Blackwood Loses Heartbreaker

For the better part of a month the Blackwood Kiwanis Little League 10-11 All-Stars have experienced success and joy.

On Monday, the team was left with heartbreak.

Blackwood got a phenomenal pitching performance from Marc-Anthony Rodgriguez, but Robbinsville was just a little bit better in a 2-1, eight-inning win in the opening round of the State Tournament.

“It was an unbelievable game,” Blackwood manager Ben  Zanghi said. “It was amazing.”

Rodriguez was nothing short of magical during his 86-pitch run. He struck out 12 over five innings, giving Blackwood everything he had and more. He threw 57 of his 86 pitches for strikes. Rodriguez struck out the side in the first and second innings, while punching out two in each of the other three. He allowed two hits and walked one.

“Marc-Anthony was phenomenal,” Zanghi said. “He was as dominant as he could be. He was unhittable.”

Blackwood took a 1-0 lead in the sixth when Dylan Maria singled and moved to third on a double by Rodriguez. Macen Collins hit a grounder to short that plated Maria. Robbinsville tied the game in the bottom of the inning, though, thanks to a two-out triple off Maria, who pitched well over the final three innings.

After each team had a scoreless seventh, Robbinsville got a single followed by a double to push the winning run across.

“I have never been so proud of our boys,” Blackwood manager Ben Zanghi said. “For an 11-year-old baseball game to be 0-0 after five innings and 1-1 after seven is amazing. Someone had to lose and it was a shame it had to be us. I’m still kind of numb.”

As expected, the local stars were visibly upset following the loss, but Zanghi expects they will be able to come right back tonight and give another phenomenal effort.

“They are 11-year old boys, so they are sad they lost,” Zanghi said. “It was gut-wrenching. They are going to have to come back (tonight) and get back on the winning track. We were just as good as they other team, they just scored one extra run. We are going to have to go battle. These are the best four teams in the state and you are not going to have any 10-0 or 8-1 wins. I thought one run was going to be enough (Monday), and it almost was."

Blackwood (8-1) now must win three games in a row to win the state title.

FOLLOW ALONG: If you cannot make it up to Red Bank tonight to watch Blackwood take on Ridgewood American, which lost to Livingston National, 5-4, on Monday, you can follow along with the live feed at MiddletownLittleLeague.org.