The warm weather is heating up James Madison’s bats just in time.
The Knights baseball team got off to a cold start at the plate this year after reaching the semifinals a year ago. But the team’s bats have thawed after an icy spring — the Knights combined for 12 runs in their last two league victories, including an 8–4 win over first-place Midwood at McGuire Park on April 18.
“We are starting to get the bats going,” Knights coach Vincent Caiazza said.
Madison, which was 1–4 to start Public School Athletic League AAA Southeastern play, scored four runs in the top of the first inning. Shawn James had an RBI-single and Rob Fonseca drilled a hanging curveball 345 feet to left-center for a three-run homer.
“I saw the left fielder turn his back, and I knew it was over,” Fonseca said.
He also got the job done on the mound by allowing just one unearned run on four hits and striking out seven over six innings. The 6-foot-3, righty, who can throw in the high 80s, worked his way around three walks. The lone run that crossed the plate on his watch came on a throwing error in the first inning.
Fonseca received help from his defense in key spots, which has not always been the case for Madison this summer. Second basemen Charlie Prevete turned out a 4–4–3 double play in the third, and James made a great tag for an out after wild throw to first in the fourth.
“Defense has been a problem all year,” shortstop Robert Howe said. “It was good to get out of trouble with the defense.”
The Knights (3–4) added a run in the seventh to make it 5–1 and scored three more times in the seventh. A Howe two-run homer was another highlight.
The extra runs proved important — Midwood made things interesting against Knights reliever Brendan Azoff in the bottom of the seventh.
The Hornets scored three times with two outs, highlighted by a two-run single from Cardieri. James came on to get the final out with two on — a deep lineout to center by Michael Gonzalez.
Midwood (6–2) put itself in a big hole by not repeating the kind of play that launched it to a 6–1 start in league play this year. Errors extended Madison innings, and key hits elude Midwood in the early going.
“We just didn’t have the energy we needed until late in the game,” Hornets coach Saverio Nardone said. “That’s what we are about. We try to bring a lot of energy and make things happen. We didn’t do it until a little later on. Too little, too late.”
The Hornets will regroup, and Madison hopes to build off its two-game winning streak that includes a 4–2 comeback victory over McKee-Staten Island Tech. The Knights squad lost three of its four games by three runs of less, but players know their margin for error is thin moving forward.
“It’s a big win coming against the first-place team,” Howe said. “Maybe we can do something with this. Wins are contagious.
