Andrew Velazquez was sick of waiting. Fordham Prep has played scrimmages and non-league games. The Rams went to Myrtle Beach for a tournament last week. But they were the last team to compete in a CHSAA Class AA league contest.
“I was anxious for the season to start, a lot of preseason games, a lot of practice,” Velazquez said.
Evidently, his patience paid off.
The Virginia Tech-bound shortstop crushed a three-run home run in the sixth inning and Fordham went on to rout rival Iona Prep, 9-2, in CHSAA Bronx/Westchester ‘AA’ baseball Tuesday in New Rochelle. Velazquez also had a hit and a run scored in the second. The home run, though, was majestic – well over the 372-foot sign in right center.
William Thomas
Fordham Prep's Sean McNamara gave up two runs on seven hits in seven innings for the win.
William Thomas
Fordham Prep's Andrew Velazquez rounds the bases after his three-run home run.
“Especially the first game of the season, I’ll take that any time,” Velazquez said.
Fordham (1-0) gave ace Sean McNamara plenty of run support, but he didn’t need a whole lot, carrying a shutout into the seventh inning, when Iona (2-2) got both of its runs. The 6-foot-4 righthander joked that he was still a little distracted by Velazquez’s booming homer. Overall, McNamara gave up two runs on seven hits in a complete-game performance.
“I don’t think it’s brain surgery honestly,” Rams coach Pat Deane said. “Throw strikes. And that’s what this kid does.”
McNamara threw almost exclusively fastballs, which he estimates are about 80 mph. He didn’t throw a single changeup, he said, and didn’t use his curveball until late in the game. All he needed was location.
“That’s it,” he said. “I moved it in and out. … Itr’s great to have run support. I mean, nine runs – you get nine runs, you throw strikes. That’s all you need.”
Fordham hit up and down its lineup. Ryan Mahoney was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, Kevin Flynn was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs, Zach Leone was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run and Mick Regan was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. The Rams chased Temple-bound Iona starter Tim McCarthy with three runs in the first two innings.
“We’re here to swing the bats, there’s no doubt,” Deane said.
Then there was Velazquez. With Fordham up 5-0, he pounded an offering from reliever Michael Cavallo with Flynn and Regan on base. As it sailed deep and eventually out of the park, Velazquez posed and preened a bit, taking a long time to reach first base.
“He does it all – he’s a five-tool player,” Deane said. “He can run, he can hit, he hits for average, he hits for power, he’ll take a walk. As he goes, we go.”
So far, so good. It’s early – just one league game – but Fordham put the rest of the CHSAA on notice with an impressive performance against one of the chic picks to win an intersectional title.
“We definitely came out and we wanted to make a statement to the rest of the league, especially since we started late,” Velazquez said.
Better late than never.
mraimondi@nypost.com
Fordham Prep, Andrew Velazquez, Iona Prep, Velazquez, Velazquez, CHSAA Class AA, ThomasFordham Prep, Sean McNamara, CHSAA online, Pat Deane
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