When the CHSAA Class AA baseball championship round was set, Steve Fondu worked out in his head how No. 4 Fordham Prep could face top-seeded Xaverian. The Furman-bound right-hander was beating the Clippers last Saturday in the seeding round before he was pulled from the start after six innings and his bullpen lost the lead.
“We knew we had that first game,” he said. “It was a tough loss, we wanted to get revenge.”
Fondu made the most of the rematch, going the distance in an impressive, come-from-behind 9-3 victory in the championship round winner’s bracket at St. John’s yesterday. He allowed five hits, walked two, struck out eight and retired the final eight batters he faced and nine of the last 10.
“Once he gets in a groove like that, he’s hard to hit,” Fordham Prep coach Pat Deane said.
With the win, Fordham Prep (15-7) moves on to face No. 6 Iona Prep, a 3-2, nine-inning winner over No. 2 St. Raymond’s yesterday, on Sunday with the winner advancing to the championship game.
“Who wouldn’t want that to get to the ‘chip,’ ” Fordham shortstop Andrew Velazquez said, referring to Iona Prep, the Rams’ rival.
Fondu was shaky early on, tagged for three runs in the first two frames. But Fordham’s potent lineup came roaring back against Xaverian (19-2) pitchers John Pena and Frank Kaplan.
The Virginia-Tech bound Velazquez led the charge with three hits, three stolen bases, four runs scored and an RBI. Catcher Zach Leone and first baseman Jack Sexton added two-run singles, part of the Rams’ explosive 12-hit barrage.
“When we play like we did today, I don’t think anybody can beat us,” Fondu said. “We hit the ball, played great defense. I don’t think we made an error.”
zbraziller@nypost.com
Fordham Prep, Steve Fondu, Iona Prep, Xaverian, Clippers, Fordham shortstop Andrew Velazquez, championship, Catcher Zach Leone
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