BY ADAM RONIS

Kyle Hansen began warming up in the fifth inning for St. Dominic. Hansen, who enetered Monday with a 0.45 ERA, allowed eight runs in 1 1/3 innings in a Game 2 loss of the best-of-three NSCHSAA series against St. John the Baptist, and wanted the ball today if his team needed him.

He came into the game in the bottom of the seventh inning and allowed a leadoff single before retiring the next three for the save and the Bayhawks' first championship.

"I have been dreaming about this since I came to St. Dominic," said Hansen, who will attend St. John's. "Last year we were a game away. Monday was hard. I told coach I could only give him six outs. I have workouts the next few weeks and I couldn't exert myself too much. I felt good. I felt like I was throwing harder. I don't think I broke 90 on Monday. I guess the rest did something."

Many scouts have attended his games this season and the next thing for Hansen is where he gets drafted in the major league draft.

BY ADAM RONIS

St. Dominic dominated the regular season last year and fell short in their quest to win a NSCHSAA championship by losing in Game 3 of the best-of-three championship series to St. John the Baptist. It was a rematch this season and this time St. Dominic prevailed with a 6-4 win at NYIT today to win the first championship in program history.

"Last year we expected it because we were the leading team all year," said St. Dom's John Yohe, the series MVP. "That experience helped us. This means so much to us."

The Bayhawks didn't waste any time with a four-run first inning. The first six batters reach base. Brandon Stahl walked, Tommy Grillo singled, Derek Hirsch hit and RBI single and John Yohe hit an RBI double. SJB starter Thomas O'Neill was taken out and Brian Rush relieved him.

Stephen Nassani hit an RBI single and Lou Lambros hit an RBI single for a 4-0 lead.

"The offense came through," Hirsch said. "Our defense was also good, but the offense played a big part."

Said SJB coach John Habyan: "We kind of gave away the game a little bit in the first inning. I’m proud of the way my guys battled back. When you play a quality club, it’s tough to spot them four runs."

Hirsch made it 5-1 with an RBI single in the top of the second and SJB (19-8) had second and third with one out in the second inning. Joshua Sharpe hit a line drive to the right-centerfield gap and St. Dominic centerfielder Joe LaMacchia made a diving catch and doubled the runner off second base to end the threat.

"That play Joe made could have saved us the game right there," Hirsch said.

Sophomore Robert Galligan started for St. Dominic and struggled in the first two innings. He settled down and went four innings allowing five hits, two walks, three runs and struck out three for the win. Sophomore Nick Batas came in after Galligan allowed two singles to start the fifth inning. He allowed three of the first four he faced to reach base before getting the final two outs of the inning to keep it a 6-4 game. He allowed a two-out walk in the sixth before getting out unscathed and Kyle Hansen, who started Game 2 Monday and allowed eight runs in 1 1/3 innings, allowed a leadoff infield single before getting the next three hitters for the save,

"He deserved it," St. Dominic coach Rick Garrett said. "He was out of sorts Monday. He warmed up earlier in the day, sat and came back. He knew it was time. He came back and was popping the ball. It’s nice to have that to close a game."