Former Cardinal Newman players remember the day they beat Alex Rodriguez

Friday, October 23, 2009
by Joe Capozzi

Chad Romano is an insurance salesman living in Royal Palm Beach — a world away from Alex Rodriguez, the New York Yankees third baseman who is making $32 million and is one victory away from playing in his first World Series.

But every once in a while, Romano and his old high school buddies will pop in a video of their biggest game — Cardinal Newman's upset victory over the defending state champions in a 1993 playoff game that ended on a throwing error by Rodriguez.

"When I see it I still get goose bumps," Romano said. "I always tell my dad how funny it would be to send highlights of that to SportsCenter: Now that A-Rod's a big star, here's how his high school career ended."

Rodriguez's professional baseball career began June 3, 1993, when he was chosen by the Seattle Mariners with the first pick of the amateur draft.

Three weeks earlier, his outstanding prep career ended in tears on the infield at Palm Beach Community College in Lake Worth.

"It's my favorite banquet story," said Cardinal Newman coach Jack Kokinda, recalling how the Crusaders stunned nationally ranked Miami-Westminster Christian on May 11, 1993.

Going into the game, Westminster had won three state titles and one national championship over the previous five years. In 1992, the Warriors eliminated Newman 2-1 in a playoff game. Their star, Rodriguez, was considered the best high school player in the country.

"I remember being in awe of the guy," Romano said. "Whenever he came on the field to warm up, everybody wanted to stop and take a look at him."

The coach's son, shortstop Steve Kokinda, remembers Rodriguez as "basically a man around boys. Everyone knew he was going on to bigger and better things."

On that night in 1993, Rodriguez wasn't himself. He had already committed two errors at shorstop when he redeemed himself with a ground-rule double in the top of the seventh to help give Westminster a 4-3 lead.

Newman tied the score in the bottom of the seventh, sending the game into extra innings.

In the bottom of the ninth, Newman had runners on first and second with two outs when John Archimede hit a routine grounder into the hole for what looked like the final out.

Coach Kokinda and his players still shake their heads over what happened next:

Rodriguez fielded the ball cleanly and prepared to throw to second for a force out. But his throw sailed over the second baseman's head and down the right-field line.

Lou Mrachek scored the winning run from second base, touching off a wild celebration at home plate as Westminster players collapsed at their positions.

"I remember Alex was sitting or crouched down with his head in his hands," said Steve Kokinda, who now works in medical sales.

"We were a big underdog, probably an average team that overcame a pretty big obstacle," said Romano, a pitcher and outfielder for Newman. "We could've played that team 10 more times and I don't think we would have beat them again."

Newman lost the Class 2A state championship game that year, but players today still recall that season with memories that have grown fonder as Rodriguez blossomed into one of baseball's top players.

"If it was Joe Schmo of Kokomo, you and I probably wouldn't be talking," Jack Kokinda said.

"I've told a bunch of people how Steve outplayed him that day," Romano said. "A-Rod is about to (reach) a World Series and Steve is selling medical equipment, but that night Steve was flawless and A-Rod had one of his worst nights as a high school player."