Oct. 1, 2011

Bronx, N.Y. - In what has become an annual fall tradition, the Fordham baseball program held its 7th annual Young Alumni Challenge at Houlihan Park on Saturday. A total of 33 former players showed up to partake in the event, which was capped off by the annual game against the current Fordham Rams baseball team.

The game began with two memorable moments, as the 1950 captain of the baseball team, Jack Guinta, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to kick off the game, while in the middle of the second inning, Michael "Mickey" White, a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army, who was recently awarded a Purple Heart for his service in Afghanistan, was welcomed back to Houlihan Park with a standing ovation from all in attendance.

For the game, the current Rams pulled out a 9-2 win over the alumni in the seven-inning exhibition contest, highlighted by a five-fourth inning.

The alumni got on the board in the top of the first, as Bobby DiNardo '09 scored from second base on an RBI-single by Chris Walker '11.

The current Rams responded immediately, with two runs in their half of the first on an RBI-single by Mike Mauri and an error to take a 2-1 lead.

The alumni knotted the game at two in the top of the second inning, as Kevin Brush '05 and Javier Martinez '07 drew back-to-back walks with one out. After a fielder's choice force Martinez at second, Danny Leach '09 knocked in Brush from third with an RBI-single.

The current Rams looked primed to break the game open in their half of the second, as Matthew Cianci, Brian Kownacki, and Ryan Maghini each drew walks against recent alum, John Flanagan '11. Flanagan though worked out of the jam, striking out two batters and getting a ground out to keep the game tied.

The score remained tied at two until the bottom of the fourth, as the current Rams scored five times, highlighted by an RBI-triple by Ryan Lee, scoring Maghini from first base.

The current Rams then took control of the game, scoring two more insurance runs, while the Freshman All-American trio of Chris Pike, Jonathan Reich, and Swatek shut down the alumni over the final three innings.

J.P. Mack '10 started the game for the alumni on the mound, followed by Flanagan, Jake Rabinowitz '09, Ryan Welch '07, Tom Davis '08, Peter Kennelly '09, and Martinez.

For the current Rams, Jordan Grangard threw the first two innings, followed by Joseph Charest for two innings, and the trio of Pike, Reich, and Swatek for one inning apiece.