It’s early, but the confidence in Fordham Prep’s batting order is already growing.
Every member in the lineup had at least one run scored and all but one had at least an RBI Wednesday in the Rams’ 10-1 win over Cardinal Spellman in CHSAA Bronx/Westchester ‘AA’ baseball at Fordham University in The Bronx.
“If for some reason baseball allowed us to bat 15 kids, we’d have the best lineup in the league,” said designated-hitter Robbie Lynch, who picked up two RBIs and scored a run in the victory. “We have the deepest lineup and kids sitting on the bench can go out there and stroke.”
Fordham had two explosive five-run innings that each saw nine hitters come to the plate. The first big one came in the third. With the Rams trailing 1-0, Andrew Velazquez was hit by a pitch and then stole second. Ryan Mahoney hit an RBI single to bring him in and came around to score one batter later on an error by Joe Colon to give Fordham a 2-1 lead. After Zack Leone hit an RBI single, Lynch hit a bases-clearing double on an 0-2 pitch to cap off Fordham’s first five-run inning.
“This year we’ve been putting up some nice runs,” Fordham coach Pat Deane said. “Everybody is contributing and we’re seeing the ball well. We’re hitting throughout the lineup.”
Fordham (6-0) struck again in the fifth when Paul Fache hit a single that plated Jack Sexton and Leone. Two batters later, Mick Regan hit a two-RBI triple and later scored on a sac-fly by Mahoney.
Mahoney, Leone, Lynch and Regan each finished with two RBIs for Fordham Prep while Fache and Flynn each drove in one. Mahoney also had two runs scored for the Rams.
“It shows that our hitting has improved,” Leone said. “We know they’re right behind us in [The Post’s CHSAA/Private] rankings and we had to beat them.”
While offense was key, Fordham also got a solid effort out of Furman-bound Steven Fondu who had seven strong innings pitched. Fondu threw a complete-game four-hitter while giving up just one earned run and striking out eight..
Fondu’s only troublesome inning came in the top of the third when Dom Luongo hit an RBI triple that scored Dan Hernandez to give Spellman a 1-0 lead. Fordham responded with a five-run bottom half of the inning.
Spellman (5-2) has had a solid start to the season and this was the first time the Pilots lost by such a great deficit. Chris Scholkoff started the game and lasted three innings while giving up seven hits and five earned runs in the loss.
“You’re gonna have days like this,” Spellman coach Lou Brescia said. “They hit the ball and you just gotta give them credit.”
Both teams will have little time to think about this game as both play Thursday. Fordham Prep will hope to continue its success against Regis, while Spellman will try to bounce back at home against St. Raymond.
“Beating a team like this always gives us great confidence,” Fondu said. “Now we have to go out there and do the same against Regis.”