The Westfield Leader Newspaper
The Times of Scotch Plains-Fanwood

Page 14 Thursday, June 11, 1998 The Westfield Leader and THE TIMES of Scotch Plains – Fanwood A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION

CYAN YELLOW MAGENTA BLACK feared by opposing pitchers because

of her batting power and ability to put the ball in play. Phillips was the batter who made it possible for Wagner to score the winning run against Governor Livingston in the "showdown of Union County Champions."

Junior Liz McKeon, the final starter from last year's squad, went 15- for54, crunched one home run, drove in and scored 14 runs, bashed two triples and ripped two doubles. Kristen Leonardis went 15- for- 42 with a .357 batting average, scored 13 runs, had 10 RBI, stole six bases and slashed two doubles.

Abby O'Neill had 13 hits, drew six walks and was nearly a sure bet to score as she crossed the plate 16 times. Her specialty was in her ability to move the runner into scoring posi tion or to pull off a slick suicide

squeeze bunt. O'Neill led the team with seven sacrifices. Paige Corbett also was quite effective in moving the runner as she had six sacrifices. Corbett had 13 hits, scored eight runs and drove in 10 runs. As an outfielder, Corbett had no errors and led all outfielders with a perfect 1.000 fielding average.

Stephanie Flynn, who played first base, led the Blue Devils with 183 putouts and had only two errors for a .989 fielding average. Flynn also contributed seven hits, scored four runs, had three RBI and had three sacrifices. Melissa Francz drove three Blue Devils home, scored six runs and had three sacrifices.

Anisha Ambardar and Jessica Lutkenhouse were employed mainly as courtesy runners for their speed and craftiness. Ambardar scored 10 runs, stole two bases and had four hits in 12 at bats. Lutkenhouse scored 12 runs, had three sacrifices and drove in two runs.

Other Blue Devils who experienced varsity offensive action were Lauren Castaldo, Katy Brunetto, Kate Mortenson, Abby Coxson, Lindsay Guierriero, Katie Richards and Erika Van Anglen. Guierriero pitched nine innings for the Devils, allowing only one run and finishing with an ERA of .078.

The Blue Devils had a .330 team batting average, swiped 43 bases, amassed 187 hits, wore down home plate by scoring 138 runs, drilled 36 doubles, cracked 16 triples smashed two home runs and drove in 111 RBI.

With the Blue Devil junior varsity girls also winning a county title of their own and the very promising pitching ability of Guierriero, the Blue Devils can look forward to a very good season next year.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

Devil Softballers Finish Outstanding Season

games could have gone either way but we were just out of luck in a few of the games."

Despite several losses towards the end of the year, the Blue Devils came out on fire during the state tournament. Westfield won the first game of the tournament against Voorhees by a score of 13- 3. In the second round, the Blue Devils beat West Morris Central for the second time of the year, this time by a decisive score of 8- 5. Westfield came up two goals short against the state champion Bridgewater- Raritan team and lost 6- 4.

Gates said, "At the end of the year, our record was hurting a little but we really made up for our losses with a tremendous performance in the state tournament. Since no one expected us to be in the quarterfinals, we gained a lot of respect from teams

around the state." The Blue Devil defense consisting of seniors Dan Todd, Brenden Hickey, Steve Abeles and junior Matt Krug had an excellent year with numerous solid performances. The defense held opposing teams to a modest six goals a game.

The offense was lead by Baly who scored a team high 32 goals and 15 assists. Mansfield accounted for 29 goals and 17 assists while Mann contributed 19 goals and 22 assists. Gates scored 26 goals and 14 assists and senior Steven Kassakian had 10 goals and 3 assists. Seniors Dylan Dupre and Andrew Cambria combined for five goals.

Baly said, "We had some really great games and some really disappointing ones. But all in all, it was a great season."

St. Joseph and Ballisteiro made a great play at third to end any St. Joseph threat.

