Livingston Crowned Essex County Champs

Livingston coach Chris Politan gathered his happy players around him late Sunday afternoon after they had beaten Caldwell 2-1 for their second straight American Legion Essex County Tournament title and thanked them.

"You guys made me look like a genius,'' Politan said of his team.

Two and possibly three moves by the coach in the late innings made the difference for Livingston, which will next play the Union County winner Saturday afternoon at Teemer Field in the District 2 Tournament in Union.  With the score tied 1-1 Sunday, Politan chose to pinch hit Mike Mansfield for Sam White to start the bottom of the seventh inning.

"I thought Mike was a good fastball hitter, that was a gut feel that's all,'' Politan said.

Mansfield rewarded his coach's gut with a sharp single. White re-entered as his courtesy runner and catcher Brian Writt followed with a clutch two-strike sacrifice bunt to move White up to second.

"I missed two in a row and couldn't do it again,'' Writt said. "I was getting a little nervous there. I'm good at bunting, but I had missed two in a row. I was lucky to get it down.''

Connor Kimmel followed with a groundball that was booted by shortstop Mike Jeffrey. White stopped at third. Kimmel then stole second as Caldwell catcher Matt Vitiello chose to keep it safe and not throw down. That was followed by John Sorrentino's flyball to medium center. Centerfielder Anthony Mautone was in good position to make the catch and throw. His throw home was very good, but White beat it and Vitiello's tag with the game-winning run.

"I was going either way. I wanted to score on that,'' said White, who played shortstop in place of starter Jordan Farber, out after getting hit by a pitch last week.

"Once he grabbed it, I looked down and not at anybody else,'' said White.

Another key Politan decision came in the sixth. Caldwell loaded the bases on sharp singles by Mike LaTorraca and Eric Barsanti and a pretty bunt by Mautone. At that point, Politan relieved starting left-hander Brady McLaughlin with righty Ryan Sullivan.

Livingston led 1-0, but Caldwell threatened to take the lead. But Sullivan struck out Tyler Condit looking. Connor Smith tied the game with a groundout. Vitiello walked to reload the bases, but Sullivan got Mike Aliotta to popout to Writt to end the threat.

"Brady pitched a helluva game and Sullivan came in and was super,'' Politan said. "It was a big job and he came through in a big spot.''

Sullivan, who earned the win, put Caldwell down in order in the seventh.

"They're a young group that is gelling at the right time and are hungry,'' said Politan, whose team went to Bergen County last year, but lost. "We're hoping for better this year.''

With the win, Livingston improved its record to 20-3.