Madison 11s Eliminated From District 1 Tournament

Despite a late comeback, the Madison 11-year-old baseball all-stars saw their District 1 tournament come to an end Wednesday night, as Madison was eliminated by Denville in a heartbreaker, 9-7.

Denville took a 9-2 lead into the final inning after scoring eight times in the fourth, but Madison launched a wild comeback with an even more incredible ending.

Colby Dixon led off with a single, and Alex Park doubled him home to make it 9-3. Denville pitcher Ian Stempert struck out the next two batters. With one out left in their season, Madison put together one last rally.

Matt Haughey singled to score Park and Drew Brosie reached on a throwing error. Matt O'Donnell crushed a high fastball over the right field wall to make it 9-7.

Next, Max Lenz walked on five pitches, which appeared to set up Charlie Betz as the improbable tying run. But it wasn't to be.

Denville made an unorthodox play, throwing to first base following ball four to Lenz rather than back to the mound. Lenz took just a step off first after he reached the bag, and Denville's Owen Roche tagged him for the final out.

"Coming back and scoring five runs, they can hold their heads up high," said Madison coach Dan Betz.

Wednesday's game was briefly delayed by lightning was seen in the distance during the second inning. The weather at the field remained calm, and the players returned within 15 minutes. When it resumed, Madison scored first, when Lenz was hit by a pitch on an 0-2 count with the bases loaded in the third inning.

After Denville tied it in the bottom of the third, Lauchner put Madison back ahead with an RBI single, scoring Dixon.

Denville took control by pounding out six hits in the fourth inning and chasing starting pitcher Lauchner, who excelled for the first three innings, allowing just three hits.

He ran into trouble in the fourth, with Denville's first three hitters reaching on an error, a walk and a bunt single. Stempert lined a two-run double down the left field line to give Denville a 3-2 lead. After walk and another bunt single, Will Kenny made it 4-2 with a looper to centerfield.

Roche added two more by taking an outside pitch to left field for a double, and Denville would add three more on an error and a single before the end of the inning.

"It was tough to come back from that," Betz said. "They didn't give up, though. We always tell them to finish strong, and they kept fighting."

Madison finished its tournament run with a 5-2 overall record, going unbeaten in pool play before dropping a pair of close games in the double-elimination playoffs. Madison lost to Randolph, 6-5, on Tuesday.

"We accomplished more than anyone expected us to," Betz said. "It's a testament to those guys. They should be very proud of themselves. They're all great kids who gave 110 percent."


Madison     0  0  1  1  0  5  -  7  7  2
Denville      0  0  1  8  0  x  -  9  9  1

MADISON
-Matt O'Donnell: 1-for-2, HR, 3 RBI, walk, hit by pitch
-Max Lenz: reached base three times (two walks, hit by pitch)
-Colby Dixon: 2-for-3, 2 runs scored

DENVILLE
-Tyler Facenda: 4 innings pitched, 2 runs, 3 hits, 4 strikeouts, 4 walks (2 hit-by-pitches)