Once Matt Arias’ ringing triple to the gap in right-center field stopped rolling and Bryan Suarez and Josh Lowe crossed the plate, Riverdale/Kingsbridge immediately lined up. The top-seeded Tigers’ celebration, following their 11-1, run-rule PSAL Class B quarterfinal victory over No. 8 Arts & Business was tepid, at best.
Last year, there was a massive coronation after the quarterfinal victory. Last year, however, is last year.
“We don’t want to make that mistake again,” senior right-hander Stefan Sunda said after working five strong innings for the victory. “We’re not celebrating yet.”
RKA (18-1) is in the semis for the third straight year, but The Bronx program is still in search of its first finals berth. It was supposed to happen last spring, but the Tigers were upset by borough rival Taft. The pain of that loss that has stayed with RKA, although the Tigers have hardly talked about even returning to the semifinals until Thursday’s victory returned them to the scene of the crime.
“I’ve been waiting for this all year,” Sunda said. “I think this is the year. Out of all my four years, chemistry is the best; we’re like a little family, and our performance on the field, too. Pitching is there, hitting is there, defense is there. We have it all.”
As Sunda described, RKA has a nice mix. There are seniors such as Sunda and catcher Julio Santos who have been through the wars, while underclassmen like freshman center fielder Sage Cheren and Arias, only a sophomore, offer youthful exuberance and the promise to keep the program at a high level for years to come.
They have a quiet confidence about them, borne out of three straight Bronx B North division crowns. They have dominated the postseason thus far, winning by a combined 29-3. RKA had its way with three Arts & Business pitchers, racking up 11 hits — six for extra bases – and 11 runs.
There were big hits from just about everybody against the Bulls (15-6). Arias smoked a two-run triple in the fifth and an RBI double in the fourth, Santos blasted a three-run home run, Lowe capped a five-run first with a two-run double, and Jason Araujo contributed a two-run single in the first.
“We were focused,” Sunda said. “We didn’t look past them.”
Coach John Reingold has made sure RKA doesn’t get too high after one of its many blowout victories. Whenever he saw his players getting a little too cocky, he put the equipment away and had his players run wind sprints.
“Many days we didn’t pick up our gloves,” he said. “That created an intensity and understanding what it takes. So far, we’re pushing the right buttons.”
Despite the loss, Arts & Business coach Michael Cohen left pleased. The Bulls’ program was at the development stage two years ago, it won seven games a year ago, then took the Queens B Central division crown and reached the quarterfinals.
“I am very proud of what we accomplished this year,” Cohen said.
There is still the matter of the semifinals left for RKA, a large obstacle in the Tigers’ way. Reingold plans to give the ball to Araujo, one of his young stars and his ace. He is proud of how far the program has come in such a short time, but far from satisfied.
“I certainly don’t want to be the Buffalo Bills,” Reingold said. “It’s nice to get to the dance, but I want to win.”
When reminded that RKA wasn’t playing nearly as well at this time last year, Reingold smiled.
“If we play like this,” he said, “we’re gonna be tough to beat.”
