Down to its Final Strike: Caldwell Faces Elimination

RIDGEFIELD PARK—A chance remains for the Caldwell Post 185 American Legion baseball team to reach next weekend's state final at Mercer County Park.

But the odds grew longer after Saturday morning's 16-4 thumping to Glen Rock Post 145 in the first game of the the double-elimination District 1 Tournament at Overpeck Park.

Caldwell must beat Union Catholic, which lost to Wharton 16-5, Sunday morning at 9 a.m., to continue its season.

"You have to have a short memory," Caldwell coach Tom Lamont said of the quick turnaround. 

Caldwell (17-6-1) quickly fell behind against Glen Rock (12-7), which built a 6-1 advantage as catcher Steven Kozuch connected on a two-run double in the third and a solo home run in the fifth off Post 185 starter Connor Smith.

But Caldwell snuck back into the game with three runs in the seventh on RBI singles by Eric Barsanti and Anthony Mautone. First baseman Tyler Condit represented the go-ahead run at the plate, but Glen Rock lefty Louie Karcanes induced a ground ball to short to end the threat and escape with a 6-4 lead.

That was as close as the Chiefs would get in this nine-inning game.

Two infield errors sparked a four-run Glen Rock eighth as Kozuch recorded another RBI. Post 145 put the game out of reach with six more runs in the ninth, highlighted by Nick Arrue's long three-run homer over the left-field fence.

Kozuch went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and five RBIs. He also had a walk, was hit by a pitch and drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the ninth. 

Lamont used five pitchers—Smith, Jeremy Jemas, Chris Kinsella, Mike Jeffrey and Mike LaTorraca. Smith (4-3) went five innings and allowed eight hits and struck out five.

"It wasn't one of my best games," Smith said. "You get some days when you're not going to pitch as well and I didn't today. But I was a little unhappy with myself. I felt like I should have fought through it more."

Some good things did happen. Jemas allowed three hits and walked a batter in the sixth, but he picked off two runners at second and finished the frame with a strikeout to complete one of his two scoreless innings.

After failing to convert with runners on second and third with two outs in the third inning, Caldwell scored its first run in the fourth.

Condit led off with a double and moved to third when a Smith grounder was fumbled. Matt Vitiello drove in Condit with an RBI groundout, but Smith was thrown out trying to reach third.

Condit finished 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored, while Mike DeSena had a pinch-hit infield single in the seventh and eventually came around to score.

Lamont felt one of the biggest differences in the game was his relief pitchers falling behind in the count.

"Our pitching, we knew that with nine innings, we'd have to go to a couple of different pitchers," Lamont said. "We were dodging some bullets, but our pitchers after Connor were 2-0, 3-1 [in pitch counts]. "You can't win that way. You can't win in a district championship when the teams are going to punish you when you come in. These guys have won their share of games to get here.

"If our pitchers don't get ahead, and stay ahead, and work the edge, they're going to be in trouble," he added. "We can't live in the middle of the plate, because they don't throw hard enough. You start coming in and these teams will punish you."