By Wayne witkowski
Staff Writer
VERONICA YANKOWSKI Brick second baseman Brian Staub looks to turn the double play during his team’s win last Wednesday night at the Holbrook Fields in Jackson.
BRICK TOWNSHIP — It was an incredible weekend for Brick American’s baseball program.
It started on Saturday night at the Brick National field when Brick American beat Toms River East National, 7-4, behind Tim Spaulding for its second title in three years. It’s their fourth title in 20 years.
Brick American plays the winner of Wall South vs. Wall North tonight at Wall South Field at 5:30 p.m.
A day later on Sunday night, Brick American’s 16-year-old Senior All-Stars became the first team in any district in the state to win a second straight district title for 16s. And it did it with a thrilling 5-4 victory over Brick National.
Add to that Brick American’s 14-year-olds reaching the district finals and the possibility that they, too, may play Brick National in Tuesday’s title game if Brick National won its Monday night game against Holbrook, and it makes for a very rewarding weekend in the Ocean County township.
"It’s been quite a summer so far," said Brick American 16s coach Joe Baatz, whose team prepares for its section opener Thursday night at Brick American.
"It used to be Toms River and then it would be Brick, but in the past few years, I sense the tide turning," said Brick American 14-year-olds manager Dan DeJianne.
Spaulding came on in relief of starter Steve Zrowka in the fourth inning with the score tied, 4-4, in the Little League 12-year-old championship game and held down Toms River East National to one hit. And in the sixth inning, Spaulding hammered a two-run double after Brian Staub singled and Mike Kiley walked and rode home on a single by Jose Ramos to snap the 4-4 tie.
Brick American 12-year-olds coach Jon Denley said it "did not matter" that his team, which has not played on its own field since its tournament opener, was playing on the Brick National field across town.
But for a while, things looked scary for Brick American. The team trailed, 4-2, after John Murphy blasted a three-run homer. And regular catcher Andrew Stillwagon left the game in the second inning with a jammed finger from a foul ball shortly after he tagged out a runner at the plate off a great throw by Mike Spinelli.
But Bill Nash came off the bench to do a great job behind the plate while hitting a run-scoring double in the fourth inning. After that, Brandon Melody’s run-scoring single tied the game at 4-4.
Has Denley’s ability to turn to all 12 players on his team at different key times helped his team to stay alive in the tournament?
"Absolutely," he said.
Brick American finished 4-0 in the double-elimination phase after gong 2-1 in pool play. If it lost on Saturday, both teams would come back on Sunday.
"We just kept motivating them each inning and reminding them that it’s their choice — either play on Sunday or end it today," said Denley, who was assisted by pitching coach Jeff Zawadzki and defensive coach Kris Knutstad. "They rose to the occasion.
"These kids have a chemistry," Denley said. "They’re close. Everyone contributes and we have consistent home-run batters, although we didn’t get any in the last two games. And the bottom part of our order contributed to two victories."
Brick American struck for two runs in the first inning when Spaulding and Ramos walked and scored on three straight passed balls. Each team had six hits, with Staub smashing two for Brick American.
But the tone for the championship game was set in the previous game, a 3-1 victory over Toms River National behind a brilliant one-hitter by Mike Kiley. Only one ball was hit to the outfield.
Toms River National had beaten Brick American, 3-2, in the previous pool play segment and also beat Brick American in the Little League 10-year-old district finals two years ago and in the winners bracket of the 11s last year.
"Having won that game really motivated them for the championship because they finally got the monkey off their backs," said Denley.
Add to that Denley’s previous coaching stint with Brick Americans’ All-Stars in 1995 when they lost to eventual World Series champion Toms River East, 12-10, and then got eliminated by Toms River National, 8-7, in eight innings, and Denley apparently also had a score to settle. In that game, Brick American led Toms River National, 7-5, in the last inning.
A walk, infield error, fielder’s choice and passed ball allowed Toms River National to score in the second inning.
Brick American came back with its three runs in the bottom of the second with Stillwagon cracking a two-run double and Spinelli slugging a run-scoring single. Piezzo started it when he reached on an error before Kiley and Spaulding grounded into forceouts. Ramos walked and Stillwagon came to bat. Matt O’Brien kept the rally alive with a single, putting runners on the corners before Spinelli’s big hit.
"Our infield played superb defense; that’s why we won this game," said Denley who had O’Brien at first base, Staub at second, Zrowka at shortstop and Spaulding at third base.
And there was great pitching from Kiley over the last two innings, as he retired the heart of the lineup in order in the sixth inning.
"He was possessed," said Denley.