New Dorp’s Charlie Cabranes at the plate. (Christina Santucci)
Ray Smith broke into an uneasy smile as he talked about Sunday’s narrow loss and his team’s failed opportunity in the sixth inning.
New Dorp trailed defending PSAL Class A champion Tottenville by two runs, but the bottom third of its order loaded the bases with none out, chasing starter Mike Gillen.
The coach smiled recalling the loss – closer Vin Aiello worked out of a bases-loaded, none-out jam in the home sixth – because he was pleased the Central Cougars hung tough in a 3-1 home loss. But it was uneasy since it was also a failed chance to pull a mammoth early-season upset.
“We had opportunities,” he said solemnly. A hit here and there and it’s a different game.”
New Dorp, which had failed to finish higher than third in Staten Island A each of the last four years, entered the spring with confidence because of a deep and talented pitching rotation and experienced lineup. After an impressive 4-0 start, those hopes remained high against the powerful Pirates, albeit in defeat.
“Anytime you compete with them, you know you’ll have a successful year,” Smith said. “I was happy with the way the guys played. We stayed in the game, competed right until the end. We played with them and competed with them, which is always a positive indication.”
Unlike recent meetings, the Central Cougars didn’t shake at the sight of Tottenville’s purple jerseys. The Pirates (3-0, Staten Island A), who won the two matchups last season by a combined 21 runs, had to earn this victory. Aside from a hanging curveball to Tottenville slugger George Kantzian, New Dorp ace Danny Karasinski was brilliant in defeat.
He kept the defending city champion down for five-plus innings by escaping trouble in the first, third and fourth, striking out nine, allowing five hits and walking four. He was at his best in the third, fanning Kantzian, Carmelo D’Onofrio and John Giakas by going to his sharp slider, his out pitch.
His biggest mistake came the next time he faced the hulking Kantzian, with two on and one out in the visiting fifth. He hung the off-speed pitch and Kantzian deposited it into the left-field corner for a run-scoring double. Pinch-hitter Mike Sullivan followed with a bloop RBI single to center.
New Dorp (4-1, Staten Island A) did have the chance in the home sixth as Charlies Cabrandes, A.J. Polanco and Tyler Warshefski worked out walks, two from Aiello. Aiello, however, fanned Alex Joseph on three pitches, whiffed leadoff man Tom Sheridan after falling behind 3-0 and got Steve Kuzcera to ground out to Tom Kain at third.
“We need to put the ball in play in that situation,” Smith said. “Put a little pressure on the defense.”
And with that went New Dorp’s upset hopes. The Central Cougars didn’t look like a defeated team after Aiello set down Cabranes on a groundout with the final out.
They immediately began sprinting around the bases – a traditional postgame practice – with fervor before Smith talked to them in the dugout. He made it clear this wasn’t a moral victory for his players, but a learning experience for the next matchup, in Huguenot April 13.
“I tell my guys we got to go through them,” the coach said. “Anything you want to accomplish this year, you go through Tottenville.”
