By: Sean Moylan
When Chris Kubik threw a no-hitter in Hightstown Post 148’s 11-1 five-inning win over North Trenton 148 last Friday night at Mercer County Park, Ethan Perro’s mission versus the Trenton 93 Schroths on Sunday at Wetzel Field was a "simple" one.
He wanted to pitch a great game just like his Allentown High teammate had just done.
All Perro did was no-hit the Schroths 11-0 in five frames to match Kubik’s brilliance. Although Kubik actually surrendered a run, it was unearned and he was facing a little better team than Perro matched up against on Sunday. So the performances were very even.
"It’s good when you can get back-to-back no-hitters in the Mercer County American Legion League," added Hightstown’s manager Rich Scheid.
The victory over North Trenton was Hightstown’s first of the season as its came alive for the first time since its opener against Lawrence 414.
Hightstown pounded out 12 hits as catcher Zach Katcher erupted for a double and a single, two runs scored and a pair of RBI. He also stole a base. Kyle Gormley was 1-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored. Logan Gallagher (2-for-3 with a double and RBI), Matt Hill (1-for-3, run, RBI), Mike Kapuscienski (1-for-3, run, two steals, two RBI), Kevin McCarey (2-for-3, two runs), Perro (1-for-3, run), Curtis Schickner (1-for-3, two runs, steal, RBI) and David Reichmann (1-for-3, run, RBI) all did their job at the plate.
But the undisputed hero of the contest was Kubik, who fanned four batters.
"He had good command and he worked ahead of the hitters," said Scheid of Kubik. "Kubik gave up a run on a double steal with runners on first and third in the third."
Kubik walked a batter and a runner reached on an error. Otherwise, he was flawless.
On Sunday, Perro’s bid for a perfect game was also spoiled in the third inning when he hit the Schroths’ second batter of the frame. After that he too was flawless.
"Ethan’s gotten off to a good start. He’s got 17 strikeouts in 15 innings," noted Scheid. "Perro pitched five good innings and we took advantage of some sloppy defense."
In three games, Perro is 1-0 with a 1.87 ERA.
Since returning from an illness, Kapuscienski has been crushing the ball for Post 148. In Sunday’s contest he enjoyed a 3-for-4 day at the dish with a double, two RBI and two runs scored. Gallagher also smacked a two-bagger, drove in a pair of runs and scored twice. Katcher and Schickner each doubled and knocked in a run too. Kubik helped out his Allentown buddy with a single, RBI and run scored. Hill scored two times.
With three hits including a solo homer, Hill was the star of Hightstown’s 9-6 non-league win over Morrisville at Philadelphia Biblical College this past Saturday. Schickner drove in a pair of runs.
"Marcus McLeod got the win and Brian Greubel got the save," added Scheid.
After losing six in a row (one out of league), Hightstown won three in a row entering this past Tuesday’s contest versus Bristol. Since the pitching has basically been good from the start, Scheid credits timely hitting and getting more baserunners for the team’s recent success.
While West Windsor-Plainsboro looks pretty strong, there appears to be more parity in the MCALL this season. Any team can beat any team on any given day. But at 2-5 (3-6), Hightstown’s margin of error is a little smaller for one of the playoff spots.
"We have to get to .500," said Scheid, who is taking it one game at a time.
Nonetheless, Kubik, Perro, Greubel, Michael Bertuccio and Gallagher had a combined ERA of 2.38 entering Tuesday’s contest. So the pitching is good. And any time a team has good pitching, it has a good chance of winning.
Hightstown was scheduled to have played Hamilton 31 this past Wednesday and Mitchell Davis 182 this past Thursday. Hightstown is scheduled to play Hopewell 339 at Princeton Day School today (Friday). Hightstown is scheduled to host West Windsor-Plainsboro on Saturday and Roselle on Sunday. On Monday, Hightstown is scheduled to play Lawrence 414 at Lawrence. Then on Wednesday, Hightstown is scheduled to host Ewing 314.

