Fox Lane Varsity Roundup: Baseball clutch to open season

BEDFORD, N.Y. - Just as the forsythia blooms its golden sprouts in early spring, so too does Fox Lane baseball begin to bud. Year after year after year, Fox Lane fans know for sure that Coach Matt Hillis’ Foxes are going to churn out yet another winning season, which just might find them challenging, yet again, for the Section 1 Class AA title in late May. 

The Foxes (3-0) got out of the gate in a hurry, scoring an 8-3 opening-day win over host John Jay CR Monday, doing so behind a splendid relief pitching performance from senior Brady Hopkins, which the Foxes (3-0) followed up with wins over Ossining (12-1), Tuesday, and mighty Arlington (6-2), Wednesday. 

In the longest stint of his varsity career, Hopkins twirled a tidy 5.2 innings of one-hit ball while sending eight Wolves to their den via K-way, including six whiffs in a row upon entry. He walked two and did not allow a run before reliever Will Rudolph closed it out.

“Hopkins relieves Hicks in the first with zero outs and then strikes out six in a row and then continues to fill the zone for five innings, great job,” Hillis said.

The coach admitted the offensive support was not quite there but knows it will come in time.

Senior Danny Spolansky (1 SB) delivered a clutch two-run single while senior PJ Stonsby (double) and John Czernyk (2 BB, SB) each knocked in a run for the Foxes, who only had five hits. Rudolph reached base twice and scored both times.

“The bats were a bit sleepy to start but hit their stride in the fifth,” Hillis said. “Spolansky had a huge two-RBI single and Stonsby had a booming two-RBI double.”

If the Fox Lane pitchers can comply, and simply pound the zone, which is easier said than done, the Foxes could be in the hunt for a special season. 

“They just have to throw strikes,” Hillis said. “Our bats, defense, base running are locked and loaded. Our pitchers just have to throw strikes, and, unfortunately, that's what they're struggling with at times right now. Hopefully, it changes over time.”

Things were going in the right direction in Tuesday’s 12-1 win over host Ossining, which failed to solve Fox sophomore P Jackson Carroll, who chalked up his first varsity win while going four innings and fanning four. Stonsby (2H, 2B, 2 RBI), Cooper Furst (2H, 2RBI), Logan Mammola (RBI), Logan Provost (RBI) and Drew Diaz (RBI 2B) were clutch in support of Carroll.

Against Arlington, Rudolph took the hill in relief and simply dominated after the Foxes spotted the Admiral a two-run first. The senior RHP manhandled the Admirals, traditionally one of the top programs in Section 1, working five shutout innings for the victory.

“That’s a great summary,” Hillis said. “Will pounded the strike zone and the defense behind him was great.”

Tied 2-2, LF Sean Singleton gave the Foxes a 3-2 lead with a well-placed two-run single down the RF line in what would be a long bottom half of the third inning. After a K, which allowed Singleton to move into scoring position, Diaz (2 hits, 2 RB) beat out an IF single, which plated a run for a 4-2 lead before Furst got drilled to load the bases for Spolansky, who drew a 3-2 RBI walk for a 5-2 lead. OF Provost followed against reliever Sean Kelly and drew yet another RBI walk for a 6-2 lead, leaving the bases juiced for DH Mammola, who grounded out to end the third, Foxes up 6-2, and in command against one of the premier programs in Section 1.

Rudolph induced a needy double play ball to end a 1st-and-3rd threat to end the top of the sixth.

Hillis, while happy with the start, would like to see better contact down the line.

“We had too many weak at-bats today,” the coach admitted. 

Softball

Fox Lane softball Coach Toni Ann Licata couldn’t ask for a better season opener than a 15-0 win over visiting Mahopac on Monday, March 31, which was followed by Tuesday’s 13-1 romp of Pelham. Temps were in the mid-60s/50s but the Foxes’ bats were much hotter in a 15-0 win over the Wolf Pac.

Fox Lane’s prowess was spread throughout the lineup, but none more so than freshman C Nora Antonaccio, who debuted in fancy fashion (3-4, 2 runs, 2B, HR, 5 RBI).

“Nora Antonaccio, on her first varsity at-bat hit a homer, then on the next pitch, Gaby Naar, our senior, hit another homer! After that, everyone's bats were hot,” Licata exclaimed.

