By Marc Raimondi
Francis Lewis won its first baseball division title since 2001 last week in spectacular fashion. Down 8-2 in the eighth inning to Bayside, the Patriots scored nine runs to beat the Commodores, 11-8. It marked only the second division championship in the last 24 years for Lewis.
One couldn’t blame the players and first-year coach Ian Millman for being excited. But they’re not satisfied. Not with the playoffs scheduled to start Wednesday.
“We haven’t proven anything to anybody,” said senior ace Ethan Liederman, who started against Bayside last Thursday despite a pulled left hamstring. “We can’t be cocky.”
Lewis clearly didn’t prove its worth to the PSAL. The Patriots found out Monday they would get a No. 11 seed in the postseason and were to host No. 22 John Adams and the Spartans All-American starter Christian Cardenas Wednesday.
“We’re not happy with the seeding,” Millman said. “But we’ll play anybody they put in front of us.”
To make matters worse, Liederman and sophomore right-hander Jonathan Bobea, the team’s No. 2 starter, are injured. Andres Marrero, one of the team’s unsung heroes this season, could be an option to start.
Liederman figures not to play unless he’s pitching – he’s seriously hampered by the leg injury and unable to run.
Lewis got the best seed in what turned out to be a disappointing draw for Queens teams. Cardozo was seeded 16th and will host No. 17 Bryant. Bayside, which was two innings away from winning the Queens East A title, was seeded 19th and travel to No. 14 Walton.
In other first-round Queens games, Forest Hills (21) plays at McKee/Staten Island Tech (12), Newtown (26) visits Telecommunications (7) and Long Island City (29) plays at Monroe (4).
If Lewis were to get by Adams and Cardenas, a right-hander being recruited by a plethora of Division I schools, it could face a possible match-up with No. 6 George Washington, regarded as one of the best teams in the nation.
“If we just keep up our momentum,” said Minnesota-bound Liederman, “we’ll be fine.”
Reach Associate Sports Editor Marc Raimondi by e-mail at mraimondi@timesledger.com or call 718-229-0300, Ext. 130.
PSAL baseball playoffs updates
Cardozo beats Bryant for first playoff win in five years
https://yournabe.com/articles/2008/05/22/sports/web_exclusives/doc4835008cd30bd586413187.txt
Lewis, Adams to resume game Thursday in fourth inning
https://yournabe.com/articles/2008/05/22/sports/web_exclusives/doc48350245144f9472982583.txt
Liederman fans eight of nine in relief to lead Lewis into second round
https://yournabe.com/articles/2008/05/23/sports/web_exclusives/doc4836f558bffad922082600.txt
Lewis baseball falls to nationally ranked George Washington in second round
https://yournabe.com/articles/2008/05/23/sports/web_exclusives/doc48379bffee28f982447791.txt
