3/27/25
From Coach Nardiello: Our Engineers were loose on the bus ride out to American Legion Fields in southern Brooklyn. After 4 seasons of renovating their home field, Grand St. selected fields about as far as they can get from their Williamsburg-area school campus. This March day was chilly and featured steady wind and gusts blowing straight out to centerfield that proved tricky for our outfielders.
Our schedule this season starts with the two teams that faced each other at Yankee Stadium. Grand Street is the team that won it all, last season. This year, they seem to be a better hitting team. Wasn’t the most opportune time to get a lesson, but Grand St. just put on a hitting clinic, today.
Daniel Lo got the start and was used to pitching in cold weather (having shut down Monroe HS in the Bronx in preseason). He held them to 2 runs in the 1st inning. But Grand Street reached him for 6 runs on 6 hits by the 2nd inning (and the only 2 walks our team allowed). Our reliever, senior Oliver French just couldn’t fool them and was reached for 4 runs. Grand St. fought off and fouled off tough pitches. They battled in 2-2 and 3-2 counts and slapped base hits the other way. They hit four doubles of their 12 total hits in this 5-inning game. It wasn’t until Taiko Ninomiya came in (1.2 IP, 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 2 Ks) that we saw their lineup might actually be calmed. We’ll play them again this season, at Parade Grounds.
Our offense just was not clicking today, as we hit the ball everywhere, but always to someone. Hardly anything was falling and finding holes. Our Engineers had 4 singles in 5 turns at bat, but never got beyond 2nd base. Grand Street only allowed 1 walk (which is the key to winning). Their relievers did not seem very strong, but we needed a run to avoid the Mercy Rule. In the 5th inning we had a runner picked off 1st base which about ended our chances of pushing the game into the 6th and 7th innings.
We’ll start the ’25 season with an 0-3 record. But we’ve been here before and have had strong seasons and learned how to win as we went through the season. Our Engineers will get this show going, soon enough. But this is a game that was lopsided, and you tip your cap and move on. Get better and get them, down the road.
Daniel Lo takes charge on a windy day against defending NYC champs Grand Street (All photos by Vera Nieuwenhuis)
Nico Harvey makes the play at second in early action against Grand Street,
Aayan Ramamurthy calls time in Center Field during Grand Street contest.
Shortstop Julian Ashley snowcones a popup during Grand Street game
Jake Rapoport singles in the fourth inning against Grand Street
Cooper Chung trots to first during Grand Street game.
Orion Ruck batting against Grand Street
Silas Hubbell in action at second against Grand Street
Jake Rapoport patrols first base against Grand Street
Coach Joe inspects a problematic pitching rubber during break in Grand Street game
Oliver French on to pitch against Grand Street
Aayan Ramamurthy demonstrates his customary effort during Grand Street contest, Part One
Aayan Ramamurthy demonstrates his customary effort during Grand Street contest, Part Two
On in relief, Taiko Ninomiya tames the mighty Grand Street bats.
Andres Carson heads to first in Grand Street game
Jake Rapoport flashes optimism from first base at Grand Street
Overconfident Grand Street runner picked off second. Silas Hubbell with the tag
Finn Adomanis stands in against Grand Street
Jadon Renert in action against Grand Street
Shrey Vertes tosses the batting glove after a single in the fifth against Grand Street
Post-game, the Engineers prepare themselves to return to winning ways
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