Local players help DeSales win first WNY Parochial League baseball championship

Contributed Photo – Players and coaches of the champion DeSales baseball team include, in front from left, Colin Fragale, Jaydon Lang, Jared Pellicano and Chris Goyette. In the second row are Coach Todd Fragale, Mark Crocker, Joe Bohlman, Karl Darling, Jason Buzak, Frank Pellicano, Sam Murphy and Assistant Coach Tom Murphy. Missing from the photo is Assistant Coach Chris Goyette Sr.

With a lineup which includes Medina and Middleport area players, the DeSales Knights recently won the Western New York Catholic school baseball championship with a 4-1 victory over Notre Dame at St. Joe’s Collegiate Institute.

Chris Goyette pitched a complete game fanning 8 batters.

Karl Darling led the Knights offense going 3-3 (2 doubles and an RBI) while Jason Buzak added two RBI’s and Frank Pellicano chipped in with one too.

The Knights displayed some of the season’s best defense in the 7th inning including a spectacular running catch in center field by Joe Bohlman and a 1-6-3 double play to end the game and secure the championship.

This win earns DeSales Catholic School its first ever Western New York Parochial baseball championship.

“I could not be prouder of the boys” said Coach Todd Fragale. “This is quite remarkable when considering this is the 94th year, with the parochial baseball league starting in 1921.” The only other team from Niagara County to win this prestigious championship was Saint Dominic’s out of Niagara Falls a few years back.”

“Each and every boy on this team contributed to the championship win” added Fragale. “Timely hits, pitching and defensive plays during the year and during the playoffs allowed us to bring home the championship. Commitment to the team, practice and unselfish play by everyone, especially Jaydon Lang, Mark Crocker and Jared Pellicano made it all possible.”

DeSales won the Northtown Parochial league going 9-1 dropping only one game to St Amelias.

In the playoffs DeSales knocked off Northern Chautauqua 10-7 in the quarterfinals scoring three in the seventh, utilizing the impressive speed and heads up base running of Buzak and Pellicano.

In the semi finals, DeSales took out perennial powerhouse St. Mark’s winning 4-3, scoring one in the bottom of the seventh on a walk off bunt single. This was set up by a base on balls by Sam Murphy who then stole second base and advanced to third on a wild pitch.   Colin Fragale then dropped a perfectly executed bunt down first scoring the speedy Murphy.

In the WNY Parochial title game DeSales downed Notre Dame 4-1 riding the dominant pitching of Goyette who threw a complete game and the phenomenal hitting in the playoffs by Darling.

DeSales then ended the game in the seventh flashing the leather first by an impressive running grab by Bohlman in centerfield and then a textbook 1-6-3 double-play from Goyette to Darling to Fragale with an impressive scoop at first.

“The boys never wavered and remained calm in the midst of every challenge that came their way, mirroring the confidence and relaxed demeanor of our veteran coaches Tom Murphy and Chris Goyette,This was a great way for all these eighth-graders to finish their baseball career at DeSales going out on top”, remarked Fragale.

DeSales finished the year 12-1.

The DeSales team will attend and be honored on November 6th at the 94th WNY Parochial Association banquet in Buffalo.