McNelis' complete game leads Friends to 'C' title

Friends Academy's Ed McNelis was scheduled to pitch Thursday with his team's season on the line, less than 24 hours after a late-inning loss.

His school day was understandably long.

"I had three quizzes today,'' McNelis said with a laugh. "I think I failed all of them.''

After school, he aced his test. McNelis scattered five hits and allowed one earned run in a complete game as Friends Academy defeated East Rockaway, 11-4, in Game 3 of the best-of-three Nassau Class C championship at Farmingdale State.

The Quakers (8-12) backed up McNelis at the plate, with Chris Campbell (3-for-5, three runs, one RBI), Pete Kaplan (3-for-3, two runs) and Leo Gussack (three walks, three runs) leading the way.

Friends Academy advances to the one-game Long Island championship June 6 at 11 a.m. at Farmingdale State.

Said Kaplan: "We're not going out yet. We've got work to do.''

SEE PHOTOSFriends Academy 11, East Rockaway, 4

Friends worked from the first batter to avoid another comeback by East Rockaway (9-12). The Quakers scored three runs in the first, two in the second and one in the third to build a 6-0 lead.

After a couple of errors and a couple of big hits led to a four-run bottom of the third for the Rocks, it looked as if they might pull off another big rally. But McNelis buckled down and didn't allow another run.

"The captains came in and really got us all focused after that,'' McNelis said. "Even up six runs, we knew this team could come back.''

The Quakers gave McNelis some breathing room with a five-run sixth. It began with T.J. Hefele's double and featured a double by Campbell, a single from Sam Harrington and a triple by Kaplan.

SEE PHOTOSHigh school sports -- May

Hefele, the ninth hitter, is a junior playing his first season of baseball. That's the way the Quakers play. Everyone gets involved. From the first at-bat, a walk by Gussack, to the game-ending 6-4-3 double play, the Quakers were chattering away in the dugout.

Between innings the DJ eschewed Jay-Z and Taylor Swift, sticking strictly to 1970s standards such as Earth, Wind & Fire, KC & the Sunshine Band and Donna Summer.

It was fitting for Friends Academy, a team filled with throwbacks. The mob that greeted McNelis after the final out was a sea of high socks, low caps and dirty jerseys. The Quakers built the early lead with walks, steals and bunts.

"When we get baserunners on,'' McNelis said, "we're going.''