Post 148 finishes at 19-7
By:Kyle Moylan
WEST WINDSOR – Hightstown Post 148 may have missed out on its two chances to advance to the final eight in the state, but the consolation prize was still pretty good.
"If someone had told me that we’d place in the top 12 in the state before the start of the season, I would have taken it," Hightstown manager Bob Huzzy noted.
Actually, Hightstown could be considered as high as ninth. Eight teams advance to action this week at Denville. Four more teams – a group Hightstown falls in – came within a win of advancing.
Hightstown’s second chance at making the final eight came this past Tuesday night at Mercer Park against Flemington. Hightstown had an early three-run lead, but ended up losing the game, 17-9.
Hightstown was held to just seven hits – three of which came in the ninth when the team was down by nine runs – but it was able to create scoring chance after scoring chance.
Tom Hopkins and Dale Scherholz started the last of the first with walks. Without the benefit of a Hightstown hit, both these runners scored. Bret Rodgers walked to start the second and also came around to score.
Going into the top of the fourth, Hightstown led 3-0. Two singles, two doubles and a homer gave Flemington a 4-3 lead.
Flemington added six runs in the fifth on two walks, three hits and five errors. Hightstown trailed 10-3, but it would not quit.
"We were still in the game up until the eighth," Huzzy noted. "You put the ball in play in a game like this and you have a chance."
Brian Heyesey had three hits for Hightstown. For the majority of the rest of its offense, Hightstown counted on errors and walks. Hightstown scored three runs in the fifth and loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth, bringing the potential tying run to the plate. Flemington, however, escaped that jam without allowing a run and then pulled away for the win.
"The sixth was big," Huzzy noted. "If we did score, maybe the momentum would have changed."
One thing that wasn’t going to change Tuesday night was the way Huzzy felt about his team.
"We had a great year," Huzzy noted. "I’m very proud of these kids."