Fox Lane rallies to top John Jay in season opener

Clockwise from top left, Fox Lane’s Danny Spolansky tries to score as John Jay catcher Steve Carozo applies the tag. Brady Hopkins hurled a one-hitter to get the win for Fox Lane. Cooper Furst of Fox Lane slides in ahead of the tag by Ryan Valdes of John Jay at second. Jim MacLean Photos

By JIM MACLEAN

It was the season opener for both teams, and it showed at the start as John Jay hosted Fox Lane on March 29.

A new season and both teams come in with high hopes to battle for a Section 1 Class AA championship. John Jay defeated Fox Lane in the semifinals two years ago and lost in the finals, while last year Fox Lane advanced to the finals before falling and John Jay lost in the semifinals. A lot of veterans return for both teams anxious to rewrite the ending, and they were hoping for a good start with a win over their local rival.

Both teams were sloppy in the first three innings with six runs scored without a hit and the game tied at 3-3, but Fox Lane was able to settle in and the bats came alive to finish off an 8-3 victory over host John Jay.

After Fox Lane took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, John Jay answered with three runs in the bottom of the first without a hit and nobody out, but Fox Lane pitcher Brady Hopkins shut the door. Hopkins struck out six-straight batters and didn’t allow a hit until an infield single in the sixth inning as he recorded the win.

“Just had to bear down, throw strikes and get the job done,” Hopkins explained. “I knew we were going to start hitting the ball because our lineup is so good. We fought back and showed our fight. Last year definitely left a bad taste and we all remember it and we want to get back. It’s a long season and we wanted to get this first win.”

It was still tied 3-3 heading into the sixth inning when Fox Lane came alive. Sean Singleton started the rally with a single, and he came around to score when John Czernyk reached on an error to give the Foxes the lead.

Danny Spolansky then delivered the big blow for the Foxes as the senior second baseman came through with a two-run single up the middle to make it 6-3 as Czernyk and Cooper Furst came around to score.

“Infield was in, we got Cooper over to second and I just had to stay in and drive it up the middle,” Spolansky said of his single. “We lost to them in the semis as sophomores two years ago, so we had something to prove. It’s been the same guys who lost that game for two years, so everyone knew what we were walking into and we really wanted that win. We have 11 seniors, and coach Diz (Rob DiFiore) said it yesterday, we’ve got unfinished business. Our goal is a sectional championship, and a gritty win like this in our first game is a good sign.”

Fox Lane kept it up in the seventh inning as Will Rudolph led off with a single and P.J. Stonsby crushed a drive deep in the gap for an RBI double and the Foxes added another run to make it 8-3.

“First three innings were kind of ugly, but any win is a good start,” admitted Fox Lane coach Matt Hillis. “We have a lot of confidence in Brady to throw strikes, and he struck out six in a row and did a great job. The bats were dormant for four innings, but they came on strong. Danny had two really good at bats and we were confident he would come through, that go-ahead single was huge. P.J. Stonsby has been locked in all season, and we’re going to see a lot of that out of him.”

John Jay tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh as the Wolves loaded the bases, but Rudolph was able to close it out on the mound in relief for the Foxes. The Wolves were unable to come up with the big hit as Will Rickel managed the only hit of the game on an infield single in the sixth.

Mitch Hammer got the start for John Jay and despite the three runs he didn’t allow a hit pitching into the fourth inning before coming out. It was the first game back on the mound for Hammer since his sophomore year as he missed all of last season due to arm surgery.

“It was ugly, we have to learn from it and get better,” admitted John Jay coach Ted Lawrence. “First game, we’ll build from this, and we’ll get better. Mitch got a taste to be back and he’ll get better. It’s been over a year since he’s pitched. He was amped up and his fastball was high, but he did a great job.”

As Lawrence explained, it really wasn’t the pitching that made the difference as Fox Lane turned it around to emerge with the win.

“We had a 3-1 lead, but we just didn’t swing enough, one slow roller was our only hit,” Lawrence said. “The difference was they cleaned it up and started swinging the bats and we didn’t. Fox Lane has a bunch of seniors with experience, some big strong kids who can swing the bats and their game is driving the ball. Our game has to be line drives and using our athleticism and speed, and we didn’t do that today.”

Hillis and Lawrence both know it was only the first game, and both coaches know there is a chance they could see each other again when the stakes are higher.

“I told Matt I hope we get to see them again at the end of the year,” Lawrence added. “This is the first game and we’ll be alright. First time since I’ve been here we lost the first game, but it’s all about what you do at the end. We got to the finals and semis the last two years and didn’t finish the deal, so maybe this is a sign for a good ending.”