Atiram’s bat, arm lead Montgomery to win

Legion baseball team tops North Plainfield

By: Ian Theoridis
   Although a name and number were absent from Zak Atiram’s uniform jersey Tuesday night, he was anything but anonymous in Montgomery’s 6-5 American Legion baseball victory over the North Plainfield Bulls.
   In addition to pitching a complete game, Atiram supplied a first inning grand slam that pointed the Cougars in the direction of victory. The complete game came on a night when the Cougars found themselves shorthanded due to the absences of starting right fielder Dave Andrews and third-basemen Ryan King.
   "I had a freshman warming up to relieve Zak in the fifth or sixth inning," Montgomery manager Peter Cahill said. "However, I felt more comfortable with Zak out there to finish the game."
   Atirim was solid throughout, despite a slight scare in the top half of the last frame. After the Bulls had cut the lead to one with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh and two outs, Atirim faced North Plainfield third basemen Frank Veglatte, who had already pounded a two-run double off of Atirim in the previous inning. But calm and collected Atirim induced Veglatte to fly out to center and end the game.
   Atirim believes one of the reasons for his confidence is the solid defense behind him.
   "I’m more of a finesse pitcher," he said. "I am not going to go out there to overpower anybody. I feel at ease with the defense I have behind me. I feel as if I can go out there and throw the ball and be confident that wherever they hit it, it will be an out."
   This attitude is seconded by Zak Atirim’s coach.
   "When we are in the field, sometimes I feel I can just sit back and be relaxed knowing that my fielders are physically and mentally prepared to make the plays they are called on to make," said Cahill, whose team is next scheduled to play Hillsborough on Saturday at 3 p.m.
   The tone was definitely set early by the loud bats of the Cougars. The first seven batters the Cougars sent to the plate all managed to reach base or, as in Atirim’s case, better. With the bases loaded and one out, Atirim took Bulls’ pitcher David Dickerson deep into the shrubbery in right field.
   "It was just a fastball down the middle and I just tried to drive it," said Atirim, explaining the pitch that he belted.
   In the ensuing inning, Cougar first basemen Pete McLaughlin, who was 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs, hit a home run in nearly the same spot as Atiram’s, giving the Cougars an early 5-0 lead. The final Cougar run in the game was provided by Mike Cahill, who added an infield single in the fifth inning that plated the sixth run.
   Despite other solid individual performances by Montgomery players, this was Zak Atiram’s day. He provided the grand slam that paced him and his team to victory. Peter Cahill says that this is what he has come to expect of the current Somerset County champions.
   "Despite not having two of our starters here, I think we demonstrated that we can compete with most teams," Cahill said.
   If they continue to play the way they did on Tuesday, there is not much stopping them.