By Newsday’s Roger Rubin:
After Kellenberg missed out on a CHSAA baseball three-peat last season, the focus this year was to get back in the winner’s circle. But things didn’t go as planned.
However, a second chance is in the offing with the upcoming postseason. And on Wednesday, Frankie Roder gave the Firebirds real reason for optimism.
The righthander’s stifled first-place Chaminade for 6 1/3 innings as he combined with Matt Leahy on a one-hitter in Kellenberg’s 2-0 win at Cantiague Park.
The Firebirds (7-8, 6-8) will pitch ace Jason Diaz on Friday with a chance to win the season series before the playoffs begin next week. The Flyers (12-3, 11-3), for the second time, will try to get win No. 600 for coach Mike Pienkos, now in his 38th year.
It was Roder’s best outing in two seasons of varsity baseball and suggests that Kellenberg might have enough pitching to fare well come playoff time.
“He commanded the zone and did it with all three pitches,” said Matt Kirk, who is serving as interim coach while Matt Alfalla is on jury duty. “He beat the best. If there was a game and a time for him to have an outing like this, this was it.”
Read the full article on Newsday.com: https://www.newsday.com/sports/high-school/baseball/kellenberg-chaminade-baseball-frankie-roder-1.30830774