Last week, as Poly Prep waited out the raindrops before practice, several members of the team came to a starting realization. When they finally met Ivy Prep League rival Fieldston -- twice the showdown was delayed by the rain -- the league title would be riding on the matchup.
"We were surprised," senior outfielder Andrew Doar said. "Winning the league is not even a standard, it's to be expected. It motivated us more than anything."
That was evident from the moment Poly Prep ace Andrew Zapata delivered the contest's first pitch. Hungry to secure a sixth straight Ivy crown and exact revenge on Fieldston from an earlier defeat, the Blue Devils coasted to an 11-1, rule-rule victory in six innings in Bay Ridge.
William Thomas
Poly Prep's Andrew Zapata tossed six strong innings as the Blue Devils topped rival Fieldston, 11-1, on Thursday.
Photos: Poly Prep-Fieldston
William Thomas
Poly Prep's Jesse Calo scores a run.
Photos: Poly Prep-Fieldston
"It's sweet," Doar said, "that feeling of redemption after they caused us so much pain. It softens that."
With Zapata delivering six mostly brilliant innings and the lineup taking advantage of virtually every opportunity, Poly Prep (15-3, 11-1) clinched at least a share of the league and can win its sixth straight outright crown with a win over Trinity on Friday.
"To win six in a row, to me, is special," Poly Prep coach Matt Rovenitni said. "I always say getting to the top is fun and staying there is exhausting. This is very rewarding. The fact we're there now, I'm proud of the guys."
Zapata, who struck out eight and allowed four hits -- all singles -- added: “We feel we’re back where we should be.”
Poly Prep has come a long way since blowing a four-run, seventh-inning lead in an 8-7, 10-inning loss to Fieldston back on Apr. 13. After losing the next day to CHSAA contender St. Joseph by the Sea, it has won 12 straight contests. Zapata has been responsible for a third of the wins. He has gotten plenty of run support in his starts, which was again the case against Fieldston.
“After you get that first run with Andy on the mound, you can relax and just play baseball,” said Doar, who scored two runs and drove in two.
Poly Prep scratched out seven runs in 4-2/3 off Fieldston (12-3, 9-3) ace Daniel Bricker, who was bedeviled by four walks and a hit batsman, all of whom came around to score. Doar and ninth-place hitter Michael Caron had the big blows, two-out, two-run singles in the second and fourth innings, respectively. The Blue Devils added four in the sixth off reliever Matt Stadler, Christian Pellegrino ending the game early with a two-run double over left fielder Sam Jacobson's head.
“It’s a statement,” Roventini said. “They’re a good baseball team, but we think if we come out and play our ‘A’ game, we can beat any team in the city.”
While Poly Prep had won 11 in a row entering Thursday's action, Fieldston served as a reminder to where the team once was. Zapata, the junior flamethrower many consider the top pitcher in the city, was helpless in that defeat, and was thrilled to get the ball in the rematch.
"All day in school we were talking about this game," he said. "We don't like to lose. So if a team beat us and we get to play them again, we want to beat them badly."
The win sets up Poly Prep nicely. It has four regular season games left -- non-league showdowns with PSAL powers Grand Street Campus and Tottenville and league encounters against us. They could play as many as seven more games, including the NYSAISAA playoffs.
The goal is to extend the current 12-game winning streak to 19 by year's end.
"We're almost there," Zapata said. "We won't be there until we win the rest of our games."
zbraziller@nypost.com
Poly Prep, Poly Prep, Andrew Zapata, Blue Devils, Blue Devils, Fieldston, Ivy Prep League, Andrew Doar, Zapata
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