River Plaza Warriors squad has a championship summer

At the beginning of the season, the River Plaza Warriors consisted of a group of players void of any standouts.

They were instead a bunch of kids who learned that practice was the key to improving and winning. Then winning became the norm, and the kids wanted to practice more.

The regular season ended with a 10-1 record, with the Warriors finishing first in the East Division. This brought them to the first round of playoffs against the Shrewsbury Cardinals. With the Warriors ahead 6-2, the Cards tied it up 6-6; then the Warriors took the lead again and held on to win the game, 8-7.

The second round was against the Shrewsbury Red Sox. The Warriors had a hard time in this game, as the Sox played it very tough. However, the Warriors were once again victorious, 10-4.

A game highlight and rally killer was when Kevin Potter of the Warriors made a leaping play on a hard bouncer, throwing out the runner.

The next game was against the Shrewsbury Giants for the East/West Championship. The Warriors dominated in this game and went on to play in the Senior League Championship against the Rumson Bulldogs.

This series was one for the books. The first game was a wild one, with the Bulldogs winning and taking a 1-0 series lead by the score of 12-11. Good hitting from both sides included two home runs from Erik Nilson and two doubles from Ryan Fredericks. Game two went to the Warriors, 6-5, in seven innings. Highlights included a fabulous unassisted, game-saving double play by first baseman Dan Smith; Kevin Schnoor making a beautiful backhand play at short and gunning down a runner at home trying to score from third; and Drew Rauso doubling in the winning RBI. With the championship tied at one game apiece, this series would come down to the final game.

With one out in the top of the first, Rick Fuentes came to bat and homered to give the Warriors a one-run lead. The Bulldogs got one of their own to tie the game, off the bats of Allen and Montanti. The Warriors struck for four more runs in the third, with hits from Rob Marcickiewicz and a double from Rick Fuentes. The Bulldogs would not go away and continued to fight back and again tie this game, with hits from Thuman, Allen and Montanti. The Warriors scored once more in the fifth inning on a double from Erik Nilson and an RBI from Kevin Cash. This gave the Warriors a 6-5 lead. Chris Pattwell came in to pitch and stopped the Bulldogs from scoring any more runs. The Warriors held onto the lead to win the game and the championship. There was great pitching throughout all the playoffs from Kevin Cash, Rick Fuentes and Chris Pattwell.

The Warriors are Frankie Bardell, Anders Carlson, Kevin Cash, Ryan Fredericks, Ricky Fuentes, Rob Marcickiewicz, Erik Nilson, Chris Pattwell, Kevin Potter, Drew Rauso, Kevin Schnoor and Dan Smith.

The team was coached by Jeff Potter, Jay Schnoor and Ralph Cash.