Redwings Overmatched in 3-1 Loss

In the sky, dark clouds threatened rain throughout the game Thursday. On the field, the outlook wasn't much brighter for the Hoboken High varsity baseball squad. 

"I give a lot of credit to their pitcher," Coach Buddy Matthews said. "He pitched a quality game, threw good pitches and hit the right spots." Matthews added that his young squad was simply "overmatched."

Winning pitcher Elizer Rivera struck out 12 Redwings while walking two and allowing two hits. Hoboken's Ken Roder matched him into the third. Hoboken stranded two runners in the second and third; the Hurricanes stranded three. 

It looked as though Roder (1-2) would shut down the side in the fourth, but with two outs Alex Cruz roped a double to left. After a subsequent walk and a single to load the bases, Rich Colon put County Prep on the scoreboard with a 2-RBI double. Jorge Alejandro followed with an RBI-single before Roder escaped the inning with a strike-out. The Hurricanes led 3-0.

Still trailing 3-0 in the sixth, Duke McCourt broke-up Rivera's no-hitter with a lead-off single. Hoboken seemed to have the bases loaded after a pair of errors, but the second was called back. The umpire said that on Anthony Richards' bunt attempt, the ball hit Richards' foot outside of the batter's box, resulting in an out. The baserunners were sent back to first and second.

Abe Groomes followed with a bomb to left, nearly hitting the wall. But only one run came in to score as Matthews held the runners at second and third. Hoboken trailed 3-1. Rivera got the next two batters looking to avoid any further damage.

Despite a lead-off walk in the seventh, a base-running error at second quelled any chance of a Hoboken comeback in the seventh.

The Redwings went 1-2 in this week's home-stand. They are 3-4 overall. Groomes and McCourt had the only Hoboken hits in the game. 

Hoboken was missing their number three hitter and starting shortstop. Anthony Richards, the usual third baseman, slid over to short, but Matthews said there was an obvious hole in the line-up.

The Redwings are on the road Friday, taking on Union City. 

Several alumni were on hand Thursday afternoon, including 1990s stand-outs Leo Colon, Danny Ortiz, Josh Piniero, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Eduardo Gomez. Gomez pitched for Hoboken in the 1994 state championship game, his only loss that year. 

"Being here brings back great memories, great memories," Gomez said. 

"It's great to have them here," Matthews added. "I love to have them talk to the kids."