Double Trouble: Livingston Sweeps Caldwell

The Livingston Junior American Legion baseball team demonstrated why its undefeated Sunday by sweeping a doubleheader against Caldwell Post 185.

Livingston Post 201 improved to 10-0 behind the strong pitching of Nick Striglia and a Michael Botti three-run triple to win 7-4 in the second game after recording a 12-2 victory in the opener at James Caldwell High School.

Livingston's fast start to the season picks up where Post 201 left off last summer when it finished among the top-four Junior American Legion teams in the state.

"No, I am not surprised about the start," said Livingston coach Bob Thiemer, who added that he was happy to get all of his players on the field during the doubleheader. "We had all 18 players from our roster out here today and we were able to play all of them."

While Livingston remained atop the Essex County Junior Legion League standings, Caldwell dropped to 6-7.

The top two league teams automatically qualify for the state tournament and earn a spot in the league championship game when the regular season ends in mid-July.

The remaining teams will vie for the other two state playoff spots for league teams. While Caldwell currently sits in eighth place, it's just two points out of fourth.

After Jake Dock fired a five-inning complete game for Livingston in the opener, Striglia scattered five hits and allowed one run over five innings of the second game.

"Nick was excellent on the mound," said Thiemer, who felt the soaring temperatures began to fatigue his pitcher as the game wore on. "The heat was starting to get to him and he was getting tired."

In an attempt to experiment with players in different positions, Thiemer inserted Alex Haberman, who usually is a catcher, onto the mound for the final two innings.

"We played a good team today and we just got buzzed," Caldwell coach Jeff Edwards said. 

In addition to Botti's three-run triple, Connor Kimmel went 3-for-3 in the second game for Livingston with a pair of RBIs, including a run-scoring double in the third inning. 

Right fielder Chris Della Riva led Caldwell with a total of four hits in the two games.

Livingston took control of the second game with a five-run second inning. With the bases loaded, Botti tripled to center field, scoring Max Farbstein, Douglas Bresick and Hunter Bushwell for a 3-0 lead.

"It was a fastball and middle-in," Botti said. "I just got a hold of it."

Botti then scored on a Kimmel base hit before a wild pitch brought home Kimmel for a 5-0 advantage.

Caldwell pitcher Mike Carnevale settled down after that inning before Joe Rubino pitched well in relief.

Kimmel added an RBI double in the third inning and Lucas Rodino drove in a run in the sixth for Livingston before Caldwell loaded the bases and scored a pair of runs on catcher Mike DeSena's base hit to cut the deficit to 7-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning.

But Haberman ended the rally by retiring Caldwell's Richard Todd to end the game.