CSI rallies to capture CUNY crown

Dolphins score four times in ninth inning to stun N.J. City 5-4

Staten Island Advance - May 9, 2005

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- The College of Staten Island needed a dramatic four-run rally in the top of the ninth inning to defeat New Jersey City 5-4 and capture the school's third consecutive CUNY Conference baseball tournament championship yesterday at NYSEG Stadium.

It was the second late-inning comeback in two days for the Dolphins, who won their record 11th conference title and finished their season in grand style.

"We played a great game, especially late," said head coach Bill Cali. "I'm thrilled to see the seniors go out with a championship."

Trailing 4-1 entering the final frame, the Dolphins didn't waste any time. Matt Stefanski led off with a double to right-center, moved to third on Anthony Hillery's single and scored on Tom Wohlfit's one-out single to left field. Chris Hemmes and Joseph Ruiz followed with singles, the latter hit cutting the deficit to 4-3.

Tourney MVP Mike Liconti then walked with the bases loaded, plating Wohlfit with the equalizer. The Dolphins took the lead on Jamie Lee's fielder's choice RBI grounder to third.
That frenzied activity, which included five hits and an error, made a winner of right-handed starter Adam Cotayo. The sophomore from Petrides HS fell behind 4-0 in the third inning, but then blanked the Gothic Knights over the ensuing five innings with a gutsy 145-pitch effort.

Liconti, who had two hits and drove in two runs, relieved Cotayo in the ninth and recorded the final three outs for a save. New Jersey City had runners on first and second with one out when Mike McCormick lined into a game-ending double play to second baseman Wohlfit.
Wohlfit tagged baserunner Javan Camacho and the Dolphins began their celebration.

"This is a great feeling and it was one of the most exciting games I've been a part of," said Liconti, a sophomore out of St. Peter's HS who went 4-for-9 with five RBI in the two tourney games.

Ruiz paced CSI's 13-hit attack with a 3-for-3 day, while Wohlfit, Hemmes, Linconti and Stefanski added two hits apiece. McCormick led the Gothic Knights with three hits.
Fortunately for the Dolphins, they saved their best baseball for last.

"We have a good hitting team," said Cotayo, "and I knew that we'd come back and score some runs if I just kept us in the ballgame."

NOTES: CSI scored its first run in the fourth inning when Ruiz hit a two-out triple and scored on Liconti's double ... The Dolphins completed their season with a 14-24 overall record ... The CUNY baseball champion wasn't awarded an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament.

 

Reprinted here with permission from the