Jeffrey Ledesma was ecstatic, Isaiah Sakany was disappointed and Lois Sakany was just happy it was over.
Norman Thomas’ 4-2 victory over Beacon on Friday afternoon at DeWitt Clinton Park on the West Side of Manhattan was a battle of PSAL Manhattan Class A leaders. But that was the secondary storyline compared to the saga of the Sakany household.
Ledesma, Thomas’ Franklin Pierce-bound ace, was facing Isaiah Sakany, his roommate the last two years and Beacon’s star outfielder who is headed to Division II Rollins. Lois Sakany took in Ledesma, who had played baseball with her son since the age of 12, two years ago to advance his baseball career and became his legal guardian.
“Since the beginning of the year, we’ve been talking about this game,” said Ledesma, who left Riverside High School in Yonkers followed his sophomore year. “It gives me bragging rights.”
When the two teams met last year, Lois Sakany said she had fun. She had trouble watching this matchup. She nearly bit off her fingernails throughout the tight contest and cringed when Isaiah Sakany lined a single off Ledesma’s shin.
“That was even scary,” she said. “I have to say it was not fun. I want them both to do well.”
Her sons, meanwhile, enjoyed themselves. They had spent the entire spring talking about the showdown.
“There’s been a lot of trash-talking,” Isaiah said.
There figures to be more now, all in favor of Ledesma.
While Isaiah knew he would hear it at the dinner table, he was pleased with his team’s effort and he did throw four solid innings in relief of starter Omar Longi. Plus, if he’s going to lose to anyone, he doesn’t mind it being Ledesma. He was thrilled when his good friend moved in with his family.
“I have someone just like me — plays baseball, same exact age,” he said.
Ledesma was thrilled afterward. He picked up his fifth league win and went 5-2/3 innings, struck out three and allowed three hits as the Tigers (10-1, Manhattan A East) remained tied atop Manhattan A East with defending city champion George Washington. His biggest jam came in the fifth when Beacon (7-3, Manhattan A West) loaded the bases with two outs. Sakany laced a fastball off his shin, but the big righty reared back and blew a 3-2 fastball past Avery Perez.
“It showed the kind of heart he has and confidence in his stuff,” Thomas coach Luis Monell said. “When he gets in a jam like that, a monster comes out.”
Kenny Guichardo had two RBIs and William Mora added two hits, including a run-scoring double. Giovanni Dingcong homered for Beacon and Perez plated a run with a sacrifice fly.
Moving into the Kensington section of Brooklyn with the Sakanys wasn’t an easy transition for Ledesma. He was in a new school with new people. During the school year he only sees his family on weekends. Easy-going and as poised in a social setting as he is on the field, he adjusted, made new friends and now has a college scholarship to show for the move.
“It’s worked out in my favor,” Ledesma said. “Everything I did was worth it.”
Norman Thomas couldn’t be happier to have him. With Ledesma leading the way, the Tigers have emerged as a possible title contender. They’ll see how realistic those hopes are in a few weeks when they face rival GW twice, a pair of matchups that will decide the Manhattan A East title and will impact both teams’ playoff seeding.
“We’re definitely ready,” Mora said. “We’ve been working hard for GW. Those are the two biggest games of the season.”