game this is more about the league than who we are, where we came from the last four years,” said Xaverian coach Lou Piccola, who joined All Hallows’ Ed Gutierrez as co-coaches. “I thought we did a very good job. It sets a tone, makes a point. I know on the other side they want to win as much as we do. This is bigger than us. It’s about a league.”
And it’s a league that has another year of bragging rights.
“I really believe from top to bottom it’s a very good [league],” Piccola said.