Livingston Juniors Top Nutley

Many of the Livingston Junior Post 201 players have plenty of motives in the Essex County Junior Legion Championship series, which helped lead Livingston to a dominating 10-0 victory over Nutley in the first of a best-of-three county championship series on Saturday.

Many of Post's 201's players remember when they were 12-year-olds and Nutley was instrumental in disqualifying them from the Little League tournament. Livingston had defeated Nutley in the tournament and was heading to the regionals when a Nutley protest kept Livingston home.

We use that every year against them," said Livingston starting pitcher Jake Dock, who got the win on Saturday at the Oval. "That was horrible what they did to 12-year-olds."

In addition, another sticking point was that Nutley handed Livingston one of only two losses on the regular season, 6-5, so Post 201 wanted to make sure that they got off to a fast start in the county championship series.

Dock made sure that Nutley did not get going; the junior-to-be at Livingston High School this fall pitched a complete game shutout against Nutley while allowing only three hits, striking out four and only walking two.

"I was hitting the corner with my fastball and then the curveball kept them off balance," said Dock.

Livingston Manager Bob Thiemer thought Dock's performance was right on. "It was the most dominating pitching performance that we have had all year long," said Thiemer. "He had tremendous control today."

For Thiemer, the win on Saturday was a must, especially going to Game 2 at Nutley.

"We wanted this," said Thiemer. "We wanted to get a jump on them on our own field."

The Nutley field is a turf field that can have grounders turn into nightmares for infielders. Also, there is a short left field porch in Nutley.

"It's hard if you don't play there regularly, so I guess that is why they call it home field advantage," said Thiemer.

Offensively, Livingston was helped by the top of the line-up. Leadoff hitter Connor Kimmel went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and Evan Miles, the second hitter in the lineup, went 2-for-4 and two runs scored.

After Dock shutdown Nutley in the top of the first inning, the Livingston hurler received comfort in the three runs that were scored in the first inning for a 3-0 lead. "I felt real confident and knew that are offense was going to come through," said Dock.

Both Livingston third baseman Kimmel and second baseman Miles opened the bottom half of the first inning with solid singles and scored along with Justin Tepper for the 3-0 lead.

Dock then set down Nutley one, two, three in the top of the second inning, helped by catcher Alex Haberman gunning down Joe Cadomo in his attempt at stealing second.

While Dock kept Nutley at bay, Post 201 put away the game in the bottom of the third inning with three runs, which Livingston posted after two out in the third inning, when courtesy runner Mike Botti stole second base and came home from second after Nutley first baseman Al Petraco could not handle a Haberman ground ball, giving  a 4-0 lead.

Haberman scored on a double from Nick Striglia and Joe Cappuccino scored Striglia with a base hit for a 6-0 lead. Left fielder Brent Birnbaum capped off the victory with a two-RBI base hit in the bottom of the sixth inning to put the mercy rule into play and a 10-0 victory.

The two teams play the second game on Sunday at Nutley High School, also at 10 a.m.. If Nutley wins the second game, a third game will be necessary on Monday night at Livingston.