ROBBINSVILLE: Ravens win MCT baseball crown

By Bob Nuse, The Packet Group
   As happy as Tom Brettell was to see his Robbinsville High baseball team win its first Mercer County Tournament title, he was happiest it happened with this group of seniors.
   ”It is always a goal to win it,” said Brettell, whose team topped Steinert, 8-7, last Friday in the championship game. “To do it for the first time with this set of seniors, who have worked so hard to put Robbinsville on the map in the area, it was well deserved for those guys.
   ”The whole lineup contributed and it was a real team effort.”
   The Ravens endured the game be postponed twice, then say through a two hour rain delay in the final before defeating the Spartans for the second time this year. Not only did the win give Robbinsville the MCT title, it also put to rest any doubts a win over Steinert earlier in the year was anything but well earned.
   ”It was the first championship for the school, so it was really special for the whole team, especially the seniors,” said senior first baseman Cory Karagjozi, who scored a pair of runs in the win over Steinert. “And to do it against Steinert, they are always our toughest competition so it is pretty amazing. It was something special with the second time beating them this year. I think some people thought the first one might have been a fluke. But now we have beaten them twice this year.”
   The Ravens jumped out to a 6-3 lead after four innings, only to see a two hour rain delay slow their momentum. Steinert came back to tie the game after the break, but Robbinsville responded with two runs for an 8-6 lead before holding off a Steinert rally for the win.
   Brettell got contributions from his team all the way through the lineup and on the mound. Sam Burum started and went the first four innings, with Adam Vorraso coming on to take care of the pitching the final three innings.
   At the plate, Steve Kowalski drove in three runs and CJ Gearhart had three hits and drove in two runs. In all, six different Ravens scored runs in the win.
   ”It is a different sport because if you have a player who can dominate in a sport you might be able to win,” Brettell said. “But in baseball you need to have others contribute. Those two pitchers have been doing it. Adam is 11-1 over two years. We trust him as much as anyone.
   ”And our lineup is deep with a lot of different guys who can contribute. That’s what you need if you want to be successful.”
   Karagjozi didn’t have a hit in the win over Steinert, but had his usual solid all-around game. He scored twice and was solid in the field as well.
   ”He is having a really good year,” Brettell said. “He is hitting about .380, but has gone under the radar a little bit. He does it every day for us. He’ll play where we need him. He was at second and no he’s at first. He is our No. 5 hitter and does a great job.”
   Added Karagjozi: “My job is to do whatever they need me to do. I was at second and now first. However I can help the team that works for me. Not many five hitters lead the team in bunts. I do a lot of sac bunting.
   ”Against Steinert it was a wacky game. It was an early start and then we had the rain. Mentally you have to stay ready. We did a lot of hitting under the stadium to stay loose.”
   Whatever the Ravens did, it seemed to work. And now they set their sights on a Central Jersey Group II title. Robbinsville opened state tournament play on Monday with an 11-2 win over Long Branch in Central Jersey Group II play. Eric Strano had a couple of hits, while Matt Samel and Kowalski each drove in two runs. Robbinsville, the No. 2 seed, advanced to face No. 7 Raritan on Friday.
   ”We are going to take it game by game,” said Karagjozi, who will attend Gettysburg College beginning in the fall. “This really is the time of year everyone gets excited for. This is the ultimate goal. First we play for our division and then the county and now states is the big goal.
   ”A couple of us have started four years. We’ve had the same coach preaching the same things and it has paid off. We’re enjoying this and hopefully we can keep going.”