Coach Denis Canale put his best on the field against the 2007 CHSAA Varsity defending champions, St. Francis Prep. His best produced, big.  Knowing that he has to win to secure first place, he started Anthony Ajjar (#22) on the mound.

Ajjar had a tough outing, today.  He was not in complete control of his blazing fast ball, however, he registered four K’s in the three innings that he pitched. He went to right field in the fourth inning, winning two to one. He received outstanding support from the hot corner. With bases loaded, and two outs, third baseman, Roberto Duran (#11) robbed Nicholas Copelli (#45) by charging a slow grounder that could have easily scored Dennis Nover (#1) from third. Had Duran not made an accurate throw to first base, Sebastian Grazziani (#20) would have scored from second base for St. Francis.

 Coach Robert Kent’s starting pitcher, Patrick Horneck (#7), did better, longer than his counterpart on the mound; however, the Clippers knocked him down in the fifth inning. Before his departure, he stroke out five batters.

Steven King started the top fourth in relief of Ajjar. He go the win, registering two K's.

Xaverian defense made a big difference in the game, as the middle infield played a big role.

 Short stop, John Fugarile (#5), and Second baseman, Alex Maldonado (#51), played defense with golden glove. In the top fifth inning, Maldonado robbed St. Francis’ Michael Lucre (#29) of a potential double.

Pairing-off with the defense, the Clipper’s offence take a toll on their opponent’s pitching. Maldonado had two singles, Anthony Ajjar who remain in the game, in right field, contributed big with an infield hit and a clutch game-winning single in the fifth inning. And, of course, six-feet-five-inches, Matt Troisi (6) had two doubles, with the second one, a scorching grounder in the middle. Jonathan Mendez (19) had two run batted in with a line-drive single to right field in the fifth inning.

Coach Canale’s Clippers are still at the top of the CHSAA Brooklyn Diocese “A” Division, as they share the same record as Regis of the Archdiocese of NY/ Bronx Manhattan at eleven wins and one loss, each. Moore Catholic of the Archdiocese of NY/Staten “A” Division is the only undefeated team in the CHSAA Varsity “A” Divisions.

Coach Kent’s St. Francis is trying to keep the Championship Trophy for a second straight year. They defeated Regis in the 2007 Championship Game at St. John’s University. Daniel Forman (#27) pitched a historic no hitter in seven inning of baseball.

Story by Cameraman Max Sanchez-Martinez. Watch the who game, below.

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| 5/6/2008