For Belleville High School it was expected that the boys volleyball team would make the Essex County Tournament final, but the baseball team came out of nowhere to shock West Orange in the Greater Newark Tournament.
In the 29 years of the GNT, there possibly had never been a bigger upset than what came on Saturday.
The 15th-seeded Belleville team traveled to second-seeded West Orange and ruined the Mountaineers day with a stunning 4-3 victory in the first round of the GNT.
The Bucs do not have to travel far for the next round as they head to 10th-seeded Nutley in the quarterfinals on Thursday at 4 p.m.
The second-seeded Bucs boys volleyball team moved to the ECT final on Saturday at Livingston High School (1 p.m.) against the top-seeded Lancers after defeating Science Park, 25-14, 22-25 and 25-20 on Saturday.
Last season, Livingston knocked out Belleville in the semi-finals of the ECT, but it was a close two-game match as the Lancers won the tight match, 25-23, 25-22.
For the Bucs they will be looking to make up for a disappointing loss to Livingston this season 25-17, 25-14 on April 13.
Baseball
It appeared the Belleville team (8-11) would just go out in the first round like a lot of teams that are seeded in double digits against a high seed.
West Orange scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning while the Bucs had their last wraps and seemed destined to go quietly.
But quicker than you can say "comeback", the Bucs scored three runs with two outs in the seventh inning.
In the first six innings the Bucs could not get anything going against West Orange pitcher Corey Feigenbaum, who had a no-hitter going into the seventh inning.
But a fly ball by Belleville's Keith Everett was dropped by the West Orange outfielder and scored pinch runner Carlos Marzan to give the Bucs an incredible 4-3 victory.
The late game rally began when Gabe Rivera brought Armani Caceres home from third with a base hit to cut the West Orange lead to 3-1.
After Belleville made two outs, Joe Anello scored Caceres with an infield hit to help creep the Bucs closer, 3-2. John Brondo scored the crucial tying run on a passed ball. Marzan, running for Anello, would then score Belleville's fourth run.
Boys volleyball
It appeared that the Bucs volleyball team would have an easy time on Saturday in making the Essex County Tournament final.
But Science Park would not let Belleville, the second seed, celebrate right away.
Behind the offense of Julian Rodriguez and Carl Loroco, the Bucs stormed to a 25-14 victory on the Chargers in the first game and a 1-0 in the best of three.
But on this day, Belleville would not make it easy on head coach Chris Terranova and the Bucs fans as Science Park came back to stun Belleville, 25-22.
But with the best of three tied at one, Belleville ultimately would not ruin the day for its fans as they pulled out a 25-20 win in the decisive third game. The Bucs raised its record to 16-5 on the season.
Rodriguez led the way with 15 kills and three blocks while Loroco chipped in 16 digs and a service ace. The Bucs also received nine kills from Jaleel Dolor and six kills for Orlando Andrade who also had five digs. Setter Luigi Zanoria collected 35 assists in the three-game match.
Softball
Belleville's trip in the Essex County Tournament was short as the 10th-seeded Lady Bucs lost 9-3 at seventh-seeded West Essex, a finalist last season in the ECT, on Saturday on the road.
The loss also ended a three-game winning streak for Belleville.
After going down 4-0 the Lady Bucs cut into the Knights lead with a pair of runs and were looking for more when a Vanessa Gomez shot was caught by West Essex shortstop Brianna Schauer to end the Belleville fourth inning.
And that seemed to be the undoing for the Lady Bucs as the Lady Knights came back with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and then three more times in the bottom of the sixth inning to shutdown an upset bid by the Lady Bucs. The loss dropped Belleville to 9-5 on the season.
Coming into the game with West Essex, the Lady Bucs won a close one, 7-6, at Newark Academy on Friday.
As it turned out Belleville needed every run they collected in Livingston against the Minutemen as Melissa Taylor smacked a base hit to score a pinch runner Kristina Gomez to give the Lady Bucs a 7-5 lead. Gomez was running for Noelle Agosta who wrapped a double.
Gomez had a good day going 2-for-3 on the day with two runs scored and two stolen bases.
And then Belleville pitcher Gabby Chimento allowed a run in the bottom of the seventh inning, but would not allow Newark Academy to get the equalizer and send the game into extra innings.
Chimento would have an even bigger day with the bat in the Super Essex Conference battle going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI along with a home run.
The Lady Bucs set the tone and never was behind when they placed five runs on the scoreboard in the top of the second inning to take a 5-0 lead.
Every time Newark Academy came back, Belleville would take a run on. Minutemen scored four runs in the second and third innings to cut the Lady Bucs lead to 5-4 but Belleville scored a run in the top of the fourth inning to take a 6-4 lead.
Boys tennis
Belleville improved its record to 8-5 on the season after defeating Orange, 4-1, on Thursday. For the Bucs, Brian Ramirez, Dan Robaina and Vincent Mendoza took the first, second and third singles matches respectively. Michael Mendoz and Adrain Pangilinan also won at first doubles for the Bucs.
