If Bob Mulligan was asked in the preseason to list some players who could come through in a big spot, Nick Mattera wouldn’t have made the Monsignor Farrell coach’s top five.
But the left-fielder provided the biggest hit of the season, a two-out, game-ending single in the bottom of the seventh to lift the sixth-seeded Lions to a dramatic 5-4 win against No. 13 All Hallows in the decisive third game of a CHSAA Class A intersectional qualifying series Sunday afternoon at Kaiser Stadium on the campus of St. John’s University.
“He’s our most improved player this year,” Mulligan said. “He’s struggled of late, but those two hits in the sixth and the seventh were as big hits as he’s had all year. What he does bring is a tremendous amount of energy. He gets everybody up. He’s been a big part of our team this year and going into the season we didn’t think he would be.”
Mattera is a big reason Farrell (13-5) advances to the eight-team, double-elimination intersectional tournament, but he’s not the only reason. Gary Boardman, who Mulligan boasts is the “best third baseman in the city,” was outstanding in relief of starter Chris Mione, who was pulled with one out in the fourth inning.
The senior right-hander allowed just an infield single in 3 2/3 innings of relief after starting the game at third base. He retired the first eight batters he faced before Jeremy Tejada’s infield single in the top of the seventh.
“He comes in and throws strikes,” Mulligan said. “He’s been great. He’s a tough kid, too. He doesn’t get rattled. He’s a smart kid, he’s really got a good feel for the game. He’s just great. I’m so happy he can play a couple more games.”
It looked like Boardman had induced the final out of the game when Irwin Zorilla hit a fly ball to left. Mike DePaola got under it, but the ball squirted out of his glove, allowing Tejada to score the tying run from third.
While All Hallows (12-10) celebrated their second chance, DePaola, who misplayed James Norwood’s game-tying line drive double in the sixth inning Saturday, was looking for somewhere to hide in the spacious outfield.
“You have to feel for the kid,” Mulligan said. “He’s a great kid, the effort is always there. I’m so happy the team got him off the hook there.”
The Lions immediately comforted DePaola.
“Sometimes we get on each other, bur right away I smiled because I know what it’s like to be in that situation,” Boardman said. “It happens to everyone. I smiled at him and told him it was no big deal. We still had another at-bat to go.”
Boardman helped out immediately, lacing a double to center to lead off the bottom of the seventh. After DePaola’s sacrifice bunt failed and Pete Guinta popped out to second, designated hitter Tom Mandala was intentionally walked, setting the stage for Mattera.
He drove Perez’s 1-1 changeup to left and Roger Ramos raced in to try and make a play. But the ball bounced in front of him, allowing Joe Fiori, running for Boardman, to score the winning run.
“I thought I actually hit it a little bit too hard, that the kid had a chance to make the play,” Mattera said. “When I saw it fall, my heart just dropped.”