The James gang added two more runs in the top of the third to take a 5- 1 lead. Hoelzel smashed a single past the diving third baseman, Perrine whacked a chopping double right down the third base line, moving Hoelzel to third, then after Matuska grounded out, Grausso hit a long sacrifice fly to center allowing Hoelzel to score. Ballisteiro brought in the second run with a lobbing single over third.

St. James pitcher Matuska kept the hungry St. Joseph bats lean in the third inning, but gave them a onerun bite in the fourth. Straniero blasted a double to the center field fence and Wolff squibbled a single up- the- middle; but when Spitzer grounded into a double play due to a brilliant play by Perrine at short, Straniero dashed home to score.

Both pitchers ruled in the fifth and sixth innings. Only DiChristofaro had a single in the fifth and Ballestiero slapped a single in the sixth for the James gang and Don Stauder tapped a single to left in the sixth for St. Joseph. The James gang pulled off a 'sweet' Canata (first baseman)- toPerrine (at second)- to Matuska (covering first) double play in the sixth.

St. Joseph came back with two nice fielding plays in the top of the seventh. First, Rich Varsolona grabbed what seemed to be an apparent single to shallow right and alertly tossed the ball to second in time to get a force play. Second, Straniero, diving to his left, turned and threw in time to nail the runner at second.

Down 5- 2 in the bottom of the seventh, St. Joseph tried to launch

their final offensive. Krajcsik reached first on an error, Straniero drilled a single down the right field line and Spitzer hopped an RBI single up- themiddle. With one man out, Dave Rothenberg closed the score to 5- 4 when he brought Straniero home with a fielder's choice, but Karl Grossman grounded out for the final out and the James gang had dodged the bullet.

St. James 302 000 0 05 St. Joseph 100 100 2 04 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

St. James Nine Outlasts Surging St. Joseph, 5- 4

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

Devil Boy Laxers Blaze With Dignity to Conclude Season Blue Devil 'V'ballers Became

'Killers' in County Tourney By DAVID B. CORBIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

Putting a quick end to a volley was the theme of the Westfield High School girls volleyball team during the Union County Tournament. The fiercely determined Blue Devils racked up an incredible amount of kills in the final two matches.

The Blue Devils faced enthusiastic Union Catholic High School girls in the semifinals and avenged their two previous losses to the Vikings convincingly by trouncing them 15- 5, 15- 5. The Blue devils slammed the Vikings with 23 kills. Seniors Megan Devitt and Suzanne Vinegra pounded seven kills each in the massacre. Senior Margaret Kostro had three kills and the remainder of the Blue Devils added six.

However, the Blue Devils came through in all aspects of the game. Heather Simpson contributed 18 of the 19 team assists and Vinegra had eight service points. Devitt had two of the Blue Devils' four intimidating blocks and as a team, the Blue Devils

overtook the Vikings with six aces. The Blue Devils sailed even smoother in the finals when they breezed easily past the Union High School girls, 15- 3, 15- 4. Although they registered seven kills, the Blue Devil girls shattered the Farmers when Vinegra served up 10- straight points in the first game and Kate Brahm hammered 10- straight service points in the second game to bury the Farmers.

The Blue Devil girls embarrassed the Farmers with five blocks, led by senior Kelly Langton and Devitt who had two each. Brahm added the fifth kill.

Westfield finished the season with a 17- 3 record, losing twice to the Vikings earlier in the season and once to Elizabeth. The Vikings defeated the Blue Devils 15- 11 and 15- 8 in their first encounter and escaped with a 13- 15, 16- 14, 15- 11 win in their second outing. The Lady Minutemen also squeaked out a 15- 5, 14- 16, 16- 14 victory before the Blue Devils won everything in the Union County Tournament.

BISHOP BASHES 2 ROUND- TRIPPERS

Raiders Sink Cranford; Share Watchung Title

By DAVID B. CORBIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

Stirred by their one- run loss to Cranford earlier in the season, the Scotch Plains- Fanwood High School baseball team gave the Cougars a dose of their own medicine by pulling off a 6- 3 come- from- behind victory in Scotch Plains on June 3. The victory earned the Raiders a share of the Watchung Conference National Division title. Senior Doug Bishop bashed two solo home runs to contribute to the Cougars' demise.

