By: Kyle Moylan
With the game on the line in the last of the sixth inning, Adam Vorraso wanted the ball in his hands.
With the game on the line in the last of the fourth inning, Vorraso made sure not to touch the ball at all.
Thanks to Vorraso’s decisions and execution Washington defeated West Windsor, 6-5, on Tuesday night to advance to the championship game of the District 12 Little League Tournament for 10-year-olds. Washington will play again on Friday night at 7 p.m. against the survivor of Sunnybrae, Nottingham and West Windsor, who all had one loss in the double-elimination tournament at the conclusion of Tuesday’s action.
"This is just amazing," noted Washington Manager Tom Vorraso. "These kids want to play baseball and they want to win."
A large part of the reason why Washington was able to win on Tuesday was the younger Vorraso’s ability to stay calm in a tight situation.
West Windsor scored once and had the tying run at third and the potential winning run at second with two outs in the last of the sixth. Vorraso noticed West Windsor’s Isaiah Edmonds had chased a high fastball. So once the count got to two strikes, he decided to go even higher.
"I pitched it up there and he swung at it," Vorraso said.
The pitch was high enough to force catcher Sam Burum to grab the third strike while standing up, but it worked.
What also worked was some quick thinking by Vorraso in the last of the fourth. Washington was holding on to a 5-4 lead and West Windsor had a runner on with two outs. Brendan O’Leary hit a ball that landed between the mound and the third base line.
"I was going to touch it, but then I saw the ball was spinning and going foul," the younger Vorraso noted. O’Leary ended up flying out to center to end the inning.
"There is no way to teach that play," noted Manager Vorraso. "He just adlibbed and did it himself."
Washington fell down 1-0 after the first inning, but tied the game with an unearned run in the second. Washington grabbed the lead it would never surrender with four runs in the third.
Matt Mindnich singled and Ryan Fleming walked to start the inning. Mindnich then scored as Vorraso reached on an error by the shortstop. Matt Samiel singled in Fleming with the second run of the inning. Vorraso and Samiel both ended up scoring on wild pitches.
West Windsor fought back with two runs in the third and one in the fourth, closing the score to 5-4. Washington, however, came through with an insurance run in the sixth. Johnny Demkovitz walked, went to second on a wild pitch, to third on a groundout by Chris Pauzer and scored on a wild pitch.
This run proved to be the difference in the bottom of the sixth.
This was the third straight close game Washington pulled out. Sam Burum carried a no-hitter through five innings and held on for an 8-5 win over Lawrence on Sunday. Fleming and Samiel each had a hit and two runs scored.
Washington was held to just two hits, but it was able to come away with three unearned runs and a 3-2 win over Allentown in the opening game of the Final 8 portion of the District 12 Tournament for 10-year-olds on Saturday.
Tied 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth, Washington’s Sam Burum lead off with a walk against Allentown’s Bob Millar.
At this point, Allentown elected to switch pitchers. It brought in Kyle Golla, who didn’t allow any of the batters he faced to hit the ball that hard. Nevertheless, Andrew DiMaggio reached on an error and Johnny Demkovitz dropped a single into center.
With the bases now loaded with no outs, Chris Pauzer hit a grounder to first. The throw home for a force was late and Washington had a dramatic win.
"Allentown played a great game," noted Washington Manager Tom Vorraso. "I’m glad we came out with the win."
Allentown took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Billy Reed singled home Kyle Golla, who had also singled. Washington, however, grabbed the lead with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Ryan Fleming singled with one out and scored as Matt Samiel reached on an error. Samiel also scored on an error.
"Our first inning was a little shaky," noted Allentown Manager Dan Caruso. "We played well after that."
Anthony Toleno doubled to start the second inning, but Washington’s Adam Vorraso pitched out of the jam.
Golla was hit by a pitch to start the third. A single by Matt Aplaugh put runners on first and third with no outs. Billy Reed followed with a pop out to first. Alpaugh broke for second. As Washington went after him for the second out, it allowed Golla the chance to score the tying run.
Allentown hit the ball fairly well during the game striking out just twice but Washington’s defense was up to the challenge. So was Vorraso, who pitched around a pair of hits in the fourth.
"We have a real good defense," noted Washington manager Tom Vorraso. "I don’t even lose anything when we bring the backups in. They can all field."
And Vorraso can pitch.
"I was just throwing fastballs," noted the younger Vorraso. "I just wanted to challenge them and get the ball over the plate. I knew my team would help me out with the hitting and defense."
Allentown’s Bob Millar also pitched extremely well. He struck out six batters and allowed just an infield single in his five plus innings of work.
"Bob pitched extremely well," noted Manager Caruso. "Our defense has to back the pitcher."
Added Manager Vorraso, "He (Millar) kept us off the bases all game. He was tough."
Washington reached the Final 8 by going 3-1 in pool play. Washington, Florence and Sunnybrae all went 3-1 in their pool, but Washington and Sunnybrae advanced on a tiebreaker.
Washington defeated the West Windsor Nationals (12-1), Ewing (9-3) and Sunnybrae (6-1). It was defeated by Florence, 7-2.
Members of the Washington team are Sean Buecker, Marty McGowan, Kris Weigand, Matt Mindnich, Ryan Fleming, Adam Vorraso, Matt Samiel, Sam Burum, Andrew DiMaggio, Johnny Demkovitz, Chris Pauzer and Tyler Margotta.
ALLENTOWN
Allentown went 1-2 in the Final 8 portion of the District 12 Tournament and ended up in a fifth-place tie. This is Allentown’s highest finish ever in the event.
"Last year’s 10’s got out of pool play. We went one game higher this time. We’re improving ever year," noted Allentown Manager Dan Caruso.
After being edged by Washington, 3-2, in the first game in the Final 8, Allentown came back to defeat Bordentown by that same 3-2 score on Sunday.
Billy Reed was the starting and winning pitcher, working the first five innings. Kyle Golla came on to pitch the sixth to earn the save.
Allentown scored two runs in the first. Kyle Golla and Matt Alpaugh both doubled and scored. Anthony Toleno walked and scored the winning run in the sixth.
Allentown was eliminated from the tournament by Nottingham, 11-1, this past Tuesday.
"It (the tournament) was exciting," noted Caruso. "This is the furthest we’ve ever gotten. When you get this far, you have a lot of eyes on you."
Allentown managed to reach the Final 8 by taking care of Cranbury-Plainsboro, 19-8, in the final game of pool play.
Billy Reed was the winning pitcher. Reed also had two doubles, three runs scored and two RBI. Dana Sensi had a hit, two walks and three runs scored. Luke Olexsax had two hits and two RBI. Kyle Gola had two hits and three runs scored. Matt Alpaugh had two hits and two runs scored. Caruso had two hits, a run scored and two RBI. Bob Millar had two hits and a run scored. Matt Morini had a hit, two runs scored and a RBI.
