White Shines in First Win of the Season

LIVINGSTON—With Livingston's upcoming schedule, which consists of 13 games in 15 days, the Lancers' head coach Scott Schroeder called on junior Sam White the first time this season on Tuesday when the team faced the Verona Hillbillies.  It was a blessing in disguise.

White pitched brilliantly and led Livingston to its third straight win, defeating the Hillbillies 3-1.

"Sam throws hard and did a phenomenal job changing speeds today," Schroeder said. "He kept the ball low and hit the corners.  Those are two things you need to have an outing like Sam had."

White allowed a hit to the first batter of the game, Alex Eliasof.  To the next batter, Brian Hill, he threw a fastball down in the zone and Livingston turned a 6-4-3 double play.  Senior Anthony Oranges was the next batter and White walked him but immediately regained his composure. Mike Congero grounded out to end the inning.

Livingston's bats came alive in the bottom of the first, led by the seniors.  Jimmy Napolitano laced a single into left field.  The senior captain and St. John's-bound catcher Frank Schwindel, who was the designated hitter Tuesday, crushed a triple to center field that plated Napolitano.  After a John Beaubien strike out, junior Matt Rehm hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Schwindel. 

Livingston led 2-0 after one inning.  White then came out in the top of the second and quickly retired the Hillbillies in nine pitches.

Livingston added one more run in the bottom of the second. Junior catcher Brian Writt, 2-for-3 on the day, lined a single to left field.  John Sorrentino was Writt's pinch runner and stole second base. Greg Gamba then grounded out to second base, advancing Sorrentino to third.  Junior outfielder Matt Flynn came to the plate and hit a ground ball to first base, bringing home Sorrentino and giving Livingston a 3-0 lead.

White came back in the top of the third and retired the first two hitters.  He then walked Tim Kiernan but struck out Mike Velschieler.

But Verona pitcher Nick Grusoo settled in after the second inning.  Grusoo set the Lancers down in order in the third, keeping the game within reaching distance for his squad.

White countered. He retired the next nine batters and did not allow a base runner until the seventh inning. 

But during the fourth and fifth inning, Grusoo did not allow a base runner to reach second base, hoping his offense could strike a rally against White.

That rally came in the top of the seventh. 

White allowed a walk to Brian Hill.  He then allowed a single to Anthony Oranges.  Mike Congero came to the plate and White struck out Congero, making him the sixth strikeout victim of the day.  But Anthony Pena followed with a walked, which loaded the bases. Schroeder pulled White after a little more than 6 masterful innings and brought in senior Jim Napolitano.

With Anthony Seymour batting, Napolitano induced a ground ball to second baseman Nick Kozlowsky, allowing Hill to score from third leaving runners on first and third with two outs and Livingston leading 3-1. Matt Rosenfeld came to bat.  Seymour stole second base, which gave Verona men on second and third down two runs with two outs. 

But Napolitano struck Rosenfeld out on four pitches, pumping his fist as the game came to a close.

"Sam pitched so well today," Brian Writt said.  "He was throwing hard and low in the zone as well as changing speeds.  When a pitcher does that they are unhittable and Sam was practically unhittable today."

White's final line was 6 1/3 innings pitched, six strikeouts, three walks and two hits.  White earned himself his first career varsity win.

"It is great to get a win," White said.  "My defense was great today.  They deserve a ton of credit and the guys supplied me with early offense.  Today's win was a total team effort and it feels good to be back on a winning streak."