It’s only fitting that All Hallows’ rally cry is “we fight, we fight, we fight.”
The Gaels did just that on Saturday, clawing back from a five-run deficit en route to an impressive 6-5, come-from-behind victory over Fordham Prep in CHSAA Class AA baseball at Bronxchester Little League in The Bronx. It was the fourth straight victory for All Hallows and the first loss that Fordham suffered this season.
“Until the end of the seventh inning, nothing is over,” said centerfielder Phoenix Deschamps. “Our team motto is that we fight. In baseball anything can happen.”
After the Gaels batted around in a five-run fourth inning to tie the game and Deschamps crushed a solo home run to right field off Fordham Prep ace Sean McNamara in the fifth to give All Hallows a 6-5 edge.
“I was thinking he’d give me a good pitch to hit,” Deschamps said. “He gave me a perfect pitch and I was able to turn and get a good rip. We’re the type of team that always has energy.”
The solo shot proved to be the game-winner and Deschamps finished 2-for-3 with a home run, a double, two runs and two RBIs.
Fordham Prep (8-1) took an early 5-0 edge, but All Hallows (6-3) refused to quit. In the fourth inning, the Gaels sent 10 batters to the plate against McNamara and scored five runs on five hits, four of the hits coming consecutively.
With his team in need of a spark, Jason Reyes dropped down a bunt single to start off the fourth. Lance Montano then knocked Reyes in with a double and starting pitcher Joe Morel followed suit with a base hit that moved Montano to third. Montano then scored on a wild pitch and Deschamps hit a double that plated Morel. Deshamps scored on a single by Jonathan Aponte and Aponte came in with the tying run a few batters later when Justin Soto hit into a fielder’s choice.
“I told my coach the third baseman was playing me back and I was gonna drop down a bunt,” Reyes said. “I think it sparked us because any little thing can get us going.”
McNamara pitched five innings, giving up six earned runs on seven hits while striking out four. Pat O’Shea pitched one scoreless inning of relief for the Rams. Meanwhile, the day started off rough for Morel. He ended up with a no decision and gave up five runs in four innings while allowing eight hits and striking out three. Reyes took over and pitched two scoreless innings earning the win before Tulane-bound shortstop/closer Stephen Alemais sealed it in the seventh.
Fordham Prep attacked Morel early as Andrew Velazquez hit a double to lead off the game and scored two batters later on a single by Vinny Capone to give Fordham a 1-0 advantage. In the second inning, Velazquez struck again as he hit his second consecutive double which scored Steven Fondu and Paul Pache. Ryan Mahoney then knocked Velazquez in with a double to give the Rams a 4-0 lead. Fordham Prep tacked on another run in the fourth when Capone scored on an RBI double by Jack Sexton.
Despite the early lead, Fordham Prep couldn’t hang on and instead took its first loss of the season.
“It’s a tough one,” Fordham Prep coach Paul Deane said. “We had a 5-0 lead and couldn’t pack it in. It’s hard to go undefeated. We let one slip away.”
It was a big win for All Hallows as it attempts to keep pace with St. Raymond’s. All Hallows is a confident bunch and proved Saturday that it has a lot of fight.
“This was a big game for us,” All Hallows coach Ed Gutierrez said. “We needed this game and they came through big time.”
Fordham Prep, Fordham, Fordham Prep, All Hallows, All Hallows, Phoenix Deschamps, Gaels, Deschamps, Bronxchester Little League, Jason Reyes, Lance Montano
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