Twisted Metal: Brazis recovers from early bat barrage

That familiar ping of ball on barrel was music to Fordham Prep's ears in the opening innings of Thursday night's Jesuit Spring Break Invitational semifinal. 

The kids from the Bronx have been banned from using metal bats in New York City games this season. Only wood and composite wood are allowed in the five boroughs. But in Hillsborough, metal was fair game, even though the other New York City team, Regis of Manhattan, stayed with the wood.

But Fordham Prep dusted off the old metal sticks and won its first two games of the tourna ment, and they had Matt Brazis, who has pretty much been unhittable regardless of lumber, on the ropes in Jesuit's eventual 7-0 win over the Rams.

Brazis, who allowed just one earned run in his past three outings heading into Thursday's game, was forced to rely on his fastball because he didn't have a good grasp of his slider. He allowed four hits in the first three innings -- the Rams were raking -- but emerged from two early jams unscathed thanks to his defense. Leftfielder Austin Hartzler threw a runner out at home on the fly to end the second, and a drawn-in infield helped Brazis work out of a bases-loaded jam in the third.

“They hit the ball well,” Brazis said. "My defense kept me in the game. If th ey don’t make some of those plays, it’s a different game.”

The Tigers (16-2) then took advantage in a five-run third that included just one hit, but had two errors and four hit batsmen.

Even though it was tough going early, Brazis (4-1), who allowed seven hits in seven shutout innings, won his third straight decision and has allowed just one earned run in his past four outings over a span of 21 innings for a 0.43 ERA in that time.

Jesuit will face Seattle (Wash.) Prep (5-1) in tonight's final at 7.

-- EDUARDO A. ENCINA

Comments

Brazis is a true team player giving credit to his defense when it is due!