On April 6, the Raiders held a 5- 0 lead going into the bottom of the fourth inning, but the Cougars slashed five runs in the fourth and clawed three more in the fifth to take an 8- 5 lead and held on to win 8- 7. This time, the Cougars held a 3- 2 lead in the fourth but the determined Raiders gnawed away at the lead with one run in the fourth, one in the fifth and two more in the sixth.

Bishop temporarily gave the Raiders a 1- 0 lead with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first inning. In the second, however, Cougar Tim Meyer singled and Pat Maher walked and then scored with the help of singles by Bob Haber and Kevin Feeley.

Vin D'Angelo drilled a double, then later scored for the Cougars when Chris Baran reached base safely on an error in the third. Bishop closed the score to 3- 2 with his second solo shot in the Raider half of the inning.

The Raiders tied the score when senior Adam Baumwoll rapped a twoout double to right- center and junior Joe Franzone brought him home with an RBI single in the fourth. In the fifth, the Raiders took a 4- 3 lead when Dave Gewirtz made it to first on an error and Jim Buccola smashed an RBI double to center.

With apparently broken spirit and the solid pitching of Gewirtz, the Cougars could only 'meow' in the sixth. The roaring Raiders, however, bellowed back with two runs in the sixth, making the score 6- 3. Baumwoll, who walked and Franzone, who reached first on an error, both scored on wild pitches.

Senior Dave Gewirtz finished off the final three Cougars and ended with a four- hitter. The Raiders finished their season, winning three straight, with a 14- 5 record and the Cougars finished with a 21- 3 record.

Cranford 021 000 0 03 Sc Plains- Fanwood 101 112 x 06

FACTOR'S DOUBLE IN 7TH SNAPS TIE

Russell Rd. Roars Past Sun Valley Nine, 9- 6

By DAVID B. CORBIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

Things seemed bright for Sun Valley in the beginning, but the defending champion Russell Road team revved up and roared past Sun Valley in the seventh inning to secure a 9- 6 victory in Fanwood Old Men's Softball action at La Grande Park in Fanwood on June 8. Clint Factor's tie- breaking RBI double put Russell Road ahead for good.

Russell Road, sponsored by Shout of Plainfield and Charlie Browns, revved its gears in the first inning but stalled out before any runs could cross the plate. With two outs, Dave Buchwald hopped a single to left and Factor followed with a looping single over third, but Sun Valley pitcher Al Manzi snagged Lou Danielle's grounder before

it could do any damage and tossed the ball to first for the third out.

Tim Walsh, pitching the first inning for Russell Road, retired the first three Sun Valley batters in the first and Manzi held Russell scoreless again in the second, allowing only a single to Bob Picarsky. Tom Cullinane replaced Walsh as pitcher and retired the next three Sun Valley batters in the second.

Paul LaMastra got the "Roaders" rolling in the top of the third with an arcing single over short. Walsh reached first safely on an error and Buchwald got the first of his three RBI with a sizzling single down the third base line. Factor stepped to the plate and "whapped" a double off the screen in center field and Walsh waltzed home to put the "Road" ahead, 2- 0.

Sun Valley quickly changed the cloud burst with a "bright, shining" threerun third inning. Bill Marvelli bopped a single past third, tagged up and moved to second on a fly ball to right and zipped to third on a passed ball. Jamie Teel patiently drew a base- onballs, then Jeff Doyle brought Marvelli home with a sacrifice fly to deep center. Dan Pasquarillo cleared all of the clouds with a magnificent two- run homer to deep center field.

Manzi allowed only a single to Arnold Peeples in the fourth as the "Roaders" could only "varoom" their engine, then Sun Valley shined with three more runs in its half of the inning.

