The Midwood baseball team doesn’t scare easily.
The Hornets never wavered, despite obstacles, en route to a 3–0 victory over Tottenville in the Public Schools Athletic League AAA championship at Yankee Stadium on June 13.
Midwood worked its way out of two bases-loaded jams in the win, the first-ever city championship for the team.
“We knew it the whole way through, even when things were tough, we still believed we could do it,” Hornets coach Saverio Nardone said. “The kids believed in themselves. It’s just a beautiful feeling. It’s a great thing.”
Gregory Dorfman got the start on the mound and, throughout the game, he showed maturity far beyond his 15 years — particularly in the fourth inning when Tottenville (22–1) loaded the bases with no outs. Instead of panicking, Dorfman took a deep breath and settled into a rhythm. He forced three straight fly outs to end the inning, seizing back control and taking the wind out of the Pirates’s sails.
“I just needed to get out of it for my team,” Dorfman said. “We got those three pop-ups, and that did the job. I knew I had to get out of the jam, because if I didn’t, the momentum was going to swing to their side.”
The performance was a turning point for the Hornets. At times, the bright lights of Yankee Stadium seemed almost too much for Midwood, but Dorfman’s cool presence on the mound gave the Hornets a boost of much-needed confidence.
“Right after that inning, it was perfect and everything was on our side,” Dorfman said. “I needed to put the team on my back.”
Dorfman also got some help from his offense, in particular Michael Gonzalez. The Hornets’s designated hitter drove in all three of the squad’s runs, highlighted by a two-run single in the top of the third.
“I wasn’t trying to do too much, just try and drive the ball the opposite way,” Gonzalez said. “My heart’s beating so fast right now. This is the greatest day of my life.”
The early cushion — Midwood (15–8) scored all of its runs in the first three innings — helped Dorfman’s approach on the mound. He knew he had some breathing room to work with, so even a bases loaded jam wasn’t enough to get under his skin. He threw five and one-thirds innings, giving up just three hits before Thomas Scarapaci took over in relief.
Scarapaci worked out of his own jam.
“You’ve got to believe,” Nardone said. “These kids just know, pitching and defense will win you a championship.”
Midwood put starting catcher Nicolas Cardieri on the mound in the bottom of the seventh, and the junior wrapped up the win, stranding two runners. By the final out, Tottenville had left 11 on base in its first loss of the season.
It was a historic victory for the Hornets, but it’s not enough for the team, which already has its sights set on next season.
“We’ll enjoy it, but we’re going to be back and planning for next year,” Nardone said. “This is the culture I wanted to build here from day one.”
