The Post’s CHSAA baseball beat writer Dylan Butler breaks down the best-of-three third-round series for the Class A intersectional tournament.
For live updates during the games, check out Dylan Butler’s Twitter page here.
Here are the matchups and schedule:
No. 5 Bishop Ford vs. No. 14 Moore Catholic
Game 1 – Thursday 4 p.m. at Parade Grounds
Game 2 – Saturday 3:30 p.m. at St. John’s University
Game 3 – Sunday if necessary at TBA
No. 6 Monsignor Farrell vs. No. 13 All Hallows
Game 1 – Thursday 7 p.m. at College of Staten Island
Game 2 – Saturday 10:30 a.m. at St. John’s University
Game 3 – Sunday if necessary at TBA
No. 7 Iona Prep vs. No. 10 St. Francis Prep
Game 1 – Friday 4 p.m. at Iona Prep
Game 2 – Sunday 11 a.m. at St. John’s University
Game 3 – Monday if necessary at TBA
No. 8 Xavier vs. No. 9 Fordham Prep
Game 1 – Thursday 4 p.m. at Red Hook
Game 2 – Saturday 1 p.m. at St. John’s University
Game 3 – Sunday if necessary at TBA
No. 5 Bishop Ford Falcons
Head coach: Mike Hanrahan
Record: 13-4
Player to watch: Esteban Gomez
No. 14 Moore Catholic Mavericks
Head coach: Nick Doscher
Record: 9-7
Player to watch: John Baggs
Outlook: The pitching matchup in the opener is a doozy, with Bishop Ford ace Stephen Bove (1.03 ERA) meeting Moore sophomore John Baggs (1.43 ERA). Baggs is one of several left-handers in the Mavericks’ arsenal and he certainly won’t be intimidated by Bishop Ford’s solid lineup, highlighted by senior slugger Esteban Gomez. The first baseman, who has garnered interest from several area major league scouts, is batting .427 with 11 doubles and 21 RBIs. Pitching around Gomez, though, could be a mistake with lethal hitters Anderson Mateo and Matt Molbury behind the first baseman in the lineup.
Chris Ahearn and Frank Smith, who drove in the lone run in a 1-0 win at Molloy Monday, are the top hitters for Moore, which has struggled at the plate. But the Mavericks are supremely confident with a 6-0 record against non-Staten Island foes.
“We know it’s going to be a battle,” Moore coach Nick Doscher said. “But we’ve been in battles every game all year.”
No. 6 Monsignor Farrell Lions
Head coach: Bob Mulligan
Record: 11-4
Player to watch: Mike Viegas
No. 13 All Hallows Gaels
Head coach: Ed Gutierrez
Record: 11-8
Player to watch: James Norwood
Outlook: All Hallows might be the hottest team entering the third round of qualifying. The Gaels have won five straight and six of their last seven. On Monday, All Hallows beat Regis and ace Chris Bates, 5-3, in nine innings. There were heroes galore for the Gaels, including ace James Norwood, who allowed three earned runs on eight hits, striking out nine in seven innings and going 2-for-4 with an RBI. Gilbert Gonzalez is a solid third baseman and the Gaels closer. You want to be playing your best baseball heading into the playoffs and All Hallows is doing just that.
Monsignor Farrell finished second in Staten Island, losing three of its four games to rival St. Joseph by the Sea. The Lions went on a long playoff run last year and several players, including third baseman Gary Boardman, shortstop Nick Del Prete and center fielder Mike Viegas were key cogs to that squad. The speedy Viegas has been red-hot of late and is the Lions’ top hitter. Farrell has always been built on solid pitching and this year is no different. With quality starters Joe Fiori, Matt Cascello and Chris Mione, Farrell is built for a three-game series.
No. 7 Iona Prep Gaels
Head coach: Fred Gallo
Record: 13-5
Player to watch: Colin Moran
No. 10 St. Francis Prep Terriers
Head coach: Bro. Robert Kent
Record: 12-6
Player to watch: Chris Fesler
Outlook: Iona Prep finished with the same record as Archbishop Stepinac, but lost out on a tiebreaker to the Crusaders. The Gaels are led by North Carolina-bound Colin Moran, arguably the best player in the CHSAA. The senior plays shortstop, hits third and even comes in to close games. Pitch around Moran and you have to deal with Justin Palladino, Beau Kiklis and Justin Muratore.
St. Francis Prep has a deeper rotation, led by Adelphi-bound lefty Lebro Burnette, who tossed a complete-game two-hitter in a 4-3 win against McClancy and could pitch Game 2 or Game 3. Senior Chris Fesler has had some very good outings and some bad, but he’s been consistently one of the Terriers better hitters. But there are other good hitters, including Alex Middlemiss, Jason Perrone and Chris Brudie. Freshman Taso Stathopoulos could be Prep’s ace in the hole, a future No. 1 pitcher coming out of the bullpen.
No. 8 Xavier Knights
Head coach: Rich Duffel
Record: 12-6
Player to watch: Rob Maguire
No. 9 Fordham Prep Rams
Head coach: Pat Deane
Record: 13-6
Player to watch: Mike Maschi
Outlook: On the gridiron, the Xavier-Fordham Prep rivalry is one of the best in the city. The two Jesuit schools have battled for 86 years on Thanksgiving Day for the Turkey Bowl. No such trophy is at stake on the baseball diamond, but this best-of-three should certainly be closely contested and, perhaps, heated. That is, if the regular-season meeting at Houlihan Park is a precursor.
In that game, Xavier ace Rob Maguire, who is 6-1 with a 0.55 ERA, outdueled Fordham Prep’s No. 1 Joe Pareres as the Knights left Rose Hill with a 2-1 win. Maguire, the Sacred Heart-bound senior, allowed one hit in six innings, striking out seven and walking five.
Pareres allowed just four hits and struck out two in seven innings, giving up a pair of unearned runs. He also got into a verbal confrontation with Xavier reliever Sean Meekins after the final out.
Fordham Prep, which is led by versatile senior center fielder Mike Maschi and power-hitting junior first baseman Sal Annunziata, is the defending CHSAA Class A intersectional champions, advancing out of the qualifying round to win the title.
