Chiefs Defeated By Tigers After Ending Losing Streak
By Jason Medina

In the midst of a two game losing streak, the Canarsie High School boys varsity baseball team embarked on a three game home stand against the Brooklyn West A division rivals on April 28. The Chiefs split the first two games then lost the final game that had to be played on the opponents’ field due to sloppy home field conditions.

Their first opponent was the undefeated Telecommunications Arts and Technology Yellow Jackets, who had been pounding opposing pitching staffs, scoring 58 runs in five games. Telecommunications continued its dominant hitting, scoring four runs in each of the first three innings, and a single run in the fifth, to beat the Chiefs 13-2. Yellow Jacket shortstop Brandon Santana went 3 for 3 with a home run, double and a run scored. Teammate Joel Pratts had two hits, three runs scored and two RBIs. Right fielder Kevin Fraser and junior second baseman, Travis Forbes, had RBIs for Canarsie.

Looking to snap the losing streak, Nappo turned to junior pitcher, Quindel Vickers, as the Chiefs faced the William E. Grady Falcons last Thursday.

The Chiefs got on the scoreboard early scoring, three runs in the first inning on an RBI single by Fraser, a steal of home by freshman catcher Ty-Shau Watson and an error by Grady’s third baseman, which allowed Fraser to score from second base. The runs were all Vickers would need as he pitched a complete game, two-hit shutout, propelling Canarsie over Grady 8-0.

"I was glad we ended the week with a win," said Nappo. "The kids were getting a little down so we needed a big win to boost their sprits…Vickers knew that and gave us a good pitched game and came through for us."

On Monday, the Chiefs played Fort Hamilton High School at the Tigers’ field in Bay Ridge for what was scheduled to be a home game because recent rains flooded Canarsie’s field. The inclement weather also proved to be a disadvantage as the Chiefs had a defensive collapse, allowing eight unearned runs. The Chiefs lost a slugfest 15-11.

"The elements were a factor," explained Nappo. "But it wasn’t why we lost the game. We just played poorly defensively, which gave them a big lead, which we could not recover from."

After four innings Canarsie trailed Fort Hamilton 14-3 and were on the verge of being victims of the mercy rule that applies whenever one team falls behind by ten runs But in the fifth inning, the Chiefs scored three runs to keep the game going. After the Tigers scored a run in the sixth, Canarsie battled back to score five runs in their half of the inning and had the bases loaded with two outs, when junior shortstop, Orlando Colon, hit a hard line drive off the pitcher’s leg. The ball ricocheted to the Tigers first baseman, who beat Colon to the first base bag to end the rally and the Chiefs chances of winning the game.

Sporting a disappointing 3-6 record, the Chiefs will face division rivals, the James Madison High School Knights in a two-game series. The Knights are undefeated (6-0) so far this season.

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