FIVE HOME RUNS ARE CRUSHED

Checchio's Team Makes Sour Grapes Whine, 14- 7

By DAVID B. CORBIN

Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times

The Sour Grapes were ripe for the picking and Checchio Chiropractic did the harvesting as they reaped a 14- 7 victory in a Westfield Men's Softball League game at Memorial Field in Westfield on June 5. A total of five home runs was hit in the colorful confrontation between the purple and blue uniforms.

The Sour Grapes, sponsored by the Park Place Diner in Scotch Plains, jumped to an early 2- 0 lead in the first inning. Jason Berger chopped an infield single and the speedy Todd Schechter reached safely on an error. When Erik Berger bashed a single up- the- middle, Jason Berger and Schechter zoomed around the bases to score.

Checchio's, now comprised of a combination of several fine players from the Gamblers who lost in the finals to the Mattress Factory last year and several of their own fine players, cracked three runs in the bottom of the first. Joe Dasti and Dave Buchwald both drew walks and the left- hand hitting Frank Malta stepped to the plate and launched a towering three- run homer over the right fielder's head.

Checchio's pitcher Manny Perez squelched the Grapes in the second and third innings, allowing only a single to Jason Berger and a walk to Ramon Rivera in the second. During the bottom of the second, Jack Fallia blasted a leadoff home run to deep left field to put Checchio's ahead, 4- 2.

In the bottom of the third, Checchio's added some more fire power. Dasti drew another leadoff walk and Buchwald ripped a double down the third base line to bring him home. Jim Freel reached on an error, then Gary Ruban sent one in orbit and into the trees in deep, deep right field for a three- run home run.

The Grapes were momentarily crushed and failed to score in the

fourth, but Checchio's manipulated two more runs in their half of the fourth. Danny Mondelli reached first on an error, Perez and Rick Weber both walked to load the bases, then Orlando Rivera bopped a sacrifice fly to center to bring in Mondelli. Dasti rapped another sacrifice fly to right field to bring home Perez with the second run.

With the score, 10- 2, the Sour Grapes began to ooze some sweetness in the top of the fifth. Schechter hooked a single to left, then Erik Berger crashed a monster homer to deep center.

The slug- fest was far from over, Freel whacked a single to left to lead off Checchio's half of the fifth. Malta mashed a double to center and Ruban lofted a long sacrifice to center to bring home Freel. With Malta on third, Brian Chapman dug in at the plate and buried a two- run homer in the grass in faraway deep center to increase Checchio's death grip to 13- 4.

The Sour Grapes' bats were motionless in the sixth, but Checchios came back with another run in the bottom of the inning. Rivera reached first on a fielder's choice, Dasti drew a walk and Buchwald punched an RBI single to left- center.

With one last chance to squeeze out some runs, the Sour Grapes began the inning in a promising manner when Chris Flippen crushed a burning solo shot into the trees behind left field. Later, with one out, Schechter slashed a single to left and Erik Berger hooked a double down the left field line to drive home Schechter. Finally, Harry Semple hit a chopper to third and Berger rumbled home with the Sour Grapes' seventh and final run.

Erik Berger finished with three hits and five RBI for the Sour Grapes and Malta and Ruban each had three RBI for Checchios.

Sour Grapes 200 020 3 07 Checchios 314 231 x 14

Kevin Woodrine drew a leadoff walk, Don Darlington drilled a single upthe- middle, then Tony Spotto drove Woodrine home when he hit into a fielder's choice. After Spotto moved to second on a passed ball, he alertly tagged up, rounded third and scored when Marvelli launched a sacrifice fly to a remote section of right field. Next, Manzi, displaying unusual power, blasted a double off the center field screen, then Teel tapped a single to right to send him home.

Down, 6- 2, Russell Road was sputtering. The Valley boys returned to the plate after retiring three- straight batters in the fifth. "Road" pitcher Cullinane found his groove and held the "Valley" boys scoreless to put the "Road" back at the plate.

