Paul Kooney #5, Kellenberg right fielder, right, is congratulated by second baseman Jack Delaney after making a diving catch to end a St. Dominic rally and preserve the Firebirds’ 4-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning of the CHSAA varsity baseball semifinals at Farmingdale State College on Tuesday, May 24, 2016. Kellenberg went on to win 5-3. (Credit: James Escher)
By Newsday’s Kenny DeJohn:
Paul Cooney always knew he’d catch the ball, even if the spectators at Farmingdale State College were waiting anxiously to see if it would drop in for a hit.
It was the bottom of the sixth in Tuesday’s CHSAA baseball semifinal between top-seeded Kellenberg and No. 4 St. Dominic, and the visiting Firebirds were up by a run.
The Bayhawks had just plated two on a single to rightfield by Kevin Duffy. With runners on first and second and two outs, Greg Tan lined an inside pitch from Chris Cappas to shallow right.
Cooney darted in, left his feet and made the game-saving catch in the Firebirds’ 5-3 win, sending them to the CHSAA finals.
“I saw it all the way,” he said. “I knew I was making that catch.”
Cappas was able to keep the Bayhawks off balance during most of his complete game win. His control was suspect — he walked five and hit two batters — but the pitcher struck out eight and held St. Dominic to three hits.
Read the full article at: http://www.newsday.com/sports/high-school/baseball/paul-cooney-s-catch-caps-kellenberg-victory-1.11837113
