Livingston Slammed from GNT

VERONA— As the West Essex baseball team's leadoff hitter, Andrew Santomauro has developed a creative way of getting on base: by bypassing them all together.

That's what the senior did Saturday when he connected on his second home run with a grand slam that capped his seven-RBI performance and the top-seeded Knights' 13-3 five-inning win over the Lancers in in the Greater Newark Tournament semifinals at Doc Goeltz Field.

Livingston, the defending champions and fourth-seed this year, knew the game would be tough. Although the Lancers were pumped, coming off an impressive win over Seton Hall Prep on Thursday, the boys knew they'd have to play near perfect ball to beat West Essex.

"We didn't play sharp today," Livingston coach Scott Schroeder said. "We made mistakes today and against a great team like West Essex it would be very hard to win."

West Essex (16-3) will now face sixth-seeded Columbia (12-6) in Saturday's championship at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium in Newark at 2 p.m. Columbia rallied to defeat second-seeded Montclair 11-7 in the second game of the semifinal doubleheader at Verona High School.

While Santomauro finished 3-for-4 with a triple, home run and seven RBIs against Livingston, West Essex also got some help on the mound. Right-hander Dan Gautieri  (4-0) gave up three runs on five hits, while striking out five and walking three.

But he ran into some trouble in the first inning when Livingston scored one run off two hits. Jimmy Napolitano roped a single to center field. John Beaubien then broke out of a slump by hitting a towering triple to right-center field, scoring pinch runner John Sorrentino.

In the second inning, Gautieri appeared more composed and focused after having a conversation with coach Scott Illiano between innings. After getting a ground-ball out, Gautieri struck out Mike Mansfield and Greg Gamba to finish off the inning having thrown just 14 pitches.

Livingston starter Ryan Sullivan couldn't escape trouble in the bottom of the second after striking out Jimmy Kenny to start the frame.

Lee Holtzman walked, Vin Cosenzo singled and Ralph Velardi also drew a walk to load the bases.

Third baseman Tim Perrotta laced a single to center field that plated Holtzman and the bases still remained loaded. Ninth-place hitter Jimmy Philips was hit in the back that forced home Cosenzo to give the Knights the lead for good at 2-1.

Santomauro followed with a two-run single to extend the lead to 4-1. Philips then scored on a wild pitch and Santomauro was brought home on a Mike Rafanello fielder's choice for a 6-1 advantage.

Gautieri then set down Livingston in order in the third inning as Nick Kozlowsky grounded out, Jimmy Napolitano popped up to second base and Frank Schwindel grounded out to shortstop.

Livingston's Sean Rucker relieved Sullivan after Kenny led off the bottom of the third inning with a triple, but Rucker prevented any damage by getting Holtzman, Cosenzo and Velardi to fly out on 18 pitches.

However, Rucker was done due to a high pitch count against Seton Hall on Thursday.

Livingston junior pitcher Brady McLaughlin came out for the fourth inning and was greeted by a Perrotta single to lead off the frame. Perrotta stole second as McLaughlin got Philips to fly out for the first out of the inning.

But Santomauro followed with a triple to left field that scored Perrotta. Rafanello then hit a single through the left side of the infield that scored Santomauro for an 8-1 lead.

P.J. Lawless then reached on an error to place runners on second and third for cleanup hitter Jimmy Kenny, who reached on an error that scored Rafanello for a 9-1 advantage.

After Livingston (13-5) scored twice in the top of the fifth to trim the deficit to 9-3, West Essex scored four more runs in the bottom of the frame to halt the game due to the 10-run rule.

Holtzman led off the inning with a walk and attempted to steal second but Schwindel threw a laser to second for the out. Cosenzo followed with a walk. Velardi then struck out for the second out of the inning.  

Perrotta, however, sparked the two-out rally, with the the third walk of the inning and Philips reached on a Livingston error to load the bases for Santomauro, who crushed the first pitch over the left fielder's head and raced all the way home for the game-clinching grand slam home rome.

"It was a great win," said Santomauro.  "We've had a great season up to this point and it is great to be in the GNT final."