Again, Factor became a factor as he cracked a leadoff single to center. Lou Danielle hammered a liner which was snagged by a diving Doyle at third. With two outs, the crafty righthanded hitting Tom Straniero sliced a double down the right- field line, placing runners on second and third. Not to be outdone in artfulness, Picarsky soft- punched a two- run double over the third base man's head and Russell Road had tightened the score to 6- 4.

Cullinane quelled the Valley in the bottom of the sixth and Russell Road rolled to the plate for one last attempt at taking the lead. Cullinane ripped a leadoff single to right, LaMastra bounced a double off the left field foul pole, Walsh loaded the bases with a walk, then Buchwald bopped a two- RBI single down the third base line. Factor factored in to the winning equation with his one- run ground- rule double into the net in deep left- center. Straniero drove in the fourth and fifth runs of the inning with a stinging single off the foot of the first baseman.

Sun Valley's chances appeared dim, being down, 9- 6, in the bottom of the seventh and Cullinane made sure the light remained behind the clouds as he quickly retired the side. Russell Road upped its record to 5- 3 and Sun Valley slumped to 1- 3.

WESTFIELD MEN'S SOFTBALL LEAGUE STANDINGS:

(As of June 7)

TEAM W L Mattress Factory 5 1 A. J. Jersey Forklift 6 3 Checchio Chiropractic 4 2 Chaos 4 2 Charlie Browms 4 5 Jolly Trolley 2 4 Sour Grapes 2 6 Cellular Signal 1 5

JUNE 7: A. J. Jersey Forklift (South Plainfield) 9, Cellular Signal of Westfield 4

The A. J. Jersey Forklift team slammed the door on the Cellular Signal team by preventing any chance of a late inning rally. A. J. Jersey is the only team to defeat the defending champion Mattress Factory this season.

Chaos 11, Sour Grapes (Sponsored by Park Place Diner) 6

Despite a towering homer by Erik Berger in the seventh inning, the Sour Grapes had to stomach a bitter and confusing defeat at the hands of Chaos.

Charlie Browns 32, Jolly Trolley 23

In a "family feud" battle, Charlie Browns took an early 28- 9 lead, but the Jolly Trolley banged and clanged its way back into the game to make the score 28- 23 at the end of six innings. Charlie Browns, without the help of Snoopy, said "good grief" and added four more runs in the top of the seventh.

FOMSA STANDINGS: (Fanwood Old Men's Softball Association)

(As of June 8) TEAM W L Hunter Avenue 6 2 Willoughby Road 4 2 Russell Road 5 3 Shady Lane 2 2 Montrose Avenue 3 4 Poplar Place 2 3 Sun Valley 1 3 Marian Avenue 1 5 * Continued thanks to Association President and Umpire Bob Brelinsky *

David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times ANOTHER BERGER KING MOMENT… Erik Berger of the Sour Grapes rips a single in the first inning against Checchio Chiropractic at Memorial Field in Westfield on June 5. Berger had a home run and 5 RBI.

David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times CHOPPING GROUNDER TO THIRD… Tom Maher of St. James chops a grounder to third in the first inning against the St. Joseph team at Brookside Park in Scotch Plains on June 4. St. James won, 5- 4.

David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times SUN VALLEY OFFENSIVE THREAT… Bill Miravelli rips a single past third during the game with Russell Road at La Grande Park in Fanwood on June 8. The "Roaders" won 9- 6.

David B. Corbin for The Leader and The Times SAFE AT THIRD… Jim Hoelzel of the James gang pulls into third as Gerry Spitzer awaits the throw.

David B. Corbin for The Leader and The Times HOMECOMING… Todd Schechter of the Sour Grapes scores one of his two runs in the first inning.

David B. Corbin for The Leader and The Times THE PITCH… Tom Cullinane of Russell Road fires a strike during the fifth inning at La Grande Park in Fanwood.

David B. Corbin for The Westfield Leader and The Times COUNTY CHAMPION BLUE DEVILS… The Westfield High School girls volleyball team poses for the camera after winning the Union County Title. The Blue Devil girls finished the season with a 17- 3 record.