The Archbishop Molloy pitcher’s name is Alen Knapic, but yesterday the senior right-hander’s name was spelled KKKKKKKKKKKnapic.
The 11 Ks stand for the amount of Bishop Ford batters Knapic struck out during Molloy’s 11-1 CHSAA victory over Ford at an overcast and windy Prospect Park in Brooklyn.
Molloy improved to 11-4 (7-2), while Ford dropped to 6-10 (3-6).
Knapic stuck out more than half of the 21 hitters he faced. He allowed just five hits. He ended the game aptly striking out the side in the final inning. After, he summed up the reason for his success.
“If I got behind, I was throwing my curve and I was getting them out,” said the 6-foot-2, 170-pound Knapic, who also throws as fastball, slider and a change.
His team, not surprisingly in light of the final score, did not trail all afternoon. It fired out with four runs on four hits in the first inning.
Leadoff hitter Jimmy McCurdy, a senior, began the game with a home run. McCurdy hit a shot in the gap in left and beat a relay with a head-first – really, mouth-first – slide.
Kevin Saraceno followed with a single. After an out, Ed Kull doubled Saraceno to make it 2-0 Molloy.
The next batter, third baseman Garrett McDevitt knocked his first of twohomers. The initial connection touched the ground over Ford center fielder Tommy Maroon’s head. Still, McDevitt thought he could put a bigger McDevitt into the ball.
“I didn’t get all of it,” said McDevitt, who hit both of his homers – the other came to lead off the third – with two strikes on him.
McDevitt – who will be Molloy’s catcher next season – led an offense which connected for 13 hits. McCurdy went 2-for-5 by adding a double to go with his homer, while Kull finished 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs batted in.
Ford coach Ed Murach gave credit to his counterpart, but not because of Jack Curran team’s run output or even the pitching. The third ingredient that makes for winning ball – defense. Molloy committed just one error.
“They are always groomed in the basic fundamentals,” Murach said. “The Dean of Baseball, Jack Curran, always places emphasis on that.”
In defeat, Maroon excelled, going 3-for-3 with a double and run scored. The other two hits were provided by Peter Esposito and Matt King.
As for Molloy’s future, the “Dean of Baseball” explained what is most vital.
“It all depends on how the boys pitch,” Curran said.
Yesterday, KKKKKKKKKKKnapic did it well.