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George Washington Holds Off Tottenville To Win 2015 PSAL “A” Championship

The PSAL Championships took place at Yankee Stadium.

2015 PSAL Championships at Yankee Stadium

2015 PSAL Championships at Yankee Stadium

 

It was the script that was meant to be written. It was the confrontation that was meant to be played out. It would be consecrated on hallow ground, Yankee Stadium.  It would be here where a highly touted pitching prospect, Wesley Rodriguez, who reaches in the high 90’s would be called upon to stop the final threat of the Pirates of Tottenville.

The bases were loaded, one out, and George Washington, who had shut out the school from Staten Island all night long, would call upon their third and best pitcher to close the show. A young man, who as a hitter in this contest, hit the double and scored the single run he was defending now with great tenacity.

Then it happened. A ground ball to him and a throw home to the catcher for the force out and then the throw to first to end it. But it just missed. Now it was one on one with Everett Rodriguez. Wesley fanned him and all was good in Manhattanville.

This game was a pitching duel of the finest order. For three innings it was scoreless. Even when Leondy Castro Cabrera singled in Wesley to break the deadlock, not much would change. Tottenville Lefty John Donohue and George Washington righty Yanmanuel Infante were practically unhittable.

The best opportunity for Tottenville to get Infante was when they loaded the bases. But Infante dug deep and struckout Everett Rodriguez and Brandon Seitzer to end the threat. The pitchers kept it quiet and when that failed solud defense would do the rest. Infante would finally tire in the sixth when back to back walks with one out drew Trojan coach Steve Mandl to lift him for Kelvin Tapia who got Pinch hitter Dominick Curcio to fly to left and Daniel DiGieorgio to po out to third.

The intense fan bases for both teams located behind their respective dugouts went back and forth as we entered the final inning which brought us a grand finale. Cabrera of Washington reached on an infield single and a sac bunt and fielder’s choice placed him on third. The opportunity to open up some space was there for Jose Gil. But he was not up to it as he was fanned.

The bottom of the ninth was a flame of fireworks as pinch hitter Joseph Colombo reached on an infield hit. Joseph Sadallah singled with one out to make it first and second. Then with the bases loaded in came Wesley, who was cheered the loudest all game long. Then came the play that saved the day. Vincent Timpanelli grounded it into the hole but Washington shortstop, clad in red shoes, dived and kept ball in the infield.

But it was Wesley who caught the comebacker from James Wise to get the forceout out home and nearly the double. As mentioned previously on a 2-2 pitch, Wesley struckout his namesake, Everett on a called third strike and George Washington High School were champions of high school baseball.

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