Fox sophomore P Sofia Rodriguez supported her own cause with an impressive line (2-3, 2 runs, 2B, BB, 3 RBI) while whiffing nine from the circle. Junior SS Sienna Greco (1-2, 2 runs, BB, 2 steals, 2 RBI), OF Gabriela Naar (2-4, 2 runs, HR, RBI) and sophomore OF Jordana Kerwar (1-1, 3 runs, RBI) all put up big numbers.

Against Pelham, Kerwer (3-4, 3 runs, 4 RBI), Antonaccio (1-2, 2 RBI), junior C Valentina DeLuca (2-4, 2 runs, 2B, 2 RBI), sophomore OF Ava Rose Kalarchian (3-3, 3 runs, RBI) and sophomore IF Sofia Valente (RBI) all supported  Rodriguez (2-4, run, 2B), who fanned nine batters in the circle, including her 300th career strikeout.

“The girls did an incredible job against Mahopac and then Pelham,” Coach Licata said. “We’ve added some big bats this year! All around, there is not one spot in the lineup not to fear. In two games we already have 26 hits, 28 runs, 24 RBI and two homers. In the Pelham game we started off a tad slow leaving some runners on base, but we took advantage each inning after chipping away, having everyone participate with the 16 hits and 13 runs.”

Needless to say, the Foxes are stoked by the hot start and seem to be on track for an impactful season in Class AA.

Lacrosse

The Fox Lane girls poured 18 goals into the nets at host Pawling in a decisive season-opening 18-4 win before going on the road to take down a gritty Somers team, 12-11, in a game that featured a frenetic back-and-forth pace.

Against Somers, senior M Zoe Stonecipher (5G, 3A, 3DC) led a fierce Fox attack. Fox junior Cora Moore notched a hat trick and controlled six draws while Michaela Kaltsas (2G), Dylan New (1G, 1A) and eighth-grader Taylor Webb (1G) all scored to support G Sara Renz, who made seven saves. 

The Fox Lane boys suffered a 15-8 opening-day loss to host Tappan Zee. Foxes Owen Baker (3G, 1A), John Mains (2G, 1A), Will Oliverio (1G, 1A), Tyler Davidson (1G, 1A) and Declan Connors (1G) all found the back of the net to support G John Hamilton (12 saves). The Foxes (0-2) were traveling back across the TZ bridge yet again in a hard-fought 13-11 setback to host Suffern Thursday.

Trailing 2-0, a red-hot Baker (5G) tied it at 2-2 with just under a minute to play in the first quarter, but the Mounties answered just before the half for a 3-2 lead. Suffern’s Owen Cosgrove spotted the Mounties a 4-2 lead at 9:15 of the second. Baker scored again to tie the game at 4-all with 50.5 before the half. Hamilton (13 saves) stood tall for yet another save to follow as the half ended 4-4.

Fox Lane took a 5-4 lead at 11:32 of the third when Mains (2G, 1A) found Finn Cahillane (2G, 1A, first varsity goals) before Baker scored from Oliverio (1G, 1A) for a 6-4 lead at 10:00 of the third. Suffern came right back at 9:43 and answered, 6-5. 

A Hamilton save turned it around to the Foxes, which produced a shot but not much else before Suffern tied it 6-all at 8:17, the back-and-forth was real. 

At 5:03 the Mounties took a 7-6 lead before Suffern up 8-7 at 2:53 of the third, which is where it went to the fourth.  

Fox Lane tied it 8-8 when Mains scored from Declan Connors (1G, 1A) at 10:12 of the third before Connors scored again at 10:00 for a 9-8 lead. Suffern tied it 9-9 when Nick Tonelli scored at 9:10 of the fourth. Baker struck again at 7:54 for an unassisted goal and a 10-9 lead. A Fox Lane defensive breakdown led to another Tonelli goal and a 10-10 tie at 7:40. Mains, right in front, at 5:08, spotted the Foxes an 11-10 lead, Fox Lane’s last lead of the day. 

Tonelli scored an easy dump off a Fox Lane defensive breakdown to tie it 11-11 with just over 3:00 to play. At 1:59 Tonelli drilled yet another goal for a 12-11 lead. Suffern tacked on one more for good measure at 33.5 for the final margin, despite 13 key saves from Hamilton.

Baker has been cooking with eight goals and an assist through two games.

“Baker’s been playing really well and has become a really consistent threat all over the field,” Fox Lane Coach Charlie Rice said. “We’re very happy with everything he’s been doing to score, but he also makes the guys around him better.”