The Hudson Catholic baseball team had been searching for someone to take charge as a closer, someone to rely on to seal the deal on potential victories. The Hawks were also battling an injury bug among their pitching staff, so they needed help.
It was then that head coach Alberto Vasquez had an idea. He was going to give the ball to junior right-hander Rory Carvajal with the game on the line.
“I knew that he threw strikes and I figured if he could give me an inning or two, he’d be fine,” Vasquez said. “I expected him to be a player for us, but he surprised me with his attitude as a pitcher. He wanted the ball and I had no problem giving it to him.”
Carvajal liked the idea that he was getting the chance to be the Hawks’ closer.
“I like when the game is close and I’m coming in to try to shut the door,” Carvajal said. “It’s a good feeling. My coach has confidence in me and the team has helped me out with support. I guess I’m the right guy at the right moment. It doesn’t matter to me, whether I’m starting or relieving or batting in the lineup. I just want to do whatever I can to help the team win.”
Vasquez gave the ball to Carvajal in two key situations last week – and he responded with flying colors.
First, Carvajal came into the game in the fifth inning against neighboring rival St. Peter’s Prep, with the Hawks clinging to a one-run lead. Carvajal shut the door on the Marauders and the Hawks eventually rallied and pulled away to an 11-6 win, but Carvajal’s two scoreless innings earned him a save.
The next day, the Hawks faced Kearny in the opening round of the Ed “Faa” Ford Memorial Hudson County Baseball Tournament and it was more of the same thing.
Carvajal pitched three innings of scoreless relief in the game against Kearny, preserving the Hawks’ 6-3 victory. So Carvajal made two appearances on the mound and earned saves in both of them.
Carvajal also contributed at the plate as well. He delivered two hits and two RBI in the win over Prep and added two hits, including a double, and two RBI in the win over Kearny.
For his efforts, Carvajal has been selected as The Hudson Reporter Athlete of the Week for the past week.
Vasquez just likes the way Carvajal goes about his business.
“He just goes after people,” Vasquez said. “He’s not going to blow people away, but he hits his spots and keeps the ball down. That’s the main thing for him. If he’s hitting his spots and keeps the ball low, he’s going to get people out.”
Vasquez now knows he has a proven reliever he can turn to.
“It’s a huge advantage,” said Vasquez, whose team faces St. Peter’s Prep again this weekend, this time in the quarterfinals of the county tournament. “Once I put him in the game, there’s a higher level of confidence, both in him and his teammates. The teammates get excited to see him on the mound and they play hard for him, because they know Rory is giving them a chance to win the game.”
Vasquez said that the elevation of Carvajal to closer was essential, since the team recently lost its top pitcher, Danny Perez, to an elbow injury.
“We needed a boost from our pitching staff and Rory has provided that boost,” Vasquez said. “Once he comes into the game, our kids feel like the game is over.”
Ironically, Carvajal almost never got the chance to lift the Hawks’ spirits. Two years ago, he first attended North Bergen High School, where his childhood friends and Little League teammates all went.
“After a week, I felt like it really wasn’t for me,” Carvajal said. “I didn’t feel like it was right. It was a little tough, leaving all my friends behind. But once I got to Hudson Catholic, everyone made me feel wanted. All the players accepted me. Everything was fine once I got here.”
But not everything was fine at the start of the current baseball season. Carvajal was struggling at the plate and the frustration was getting to him.
“In the beginning of the season, I was in a bit of a slump,” Carvajal said. “I wasn’t doing what I usually do.”
So Carvajal went to work with Coach Vasquez to improve his hitting approach.
“I took a lot of batting practice and worked on it,” Carvajal said. “I worked on my swing and my footwork. I was getting my front foot out earlier so I could see better pitches. It worked.”
“He’s a pretty good hitter as well,” Vasquez said. “When he’s relaxed at the plate, he can hit the ball and hit it hard. He started the season slow, but now, everything is falling nicely for him.”
Vasquez realizes that Carvajal’s success has lifted the entire program.
“It has really helped us out and given us a boost of confidence,” Vasquez said. “Coming off these two big wins, he’s given us a chance. We’re ready to play and we’ll do whatever we have to do to win. He’s given us a big lift at the right time.”
Carvajal can only hope that he continues to provide good outings for the Hawks.
“With the recent performances I’ve had, it’s building my confidence,” Carvajal said. “I know I can do it. I just hope that there are bigger and better things ahead.”
The Marauders are on tap this weekend, waiting for another chance to see Rory Carvajal enter the game. Chances are that the Hawks’ closer and savior will be ready for the challenge. – Jim Hague.
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.