Lefties: Beware of Bonfield

Pair of home runs keeps Montgomery 11-year-olds perfect

By: Justin Feil
   VOORHEES — It’s no secret anymore.
   Luke Bonfield likes facing left-handers.
   Bonfield hit two home runs to help lift the Montgomery 11-year-old all-star team past Maryland state champion Glade Valley, 9-0, Sunday to improve to 3-0 through the first three games of Cal Ripken Mid-Atlantic Regional pool play. Bonfield had never hit a pair of home runs in one game.
   "We usually don’t face lefties that much," Bonfield said. "There’s usually a lot of righties."
   Bonfield hits righties hard as well, and had no problem adjusting when Glade Valley started left-hander Adam Marshall. Bonfield got the scoring started for Montgomery when he singled home Andrew Link in the first inning, then scored on a two-run double by D.J. Nozza as visiting Montgomery jumped to a 3-0 lead at the Gibbsboro-Voorhees Athletic Association’s Rabinowitz Complex.
   It was more than enough run support for Montgomery, which recorded its second shutout in three games. Ben Verducci fired three no-hit innings, Nozza then came on to strike out two in two innings before Andrew Link pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning.
   Montgomery was scheduled to face the other unbeaten team in Pool B, Audubon, the Western Pennsylvania champion, on Monday. The winner draws the Pool A runner-up while the loser draws the Pool B winner in tonight’s single-elimination semifinals. The final is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Rabinowitz Complex.
   "It feels really good to know that we’re still one of the best teams," Verducci said. "I think one of the pretty good teams is Bear (Del.). We played them last year in the finals."
   Montgomery and Bear are the lone teams to return from last year’s 10-year-old regionals. Montgomery last year lost its regional opener before winning its remaining games to make the World Series. This year it is looking to return to the regional finals with a win tonight, whether as the top or second seed out of pool play.
   "I think we get better then because we have a really good team and everyone on our team works great under pressure," Bonfield said. "I don’t think it makes that much of a difference (to win Pool A) because we still know we’re a great team and we can beat anyone that comes around."
   Montgomery again has found the right formula to stay on top of opponents, grabbing the early lead with their offense then relying on its pitching and defense to hold teams at bay.
   Cameron Hoos went four innings and Link pitched the final two innings in a combined no-hitter in their opening 6-0 win over Metro New York champion North Shore on Saturday afternoon. Andrew Corazza allowed just two runs in a 12-2 four-inning win over North Jersey champion Montville on Saturday night. Those sorts of leads have helped the pitchers.
   "I think it gives you a lot more confidence," said Verducci, who took the mound with a three-run lead in the first inning against Glade Valley. "I’m not that great when I’m really nervous. It takes a lot of pressure away."
   Montgomery added another run in the third inning Sunday when Robert Johnson smacked a two-out double and Zack Mayer followed with a run-scoring single. In the fourth inning, Bonfield delivered the first of his two home runs to center field. Nozza followed with a home run to stretch the lead to 6-0.
   "Usually when I get ahead of the ball and roll over and hit it to left, I hit it to the third baseman," Bonfield said. "When I stay back on the ball, that’s where my power is. Mr. (Tom) Verducci said that. It just goes out."
   In the sixth inning, it went out again to center field to drive in Ben Verducci, who bunted for his third single of the game. Bonfield wasn’t sure that either of his shots were going to clear the fence. Nozza was walked when Marshall pitched carefully to him, but he came around to score on a stolen base.
   "I didn’t think they would pitch around me, but I was surprised they kept the same pitcher in," Bonfield said. "They definitely pitched around D.J. They didn’t want to give up two two-home run games in one inning. A couple of times other players have (gone back-to-back), but that was the first time for us."
   It continued quite a regional for Bonfield. He opened on Saturday with three runs batted in against North Shore. Against Montville, it was Link who delivered a grand slam while Nozza kept his red-hot regional going with a two-run home run. Montgomery broke the game open with a six-run third inning.
   "We came here and we all were ready to win," Bonfield said. "We didn’t want to get off to the same losing streak we did last year. We were determined to win the two games. We had great pitching from Cam, amazing pitching from Cam and everything seemed to work out by itself."
   Verducci also got off to a good start on the mound for Montgomery. After allowing a pair of walks in the first inning, he did not allow another base runner over the final 2Ð innings.
   "I think I corrected my mistake after the first inning," Verducci said. "At first, I was going a little slow through my motion and then I sped up which helped me get a lot better."
   Montgomery needs back-to-back wins tonight and tomorrow to wrap up its second straight regional title. The likely qualifiers from Pool A are Bear, Del., and North Colonie, the Eastern New York champion.
   "It’s not easy," Bonfield said. "Mr. Verducci said it’s harder to do the second time than the first time because everyone is looking out for you guys and everyone is pitching their best pitchers against us."
   Added the younger Verducci: "We’re still pretty confident because I think our team has gotten a lot better, especially with batting. We’ve been scoring a lot the past few games."
   Verducci knows he isn’t the most powerful hitter on the team, but he is able to help the offense by getting on base out of the No. 2 slot. That leaves it up to hitters like Bonfield, Nozza and Kocinski, who had a quiet three-hit game and was robbed of a fourth hit. In regional play, they have delivered to help Montgomery start 3-0.
   "I think I’m hitting a little better than I did in states," Bonfield said. "It’s just because the pitching is faster and it gets to me faster."
   It also goes out a lot faster, especially against left-handers