By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
The battery familiar to Hillsborough High School baseball fans of Matt Hornich and Brian Cole has helped the Flemington American Legion Post 159 baseball team enjoy a unique summer run.
Hornich’s pitching and Cole’s catching helped Flemington improve to 44-0 this summer as it opened the State Final 8 tournament at Moody Park on Saturday with a 2-0 win over North Warren.
”It’s been awesome,” said Hornich, who allowed only four hits while striking out five. “To be 44-0 in baseball, that’s unheard of. All it takes (to lose) is for one pitcher to be on. We seem to pull out every close game. We try to improve every game. We steal bases and bunt the ball and do the little things. I feel like that’s why we come out on top with the close games.”
Flemington finally lost a game, 8-6, to Mount Laurel Monday afternoon in a game that had been postponed in the seventh inning Sunday night by lightning. Flemington had to turn around and play Hightstown in the losers’ bracket. After falling behind, 3-0, Flemington chipped away. Cole had a pair of RBI in the 16-7 comeback win. Flemington was to play defending state champion Brooklawn Post 72 on Wednesday to stay alive.
”We thought we had the talent to win the state title, get to regionals,” Hornich said. “Obviously, our goal is to get to the World Series. Realistically, we knew we’d have a shot at a state title and making an appearance in regionals.”
Hornich, Cole and Alex Bronfeld are the lone players from HHS. Flemington is a collection of talent from Hillsborough, Hunterdon Central, Immaculata and Pingry. They figured to be good after bringing back some of the same players that helped them finish third in the state last year, but few could have envisioned a perfect start going this long.
”It’s pretty crazy,” Cole said. “We came into this year thinking we’ll compete. Last year, we had arguably one of the most talented rosters, but never really gelled as a team. This year, the chemistry has been unbelievable. That gave us a couple wins that we may not have had. I know we took Montgomery into the seventh tied and pulled that game out and a couple others. In the past, we would have lost those games.”
While Hornich and Bronfeld graduated this year, Cole still has one more year at HHS. He figures to be the starting catcher for the third straight year for the Raiders.
”Catching in the spring, especially starting so young and starting as a sophomore helped me mature and grow up pretty fast,” Cole said. “The high school season really prepares you, especially when we went 17 innings against North and had that marathon game, it prepares you.
”With Zac Vacca (on Legion), we switch on and off games. It helps us to play to our potential.”
Cole has been the regular catcher when Hornich, who has been taking summer classes to get a jump on his studies at the University of Delaware, pitches in Legion games.
”The past two years, he’s been the only catcher I’ve thrown to,” Hornich said. “A lot of people talk about chemistry for a pitcher and catcher and it really is important. We have good chemistry. He calls all my pitches. I never call him off. I have total trust in him. He hasn’t let me down.
”He’s one of the best I’ve ever thrown to in any game I’ve pitched,” he added. “The confidence I have, throwing sliders with guys on, if it’s in the dirt, I have confidence he’ll catch it. He’ll get on me. If I mess up, he’ll come out and talk to me and make sure I’m doing everything right.”
Cole appreciates the trust from the pitchers — most of them older and just a tad more experienced than he is — show in him.
”In catching from the guys, this spring catching Matt, these are all pitchers who are going to play college baseball,” Cole said. “It gives me confidence that we’re on the same page. When we’re on the same page, it seems to work together. We seem to get a lot of three-up, three-down. It gives me confidence that me and the pitcher are on the same page.”
Cole will be looking to figure out at what college he will continue his career. The Legion season is another chance to gain experience.
”With the preparedness I’ve had from high school and Legion, my goal is definitely to play at the Division I level,” Cole said. “Whether I can, or work hard enough to, it’s up to me.”
Cole’s catching has been vital to Flemington, and he has been able to contribute with his bat as well.
”In Legion, it’s gone better,” Cole said of his offensive game. “During the spring, I had a pretty good first half. The second half, I took a tumble and wasn’t finding the holes and got away from my approach. This summer, I’ve buckled down, stuck to my approach and have more hits average-wise.”
The Legion playoffs are a chance to show his overall ability against the top teams around the state, and the Legion season gives him another group of pitchers to work with for several months.
”It doesn’t take too long to get used to them,” Cole said. “We had a couple practices before the season started. Most guys’ fastball is straight and normal. You have to work out some of the kinks with off-speed stuff. You have to worry about pitching to their strengths, not pitching to the hitters’ weakness, which is something we’ve talked about this year. We want to pitch to the pitchers’ strengths to give them the best chance to succeed.”
Hornich made that easier with his good stuff Saturday. He was in complete control from the outset as he did not allow a hit for the first four innings.
”This summer, I’ve been pitching awesome,” Hornich said. “I’m 4-0 with a 1.35 ERA. I threw a complete game in the first round of states, and we won 2-0. It’s pretty good. My velocity is getting up there. I’m trying to get ready for fall ball in Delaware.”
He is taking classes, lifting and throwing in preparation for his first year of college. The Flemington Legion has given him an avenue to remain competitive.
”It’s been a great bridge from high school, staying in shape for college,” Hornich said. “My college coaches put some limits on what he wants me to do in the summer. Just for staying in shape and getting some game experience and coming into the fall in shape, this summer’s been great.”
Hornich was happy to get the start to open the Final 8. He had pitched against North Warren during their regular season with the Pyramid Baseball League. He had been equally effective then.
”I pitched against them the first time we played them,” Hornich recalled. “I threw six innings and gave up one hit and had eight strikeouts. I had five strikeouts (Saturday).”
Since then, however, North Warren had given Flemington all it could handle. A pair of one-run losses set the table for them to try to finally get past Flemington in the Final 8. Hornich didn’t let that happen.
”I knew if I threw my game, we’d be all right,” Hornich said. “I try not to worry about that other stuff. I try to do my thing. I have confidence in the guys behind me. If I make the pitches, they’ll make the plays behind me. (Saturday) we did that.”
Post 159 was looking to continue that run. They were tied, 6-6, when lightning forced them to postpone the final three innings against Mount Laurel on Sunday night. With Monday night’s win, Flemington was looking to continue its incredible run toward a state title. They came up just short of it last year, but this year they seem better suited to go all the way.
”I think just because we come every day to work hard,” Hornich said. “We don’t take days off. We work hard. The team chemistry, we all get along well. The trip to Rhode Island helped that. We spent time getting to know each other.”
The group has bonded over winning together this summer. It has helped them continue to enjoy success, and they are looking for more.
”The Flemington Legion program has so much tradition,” Cole said. “In 2009, they won the state championship. It’s the only time they won it. You want to have a nice record, but if you don’t win anything, you don’t bring home a trophy, it doesn’t mean anything. If you don’t get to the state title game, you can’t win. That’ll be the goal from here on out.”