Dodgers Baseball Loses Crucial Game to Hanover Pk.

The Madison High School baseball team needed a win on Thursday against Hanover Park if they were to earn a .500 record in time to guarantee them a spot in the state playoff tournament, but they were ten-run ruled after an eight-run bottom of the fifth by the Hornets, falling 12-2.

Hanover Park hit two home runs during their eight run rally, the first a solo shot from right fielder Tim Byron, who had popped out in his first at-bat and struck-out his second.

"He had me two strikes both times and got me with a high fastball, so I was expecting it and I just connected with it," said Byron.

The second home run from Hanover Park ended the game – a three-run shot from Frank Tassielli, his second at-bat of the inning after popping out on a near home run his first attempt. It was his first walk-off but his fourth home run of the season.

"I expected him to throw a strike because he needed the out," said Tassielli. "So I was looking strike."

The Hornets took the lead early after an interference call that otherwise might have been the third out of the bottom of the second opened the flood gates, allowing Madison to fall behind 3-0 going into the third.

"Frankly, that call just did not go our way, and it was a crucial one," said Madison head coach Mickey Ennis. "Last time we played a competitive 3-1 game against them."

Both of Madison's runs were scored by Mike Wallace, and both RBIs earned by Alex Brownlee. The first came in the top of the third, when Wallace walked, and stood on first while two outs were recorded. Then Brownlee hit a double to bring in the run.

In the fifth, it happened similarly. Again Wallace walked, and again two outs were recorded between Wallace's walk and Brownlee's at bat, except this time there was a balk that advanced Wallace to third. Brownlee hit a grounder up the middle for a single to send Wallace home again.

With the loss, the Dodgers are now 7-10 going into their Friday game at JP Stevens High School in Edison.

"We just need a win," said Ennis. "We have to rely on 9 or 10 teams being .500 or better. But if we lose tomorrow, we could drop out of the top 16."

For the Dodgers to make it to the state tournament they need more than eight teams to have a .500 record: if eight teams or less have a .500 record the tournament will only consist of eight teams, but if more than eight teams have a .500 record the tournament will be expanded to host 16 teams. With a win against JP Stevens, Madison could be one of those 16.