FIRST ROUND: PRHS 8 – Bushwick 4
Port Richmond High School has struggled at the plate with runners in scoring position all season. But you wouldn’t have known it by watching the Red Raiders’ 8-4 victory over Bushwick yesterday on Staten Island in the first round of the PSAL playoffs.
“We haven’t got those kinds of hits in the past,” PRHS coach John Sce said. “Timely hits haven’t come easy. But we got them today.”
They sure did . . . and real early.
The action actually started Wednesday when the Red Raiders (14-13) cashed in three runs in the first inning before the game was halted by rain.
Leadoff hitter Nick Podaras started things by drawing a walk off the ace of the No. 22-seeded Tigers, senior Charles Lalane.
Then pitcher Mike Maynard (seven Ks in seven innings) helped himself by doubling to left, plating Podaras. Shortstop Paul Buonviaggio smacked a double to left-center scoring Maynard, and the Red Raiders were quickly ahead 2-0. Buonviaggio would then steal third and home to extend the lead to 3-0.
Then the heavens opened up.
Fast forward to yesterday’s second inning where the Red Raiders’ bats continued to boom.
Left fielder Andrew Festo led off with a single, and Peter Botros followed with the first of his three hits. The runners moved up on a past ball by catcher Jonathan Suero.
Junior Nick Mondi lifted a sac fly to center to score Festo and Botros tagged up and moved to second. Two batters later, Botros swiped third and came around to score on an errant throw by Suero, giving the Red Raiders a 5-0 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
“The guys came though today. They stepped up in the clutch,” Sce said.
“Port Richmond played a good game today,” Tigers coach Jennifer Jones said, after giving her team an emotional speech, causing several of her players to shed some tears. “They got some key hits and we didn’t.”
Jones’ Brooklyn Tigers finished the season at 8-8.
As for the Red Raiders, they get to hop on a bus this afternoon and head to The Bronx to face the sixth-seeded Walton Wildcats in the second round of the playoffs.
“Walton has a real good team, but I think we’re finally where we wanted to be all season long,” Sce said. “We’re healthy and ready to go. Everyone is excited about going there to play them.”