Newark Academy Too Green For West Essex

LIVINGSTON—The West Essex baseball team would probably like to bottle up its performance in Thursday's season opener.

The Knights jumped out early lead and never looked back in an 11-2 victory over Newark Academy.

"We ran the bases hard and kept the pressure on their defense," said Illiano, whose team had 21 base runners.

Meanwhile, Newark Academy coach Tim Dasti has a young team that included a pair of sophomores and a freshman in the lineup.

"We have a team that was making mental mistakes," said Dasti, whose team graduated eight seniors from last year's group that finished 18-8. "We came out against a very talented team and are considered by many as the favorite to win the league."

The Knights (1-0) received contributions throughout the lineup, including sophomore right fielder Jimmy Kenny (2-for-2), senior center fielder Andy Santomauro (2-for-4, including a triple) and senior third baseman Tim Perrotta (1-for-1, along with two walks, three RBIs).

The trio were on base a total of nine times and scored four runs, while collecting four RBIs against the Minutemen.

In his first varsity start, Kenny had quite a debut by getting on base four times, including a 2-for-2 performance from the plate and was hit by a pitch two other times. He came around to score a pair of runs and also drove in one as well.

"It was a very good debut for Jimmy as a sophomore and he is a very good competitor," Illiano said.

Kenny also demonstrated some gustiness in the bottom of the fourth inning when he collided with the right-field fence while attempting to track down a foul ball.

The Knights' aggressive offense helped support West Essex ace P.J. Lawless, who threw four innings while allowing only three hits, two earned runs and striking out six batters.

"I thought he pitched very well and had pop on his fastball," Illiano said. "He had good control on his curveball."

Lawless only went four innings, because Illiano said his staff is on a pitch count since it's early in the season with a long way to go.

"We have confidence in our all our pitchers," said Illiano, who added that Lawless was at 86 pitches at the end of four innings and they try to place a cap at 85.

Lawless, who was relieved by Dan Gautieri and Rob Pezzuti, also knocked in a run in the second inning with a line drive to center that scored senior left fielder Jimmy Phillips from second base for a 3-0 lead.

West Essex scored all the runs it would need in the first two innings off Newark Academy senior pitcher Adam Somberg. Dasti admitted his ace was not on his game Thursday.  Somberg only went 2 1/3 innings, giving up five hits and allowing five earned runs.

"He came out flat and I didn't like his body language on the mound," Dasti said.

Newark Academy's youth was revealed when three sophomores—Sean Mulligan, Steve Catena and Zach Taffet—combined to relieve Somberg.

The Newark Academy starter wasn't helped by a first-inning error that allowed Santamauro and Mike Rafanello to score and put the Knights ahead 2-0.

After the Lawless RBI in the second inning, the Knights broke the game open in the third as first baseman Vincent Cosenzo, Kenny and sophomore second baseman Ralph Velardi all got on base.

Phillips would score Kenny from third base on a floater into center field, which ended Somberg's outing. Mulligan came in, but Rafanello delivered a two-out RBI single into left field that scored Velardi.

After falling behind 8-0, the Minutemen got on the board in the fourth inning when senior second baseman David Werner scored on a wild pitch and Somberg scored on a base hit by freshman designated hitter Troy Sutton to cut the Knights' lead to 8-2.

But that's as close as the Minutemen would get. The teams, playing in the new Super Essex Conference, will play at least once more this season on April 26 in North Caldwell.

"Newark Academy is a very good team," Illiano said, "and will get us at our place later this season."