Key absences hurt chances for repeat title
By: Nick Vaccaro
Hillsborough wrapped up its season in the Garden State Wood Bat League August 4-5 by competing in the GSBL Championship tournament. The team’s 11-5 regular season record gave it the No. 3 seed entering the tournament. However, Hillsborough was missing a few key players, which hindered its options on offense and defense.
The first day of action took place at the Page Avenue Complex in Staten Island, N.Y. The top four teams after the first day of competition advanced to the championship round the next day. The Hillsborough boys went 1-1 in Staten Island, giving them a spot in the semifinals the following day. However, Hillsborough couldn’t make it past the semifinal round, eliminating their chances to repeat as GSBL champs.
"Everything considered, with guys playing out of position because of a limited roster, we gave an excellent showing," Hillsborough manager Bob Pucciarello said. "The players should be very proud of what they accomplished."
The first game of pool play pitted Hillsborough against the rival Moonachie Panthers in a rematch of last year’s championship game. Chris Sasso got the nod in this one, seeing as he struck out 15 hitters the last time he faced Moonachie.
The Panthers were able to tag Sasso for a few early runs this time, scoring one in the first, two in the second and one more in the fifth.
Hillsborough’s bats woke up in the bottom of the fifth. Andy Perhac and Shawn d’Anunciacao led off with singles. Two outs later, Andy Pogorzelski walked to load the bases for slugger Rob Restaino, who crushed a double into the left-center field gap to score Perhac and d’Anunciacao. That was all that Hillsborough was able to put together in a 4-2 loss to the Panthers in the tournament opener.
Game 2 for Hillsborough went much better, as the team embarrassed the South Shore Babe Ruth squad by a score of 12-1.
Hillsborough started early, putting a run on the scoreboard in the first inning. Starting pitcher Keith Laufhutte, normally a catcher, kept the momentum going by striking out the side in the bottom half of the inning.
The team scored two more in the second, increasing the lead to 3-0. South Shore scored a run in the third making it 3-1, but Hillsborough was just getting warmed up. Hillsborough’s half of the fourth was its best offensive inning of the season. After a leadoff pop out, the Babe Ruth squad failed to record another out until 11 batters later.
Pogorzelski started the onslaught with a single to right, which was followed by a Restaino single to put runners on first and third. Laufhutte was hit by a pitch to load the bases, which was followed by a bloop single from Kyle Pucciarello, scoring Pogorzelski.
The South Shore pitchers then lost the strike zone, as they pleased the crowd with an array of walks, wild pitches, and hit batsmen. Eventually, Andrew Infante hit a deep fly ball to score two more runs. Restaino came up again, singling up the middle to score a couple more. Long story short, Hillsborough sent 14 hitters to the plate in the inning, scored nine runs, and each of the nine players in the lineup accounted for one run scored apiece.
"That was a very fun inning," player/coach Adam Siegel said.
Despite a 1-1 record in pool play, the team earned a spot in the championship round since it only allowed five runs during pool play to win the tiebreaker.
The championship round was a single elimination round of play that took place at Fords Park in Woodbridge. Hillsborough faced the Ocean Veterans in the semifinals and the offense was not as effective as the previous day. The team was only able to muster four hits the entire game and dropped a 4-0 decision. Laufhutte pitched for the second day in a row, and did as well as anyone could have asked.
"We were short on pitching all weekend," Siegel said. "Keith put all he had out there for his team."
Although the team lost the game, Hillsborough’s defensive skills made for some exciting moments. Shortstop Perhac barehanded a bouncing ball and fired to first for an out, and Restaino threw out a base runner at third from center field for his sixth outfield assist of the season.
They may not have defended their title, but Hillsborough’s young men had another successful season in the GSBL. They finished the season 12-7, five games above .500. Restaino batted .632 on the season, and was 7-for-10 during the championship tournament.
"Rob (Restaino) is a complete baseball player," Coach Pucciarello said. "He can hit, catch, run, steal and has one of the best outfield arms I have ever seen. It was well known around the league that if you were a runner at second and there was a base hit up the middle, you stop at third."
Sasso and Ernie Lukacs were the key hurlers going 5-2 and 4-3, respectively. Lukacs struck out 50 batters on the season, while Sasso was right on his heels, striking out 47.
After Hillsborough adjusted to the use of the wooden bats, the team excelled instantly and won a title last summer. The team’s ever growing maturity and knowledge of the game has allowed these players to manage themselves, according to Coach Pucciarello himself.
"I take care of the administrative work; on the field, they basically coach themselves," Coach Pucciarello said. "We have already decided that we will do this at least one more year, so I guess I know where I will be next summer, unless they ask me to retire."