H-EW 14’s having another great tourney

By: Sean Moylan
   The more things change, the more they stay the same.
   Last year Corey Vono and Steven Kowalski pitched the Hightstown-East Windsor 13-year-old Babe Ruth All-Stars to a Section One title, a New Jersey state title and straight into the Babe Ruth World Series.
   This year, Vono and Kowalski are at it once again, pitching great while using their slick-fielding Hightstown-East Windsor defense to post victories in their first two 14-year-old Babe Ruth All-Star games.
   On Sunday at Hopewell’s Bacon Field, Kowalski and Vono teamed up to blank Hamilton, 2-0. Kowalski tossed the first five innings and surrendered just four hits while walking just two batters. Hightstown-East Windsor needed Kowalski to be good because it was a scoreless game until Hightstown-East Windsor tallied a pair of runs in the top of the sixth on RBI by Michael Noebels (1-for-1) and Tyler Schickner. Then Vono saved the win for Kowalski with two scoreless innings of one-hit ball.
   Hightstown-East Windsor was getting its hits (eight in the game), but with no extra base it only scored twice. John Indrikovic was 2-for-4 with a steal while Kowalski singled and stole a base. Eric Strano and Josh Pacifico each had a hit and scored a run while Alex Petak (1-for-2) and Robert Murphy (1-for-1) also had good days.
   Chuck Petty’s great Hightstown-East Windsor club opened with a 4-1 win over Montgomery on Saturday. Vono gave up just one unearned run in the first as he threw five innings to pick up the win. Kowalski, of course, closed it out with a pair of scoreless innings.
   Vono, a talented knuckleballer, did give up nine hits but he was saved by several defensive gems by his teammates. Kevin Monahan singled in two runs in the second to put Hightstown-East Windsor up for good. He also knocked in another run in the seventh. Pacifico had a perfect 2-for-2 day at the dish, stole two bases and scored a pair of runs. Strano doubled and had a run scored. And Vono helped his own cause with a hit and a run scored. Kowalski had a steal in the contest.
   Hightstown-East Windsor and Nottingham were scheduled to have played each other in the winners’ bracket final this past Wednesday. However, that contest was rained out and rescheduled for yesterday (Thursday). Of course, all that means is Hightstown-East Windsor’s terrific dynamic duo of Kowalski and Vono have even more rest. And don’t forget Strano is also a fine hurler himself.