Harvey Baseball and Rugby Teams Lose in Battles

Harvey’s baseball team ended its season with a 1-0 extra-inning loss to Christian Heritage Tuesday in the first round of the HVAL playoffs. 

In what was easily the most intense and exciting game of the year, Harvey  senior Mike Chavkin went pitch for pitch with the league’s top pitcher, James Tabul who will be going on to pitch at Division 1 Sacred Heart next year. Each pitcher hurled a complete game and allowed only three hits each. Chavkin, author of a no-hitter earlier this season, threw 123 pitches and struck out six. 

With the game scoreless in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Cavaliers were in position to get a dramatic win when Theo Rattner reached base with one out on an error by the left fielder. Austin Forman followed with an infield single. A wild pitch advanced the runners into scoring position and just 90 feet away from a walk off victory. With Ben Alper, Harvey’s most clutch hitter, due up, Coach Mike Rubenfeld contemplated putting on a suicide squeeze, but instead opted to let Alper swing away. 

Coach Rubenfeld said, “Ben has done it for us all year long. When the runners advanced on the wild pitch, I honestly pictured a base hit from Alper and rushing on the field to jump on him to celebrate. Unfortunately it didn’t happen today.” 

Tabul got Alper to swing at a curveball down in the dirt for a strikeout. With two out, junior Jackson Roberts flew out to center to end the threat. 

Coach Rubenfeld was left to wonder about his strategy.  “Now looking bat and knowing the results, maybe I should have put on the squeeze play, but again Ben has been the guy for us all year long and I had all the confidence in the world that he was going to do it again.”

Christian Heritage had 2-3-4 up in the top of the 8th. After going 0-2 on the leadoff batter, Chavkin plunked the batter with a curveball. The runner promptly stole second to bring up Jeremy Tabul, brother of pitcher James. He got a hold of a fastball and lined it over the left fielder’s head for a ground rule double to bring home the only run of the game.  Christian Heritage was poised to score another run when James Tabul hit a line drive down the right field line, but right fielder John Colangelo made a great running catch to save another run.  Harvey went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 8th. 

Coach Rubenfeld said, “Although the outcome wasn’t what we had hoped, it was an honor to be a part of such an exciting game.  Both teams left it all on the field, and although it is very disappointing to not get the win, I am happy with the way the team came together and showed heart and desire all year long.  This was a great group who’ve come a long way.” 

Harvey graduates six seniors in finishing the season with a 6-6 

Harvey Rugby Comes Up Short against Tough Rams Team

A lot was on the line for both teams Tuesday when the Harvey Cavaliers and the Fordham Prep Rams battled in the Bronx in a crucial league match with the winner earning a berth in the state championship in Syracuse, NY.  Harvey (6-3) put up a good fight but lost 27-17 to an undefeated Fordham team (7-0). 

The first half was a very tight affair with both teams playing great defense. The play was back and forth with both teams struggling to gain and offensive momentum. Fordham was able to use its kicking game to gain field position, which eventually led to the first score of the game as the Ram forwards took the ball from the back of a ruck and drove over the line. Fordham had a successful conversion to take a 7-0 lead into the half. 

The Rams once again used the kicking game to their advantage in the second half and scored a quick try following a Harvey handling error. This succeeded in waking up Harvey who responded with some powerful running from Jay Haendler and Malcolm Koonce. Harvey's improved play led to a Christian Artuso try as the forwards drove him over the line after being held up by the Fordham defense. Following the restart, outside center Malcolm Koonce had a 50- meter run that led to Christian Harrington powering over the line from 10 meters out. Unfortunately for Harvey a series of kicking errors and a penalty in front of the posts gifted Prep 15 points, making the score 27-10. 

Harvey showed great character and continued to attack and play with a winning intent. This was rewarded with a Matt Lobosco try on the stroke of full time as the backs moved the ball wide and put the strong winger into spacer. 

Coach Phil Lazzaro summed up the game this way: “Huge effort from our boys in a tough loss.” 

The JV game was a very physical and scrappy affair with neither team able to create much structure in their play. Fordham scored early and converted to make it 7-0, but Cole Dokaj responded for Harvey to make the game 7-5 at the half. The second half continued to be a hard fought contest with big hits from both teams. With neither team able to score in the second half, the game finished 7-5 in Fordham’s favor.