Heights Comes Up Short In State Babe Ruth Final

WEEHAWKEN - The Hasbrouck Heights Babe Ruth baseball team's state title hopes were dashed Thursday night, as the 15-year-old squad lost in the final after dominating the first 13 games of district and state tournaments.

A victory over Basking Ridge on Thursday would have sent the Heights team to the regionals in Hamilton, Mercer County.

Heights bats that had been impressive in those 13 games just could not figure out Ridge pitcher Brian Jenkins' curveball, as the hurler powered Basking Ridge to a 3-0 win.

Heights managed only three hits in the loss.

Heights Manager Gary Shenloogian said he could not have been prouder of how his team competed through the stretch of playoff games.

"I give our kids a lot credit and they gave 100 percent," Shenloogian said.

Hasbrouck Heights starting pitcher Shawn Waldron, who gave up one run while striking out six, and reliever Michael Matteis mainly kept the Basking Ridge offense in check.

"If you said that the other team would score three runs, I would have signed on it on the dotted line," Shenloogian said. "Shawn pitched a heck of game. ... We hit the ball hard, but it just didn't drop for us."

After Heights catcher Gabe Toledo reached base in the first inning on an error by the Basking Ridge third baseman, Heights would not get a runner on base until the top of the sixth inning when Mark Shenloogian smacked a pitch down the first base line.

Toledo would coax a walk after Shenloogian's hit and put runners on first and second with the hope of finally breaking through with two outs in the inning.

But Matteis hit a long fly ball that was caught by Basking Ridge centerfielder Ryan Bell to end the rally.

While the Heights offense could not get going, the Hasbrouck Heights pitching was keeping the team in the game.

Matteis came in relief in the bottom of fifth inning and a pair of walks hurt him as Basking Ridge scored two runs. Matteis though settled down and shutdown Ridge in the sixth and seventh innings.

But the Hasbrouck Heights offense just could not get on track against Jenkins.

The members of the Hasbrouck Heights 15-year-olds are Mark Shenloogian, Toledo, Matteis, Chris Verdi,  Joe Crabbe,  Waldron, Kevin O'Leary, Andrew Mascis, Nick Lamendola, Robert Klenk, Daniel Nieves and Michael Blanco. Along with manager Gary Shenloogian, the coaches are Mike Mascis and Ed Hohnecker.