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Xaverian guts out playoff series win over All Hallows

Xaverian guts out playoff series win over All Hallows
Photo by Robert Cole

After watching the final innings from the dugout as a Game 2 playoff loss threatened to bring his high school career to an early end, Xaverian’s Anthony Sigismondi wasn’t about to sit out Game 3 if he had a chance to keep his team playing for another day.

Sigismondi, who threw 60-plus pitches the day before in a loss, told Clippers coach Frank Del George he was available if needed in the third and deciding game last Sunday.

With no small drama, he tossed the seventh inning and closed out No. 5 seeded Xaverian’s 9–6 victory over No. 14 All Hallows in the Catholic baseball playoff in Bay Ridge earning the Clippers spot in the league’s double-elimination championship, which began Thursday against No. 4 Kennedy Catholic.

“He definitely persevered,” Del George said of Sigismondi’s performance. “He was pitching on fumes.”

The Clippers (15–4) and the Gaels (9–12) both believed the game was over even before Sigismondi struck out Christian Rodriguez for the final out. Xaverian appeared to have turned a double play the batter prior to that.

Anthony Scotti stepped on third with the bases loaded after a groundball, then threw to first looking for a double play, but the runner was called safe. Brandon Torres then threw back to third and an advancing runner was tagged, leading Xaverian to start celebrating.

“Everyone left the field,” Del George said. “The game was over. We were shaking hands at the plate.”

But then an All Hallows coach told officials that the runner who was forced out at third by Scotti earlier in the play was actually the same one who was tagged for what appeared to be the final out.

There was a long delay while the coaches argued and officials debated, and Del George protested the game before officials decided that game needed to resume with two outs. The protest would have be considered if All Hallows won the game.

Xaverian was hoping to have a stress free contest on its hands after grabbing a 5–0 lead in the first inning thanks to a sac fly from Nick Meola and RBI hits from Chris Nierva and Torres. The Clippers added two more in the second and Meola and Anthony Barbati each drove in runs to make it 7–1. The offensive explosive was music to Del George’s ears after his team managed just three runs combined in the first two games.

“We haven’t been hitting for a while,” he said. “It’s been all pitching up to this point. We scored five in the first inning. That was like a miracle.”

All Hallows quickly showed Xaverian it wasn’t going down without a fight, plating three runs in the third to cut the deficit to 7–4. A Joseph Reyes solo homer closed the gap to 7–5.

The Clippers, who added two more runs in the sixth to make it 9–5, had to use five pitchers to get through the game. Sigismondi allowed a run in the seventh, but was ultimately able to ensure his team advanced.

“I said we are going to stick with him,” Del George said. “It’s going to be win or loss with him on the mound. He got through it.”

Sigismondi lasted just five innings against the Gaels on Saturday and took a 1–0 in the sixth. All Hallows scored five times in the frame against reliever Adam Curto, who came in with runners on second and third and one out. The Bronx school’s Jorge Melan tossed a one-hitter and came away with a 5–1 victory to even the series.

Xaverian was able to put that game out of its mind and make sure the series didn’t get away. Del George, who missed Game 2 because of the death of his mother-in-law, could see that his team was into the finale from the first pitch.

“After losing a tough game in the last inning on Saturday, they came back and they were fired up,” Del George said.

Reach reporter Joseph Staszewski at jstaszewski@cnglocal.com. Follow him on twitter @cng_staszewski.