Extra-inning loss to Xaverian ends Fordham’s season

It was never suppose to end this quick for Fordham Prep.

The third-seeded Rams couldn’t get the bats going and made key errors in an opening round loss to No. 6 Monsignor McClancy. Fordham again lacked the key hit in a, 3-2, eight-inning loss to No. 2 Xaverian in the loser’s bracket of the CHSAA Class AA Intersectional baseball tournament on June 4 at Richmond County Youth Complex.

“Again it didn’t just fall our way, the little things that you work on,” Rams coach Pat Deane said. “It didn’t go our way. We wasted a great pitching effort.”

No. 2 starter Chris Calamari allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out two. Two of those hits were back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the eighth inning by Nick Meola and Mason Marino to produce the winning run. Calamari had only thrown only throw around 80 pitches and would have come out for the ninth if need be.

“Xaverian is a tough team,” Calamari said. “You got to battle the whole way.”

Fordham (14-9) missed its chance to take control of the game in the fifth. Conor McNamara dribbled a double to left center to begin the frame off Xaverian reliever Steven Catuogno. Two strikeouts sandwiched around a great defensive play Xavier Vargas at first base kept the Rams from bringing McNamara across the plate.

“That was a big one,” Deane said. “Leadoff double, we got to get him over to third. They got just didn’t get the bunt down. Jimmy Hulbert is a good contact hitter. There is no doubt he is driving in a run from third with one out.”

Xaverian (18-4) led 1-0 in the second inning a fielder’s choice from Louis Mandile. Fordham Prep got even on a third-inning on Daniel Alvarez’s sac fly by in the third. The Ram then jumped ahead 2-1 when Christian Greco, who has two hits, doubled home Thomas Huvane in the fourth. Xaverian drew even on a sac fly from Vargas in the bottom half of the inning.

Fordham Prep couldn’t figure out Catuogno, after Clippers ace Rob Amato exited after four inning. The reliever allowed just three hits in four innings of work. In a tight contest, the Rams didn’t execute well enough to win.

“It’s those little plays in the infield and the outfield, capitalize in different situations” Calamari said. “We had a runner on second with no out and we didn’t capitalize. Against a really good team is hard to get away with it.”