Bedford Hills Hawks Hungry for a Championship

BEDFORD HILLS, N.Y. - On Wednesday, July 10, in the GHVBL College Division, the Bedford Hills Hawks got off to a good start when CJ Polworth dusted off his 2022 John Jay degree and retired the Pelham Pirates in order.

That left it to his classmate Miles Capobianco to ignite the offense, and he did so with his usually slow burn.

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“I just look to work the pitcher,” said the leadoff batter, and after five pitches sailed by, the second baseman set the table for the inning and the game.
“I was waiting for something that was right there,” he said, and his double off the right field fence began a five run first.

A 10-1 victory following, Alex Kornblau of Fox Lane cleared the first setting with another double to right, and after Fox Lane’s Alex Samayoa and Pete Portugues reached on infield hits, DJ Gray of Kennedy Catholic served the main course. The first baseman went deep to center, and three more runs came across.

Back to the mound, the Syracuse junior made the visitors digest another donut and has no regrets about releasing the seams at the college level. “To play baseball and work at school isn’t something I wanted to do,” Polworth revealed.

Instead, he prefers to kick back after the grades come in. “So I come home for three months - how could you not be romantic about baseball," he clarified.

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Kornblau at short, it’s almost impossible. Gobbling up a grounder in the top of the third, he turned two with a slick that defines the position as he sees it.

“You've got to be everywhere,” said the Plattsburgh student. “The whole infield runs through you.”

He was even more impressive in the top of the fourth. After getting the force at second for out number two, he dove right and still gloved the ball as it kicked up high at the last second. The bench wowed, Kornblau settled, fired to first, and Capobianco was at leadoff again.

A single this time, he stole second and run six was on the docket. Only a clutch hit was needed, and Spencer Hellinger’s two out single accelerated the lead to six.

The lead did go back to five on a Pirate home run in the top, though. So the Hawks clenched their talons, and Kornblau was first. “It was just fastball, curveball. So I was thinking load up early and just drive it up the middle,” the shortstop said of his two run homer.

A walk later by Samayoa and it was Portugues’ turn. Over the left field fence, he couldn’t contain the bat flip. “It’s my hometown field. I’ve been here since I was nine. So it’s really special,” said the former Fox, who will be attending Dominican University this August.

All ten runs in, Polworth gave way for Andrew Hammer’s two scoreless innings, and the night was young.  Not quite, admitted the winning pitcher, “We don’t go out, we’re not a softball beer league yet.”

Someday and the thought already does cross their minds. This especially in the form of their baseball playing assistant coach, who still holds his own, according to Capobianco. ”He can grab a bat and join us any time,” he said of Steve Grskovic.

Grskovic might not agree, but there is a consensus after losing in the finals the last two years.

“They want the ring. They want the championship,” concluded Manager John Samayoa.

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