Nutley Falls to Montclair in Finals

It was close, but in the end, Nutley couldn't win.

For the Mounties, Sunday's trip to Eagles and Bears Riverfront Stadium in Newark was Montclair's actual first trip to the GNT final in 43 years.

They weren't going to wait a second longer.

"We came up short in this tournament in the last few years ... we played really great ball games, unfortunately we weren't able to come out with wins," said MHS head coach Ron Gavazzi. "We always knew we were capable of winning it and we said last year, 'let's do something great this season.' I'm extremely proud of those players. They never let up, they never died. I'm just so happy for them."

Montclair got seven innings of one run ball from Eliott Gertner and got a pair of two out, RBI singles from Ben Hamilton and Sam Ackerman, to lead the Mounties to the 80th annual Greater Newark Championship, 2-1, over Nutley. It was Montclair's first GNT win since 1963 and its first appearance since 1969.

"Our success in every game this year has been pitching and defense," Gavazzi said. "That's what we rely on. We find ways to score runs, but we totally rely on our pitching and our defense. Eliott Gertner was absolutely sensational and our defense was just as good behind him."

Gertner was cruising along, pitching a four-hit shutout through the first six innings of play on Sunday evening, holding onto to a 2-0 lead. Down to their last strike of the game, Nutley's Nico Mercandante snuck a base hit up the middle, followed by John Llano belting another to center. A Montclair error allowed Mercandante to cross and, after Jack Kraft was hit by a pitch (also down to his last strike), the Raiders were suddenly alive with the bases loaded, down by a run and leadoff hitter, Nick Gariano at the plate.

Nutley's short stop sent a rocket to centerfield, and for a moment it looked as though the ball would drop and at least two Nutley runs would score. But Montclair's Brett Cooper made a diving catch to save the runs and end the game.

"I was calm. We always tell our guys that you have to stay in the moment and focus in on playing until the last pitch," Gavazzi said. "It's no different from when they were playing when they were little kids, any regular season game in high school, any other elimination they've been in and certainly the championship game."

Gertner came out on top in what was a pitcher's duel between he and Nutley's Kevin Garcia, who was also dealing, striking out eight in the game, while allowing five hits and three walks. In the end, Montclair's hitters were able to do more with the few opportunities they were given.

"We knew he was a good pitcher and it was going to be a low scoring game, so any mistake could hurt you," Gertner said. "So you have to be close to perfect."

Hamilton drove in the first run of the game, knocking in Eli Kashi on a second inning, RBI single dunked into shallow right, just inside the rightfield line. Ackerman's RBI came as an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning, also driving in Kashi, putting Montclair up 2-0 at the time.

The teams combined to go 3-of-16 with runners in scoring position, but only two of those hits drove in runs, with both coming for the Mounties. Nutley not only left the bases loaded to end the game, but also left four others on base in the game.

"We knew it was going to be a pitcher's duel," Gavazzi said. "Kevin Garcia has a really great arm. He's a heck of a talent. We knew we had our work cut out with him."

Perhaps the team's best chance to score came in the opening inning. Gariano got on with a leadoff walk, stole second, and was moved third on a groundout, setting up the Raiders with a man on third with just one out. Luke Kelly hit the ball to third, Gariano tried to score, but was thrown out by Mackenzie Genauer at home, and Kelly was subsequently thrown out trying to take second base.

After that, Nutley had a minor threat in the top half of the fifth, getting Austin Kunz and Mercandante on base with back-to-back singles, setting them up with runners on first and second with one out. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners over, but Nutley was unable to score.

Both teams now get set for a state playoff run this week. Montclair (18-7) is the No. 3 seed in the North I Group 4 state sectional championships, and hosts West Orange in the first round on Tuesday. Nutley is a five seed in the North II Group 3 state sectional championships, and hosts Morristown in the opening round, also on Tuesday.