Poly Prep 22 - Horace Mann 12

Sat. April 25, 2009 12:15pm

Location: Poly Prep

On a beautiful Saturday afternoon at Poly Prep, the Blue Devils took the field for a special reason.  The day opened up with 40 year coach Harlow Parker’s number retirement.  Alumni and faculty were there to watch his number raised onto a banner on the Poly Prep backstop.  Harlow’s sons threw out the ceremonial first pitch, and the team wore special jerseys in which they honored Parker’s beloved number 6.  A special day called for a special game.  Poly beat Horace Mann 16 to 4 earlier in the year, but the Lions didn’t recall that day because they came out firing.  After the first inning ended 2-1, Horace Mann put up 11 runs in the 2nd inning giving Poly its largest deficit in almost three years.  After Head Coach Roventini’s fiery words, the team and the crowd woke up.  The Blue Devils were not shut out an inning the whole game, and Chesley Ratliff came in to throw four scoreless innings.  On one of the most amazing comebacks in Poly Prep history, the Blue Devils won the contest 22-12.  Horace Mann seemed to wake up the giant as the Devils combined for 20 hits and 10 walks.  Huge RBI’s came from Joe Calabrese, Richie Carbone, J.J. Franco, Frank Torres and Joe Laresca.  Faton Bauta helped with 2 walks and a big triple to start a Poly Prep rally in the 5th inning, and Marcus Hernandez scored 3 runs.  The Blue Devils escaped with an emotional victory on a day where the past attended to see the present.  Poly moves to 8-2 and 6-0 in the league and they now enter a gauntlet of 7 games in 8 days.  The Blue Devils will face the Dalton Tigers on Monday for yet another league contest.  Ace J.J. Franco will take the mound

Poly Prep 17 - Horace Mann 4

Wed. April 1st 4:15pm

Location: Horace Mann

On a gloomy Wednesday the Blue Devils made the trip up to Horace Mann looking to start well in the league. After a 4-2 win against Moore Catholic on Monday, Poly had momentum coming into this league contest. The momentum did not lie. Poly put up 6 runs in the first inning with RBI’s by Marcus Hernandez, Zack Marciano among others. Senior Tom Laurendi toed the rubber for a near perfect 3 innings of work holding Horace Mann to 0 runs and one hit. After the Blue Devils put 17 runs on the scoreboard including a 2 run homerun by J.J. Franco, Junior Sam Gilberg came in and shut the door. He allowed 4 runs with only 2 earned in 2 innings. Poly wins their first league game by a score of 17-4 and their overall record moves to 2-1. The Blue Devils look forward to Bay Ridge rival Telecommunications High School on Saturday who have posted a 4-0 record in the PSAL and have not had to play more than 5 innings in any of the games. PSAL vs. Ivy League at its finest at 11:00am at Harlow Parker Field Saturday morning. Ace J.J. Franco will take the mound.

By Richie Carbone

Poly Prep 11 - Horace Mann 1

Wed. April 30th 4:15pm

Location: Poly Prep

After a heavy downpour on Monday which cancelled Poly’s game against Moore Catholic, the Blue Devils took the field on Wednesday against league competitor Horace Mann.  The Blue Devils were looking to move to 10-0 in the league and used their bats to do so.  The Devils compiled hits from everyone; including a triple by Frank Torres, a double by Joe Hemmes, and Zack Marciano’s RBI double finished off the Blue Devils 11-1 victory.  Sam Hasty threw 5 innings and gave up only one run.  After finishing another league foe, the Blue Devils look to bring the momentum into Friday when they face Fieldston who will be looking to knock Poly off after the Devils beat them 9-1 earlier in the year.  J.J. Franco will have the ball.

By Richie Carbone

Poly Prep 10 - Horace Mann 0

Wed. April 11th 4:15pm

Location: Horace Mann

After a strong win against Dalton, it was time to head up to the Bronx for a match-up with league foe Horace Mann on a Friday afternoon. It was a very cloudy and damp afternoon, and the Blue Devils came into face Princeton bound lefty Stephen Elmore. After Kevin Heller and J.J. Franco scored in the first to put Poly up 2-0, the Blue Devils faced some frustration at the plate. J.J. Franco kept the door shut by throwing no-hitter into the fourth. After scoring two more runs, Dean Ginsberg blew the game open with a 4th inning grand slam inside the park home run to make it 8-0. It was Poly’s first home run of the year and it couldn’t have come at a better time. Tom Laurendi came into shut the door and Poly picked up the win 10-0. Focus and Patience at the plate got Poly the W, along with a monster home run by Dean Ginsberg. After becoming 4-0 in the league, the Blue Devils will have to pick it up and come ready to play in the morning. Tomorrow morning the Devils will face the Xaverian Clippers, Poly will look for redemption of their 4-1 loss from earlier in the year. Kevin Heller will get the ball on a day in which Poly looks to show it deserves its ranking as one of the city’s best.

by Richie Carbone

Dean Ginsberg hits a 4th inning grand slam inside the park home run.