Hightstown Post 148 slugs out one-sided Legion win

By: Sean Moylan
   The Hightstown Post 148 American Legion baseball team hardly looked like one which had been struggling at the plate in an 18-2 win over Mitchell Davis 182 this past Sunday afternoon at Trenton High.
   "We came out and hit the ball," said Hightstown manager Rich Scheid. "Mike Bertuccio had four hits and Chris Kubik had four hits."
   Bertuccio and Kubik also drove in three runs apiece and each had a double in the contest.
   David Reichmann collected three hits, including a double. Zack Katcher drove in three runs and Kyle Gormley had two RBI. Kevin McCarey, Mike Kapuscienski and Logan Gallagher each plated a run in Hightstown’s 18-hit onslaught. Ethan Perro struck out seven and surrendered four hits in his complete game win.
   "He (Perro) struggled with his command (otherwise) he could have had a shutout. But he did what he had to do," said Scheid.
   Then on Sunday night, Bucks County nipped Mercer County, 6-5, in the All-Star Game. Hightstown’s Brian Greubel, Kubik (who pitched consecutive no-hitters two weeks ago) and Gallagher all made the Mercer squad. Greubel was even able to work his way out of a bases-loaded no-out jam in the contest. Gallagher got two at bats in the game.
   At 5-9 in the MCALL, Hightstown still has an outside shot at making the post season.
   "The (MCALL) teams that make the states this year should go far," said Scheid, pointing to the depth of good pitchers and hitters in the league.
   With the MCALL holiday break, Hightstown loaded its schedule with out-of-league games this week.
   This past Monday, it thumped Yardley Western, 14-1, at Conwell Egan High School in Pennsylvania. Yardley Western is a very good team with a 16-2 record in its league.
   "We got real solid pitching from Chris Kubik, who went four innings and Ryan Pierson, who pitched three," said Scheid. "We executed real well and advanced runners."
   Hightstown had a good bunting game. But it hit the ball hard too. In fact, Katcher ripped a three-run triple and Kubik and McCarey each put together multiple hit games. Hightstown had a six-run third inning and it was one of its better games this season.
   And this past Tuesday, Falls Legion, Pa beat Hightstown, 8-4, at Mercer County Park. Nonetheless, Greubel worked four very good innings and allowed just one unearned run. Because it was a non-league game, Scheid took Greubel out and let Marcus McCleod and Mike Kapuscienski get in some work on the hill. Unfortunately, Hightstown struggled a bit at the dish and scratched out just four runs.
   Hightstown celebrated the 4th of July with a good old-fashioned doubleheader at Flemington. Flemington won the first game, 7-4, despite a good pitching performance by Bertuccio, who hurled six innings and gave up just four earned runs.
   "They (Flemington) swing the bats pretty good," Scheid added. David Reichmann had a couple of hits for Hightstown.
   In the second game, Hightstown clobbered Flemington, 11-5. Kubik got the win (five innings, five runs, two earned) and helped his own cause with a pair of hits. Bertuccio had a three-hit game and Matt Hill had four hits in the twin-bill. After a slow start at the plate, Kubik has been crushing the ball the last two weeks.
   "If it wasn’t for sloppy defense we could have won both games," said Scheid, whose club’s overall record improved to 9-11 with the win.
   Hightstown was scheduled to host Newton, Pa. yesterday (Thursday). And on Friday Hightstown is scheduled to play Newton at Newton. On Saturday Hightstown is scheduled to play South Brunswick at a to be announced location. Hightstown is scheduled to host Lower Southhampton, Pa on Sunday. On Monday, Hightstown is scheduled to play Broad Street Park at Hamilton High. It is scheduled to host the Trenton 93 Schroths next Tuesday. And next Wednesday, Hightstown is scheduled to play North Trenton 458 at Nottingham High.
   Jr. LEGION
   It’s no secret that the Hightstown Post 148 Junior Legion baseball team keeps on getting better and better. And according to Post 148 manager Rick Kerr, Hightstown had its best game to date when it beat Bordentown, 6-3, at Georgetown Park on Sunday.
   "Ed Ras pitched a four-hit complete game and had four hits himself," said Kerr, whose team’s record improved to 8-2 with the win.
   Nick Calabresse also contributed a pair of hits to the win. Furthermore, every time Bordentown tried to make a move Hightstown countered it with a brilliant move of its own.
   "On the defensive side Nick Luberto had two stellar defensive plays at second base and had four assists to end a couple of Bordentown rallies," said Kerr.
   This past Saturday, Hightstown won by forfeit (7-0) over North Trenton Post 458.
   On June 26th Hightstown crushed West Windsor-Plainsboro, 11-0, at West Windsor-Plainsboro North High. Bryan Connaughton picked up a one-hit shutout in a game ended by the 10-run mercy rule. With three hits and a pair of RBI, Spencer Lewen had the best game at the plate for Hightstown.
   "Steven Braun, Alex Kabak and Steve Skonieczny each had two hits apiece," added Kerr. "It was a very well-played game (by us)."
   Hightstown, however, will not rest on its laurels. In fact, July 4th will be a working holiday for the Post 148 crew.
   "This week (July 4th, 5th and 6th) we’re entered in one of the top tournaments in New Jersey," said Kerr, whose club will play in the South Jersey (Haddon Heights) Junior Legion Tournament, which will play all of its games at Delran.
   Then on Tuesday, Hightstown will return to its regular Mercer County schedule with a game versus Princeton at Smoyer Park.