CHSAA opens baseball season with tribute to Corey Phelan, then St. Dominic defeats Holy Trinity in extra innings
St Dominic’s Vic Frederick pitches in the third inning against St. Dominic during the Corey's Promise baseball tournament on Tuesday at the Moriches Sports Complex. Credit: Bob Sorensen
Corey Phelan’s memory continues to live on through those in the baseball world.
The Catholic High School Athletic Association voted to hold its opening day in his honor at the Moriches Sports Complex in Center Moriches. All seven teams in the NSCHSAA and Long Island Lutheran spanned the four fields at the Moriches quad and listened to Corey’s father, Chris Phelan, deliver opening remarks.
When he was finished Chris Phelan gave the captains of all eight teams green bracelets bearing his son’s name as a keepsake.
The 2020 Harborfields graduate from Greenlawn, who played professionally for the Philadelphia Phillies, died at the age of 20 on Oct. 12, 2022, after a six-month battle against acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a form of cancer.
Phelan’s senior season at Harborfields was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, but he was still signed by the Phillies as a free agent. The 6-2 lefthander appeared in five games in 2021 with Philadelphia’s Florida Complex League affiliate, pitching 9 2⁄3 innings and allowing one run.
Father Dave Atanasio of Copiague offered words of encouragement and a prayer as all eight teams lined the diamond to listen.
“It’s a heavenly gift to play this game,” Father Dave said. “All of the lessons you learn on this field will carry you through the rest of your lives.”
Chris Phelan addressed the crowd that rimmed the field and said, “My son loved to be around his friends and family, and he loved playing baseball. When he was diagnosed, he told me, ‘God has me. I believe in God’s plan and it’s a beautiful plan.’
“And what a way to open the Catholic League season with St. Dominic and Holy Trinity on Field 1, Chaminade and St, Anthony’s on Field 2, Kellenberg and St. John the Baptist on Field 3 and St. Mary’s and Long Island Lutheran on Field 4.”
St. Dominic and Holy Trinity opened the season with Bayhawks senior ace Victor Frederick, a Newsday All-Long Island first-team selection, opposing Holy Trinity senior catcher Tyler Cook, a Newsday All- Long Island first-team selection. Two of the very best head to head.
Frederick fanned Cook on a 2-and-2 fastball in that first encounter, but Cook exacted revenge with an infield single in the third inning. The teams would play fantastic defense and went nine innings tied at 1.
Frederick and Holy Trinity starter Gabe Klarikaitis were marvelous. Frederick went five innings, allowed four hits, one earned run, walked two and struck out seven.
Klarikaitis went six innings and allowed six hits and one earned run with one walk and seven strikeouts. Neither starter was involved in the decision.
In the bottom of the 10th inning, Jordan Ynoa led off with a walk, Matt Cruz followed with his fourth hit of the game and Frederick was intentionally walked to load the bases.
T.J. Garrett lined a single to left-centerfield for the game winner as St. Dominic pulled out a 2-1 walk-off win.
Corey Phelan would have loved all of it.
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
