The Championship game of the Morris County Freshmen Baseball Tournament was held on May 25, 2016. The Madison Dodgers faced the Morristown Colonials at Gardner Field in Denville. In a well-played game, Madison earned the Walt Stasiak trophy with a 3-1 victory. Pitcher Matt Monaghan started and gave up only one run in 6 1/3 innings to earn the win. Monaghan scattered five hits and three walks, striking out four. After Morristown loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, Mike Maybaum came on in relief, and in a pressure situation, got two strikeouts for a well-deserved save.
A few excellent defensive plays helped Madison keep Morristown scoreless. In the third inning a perfect relay from Troy Edwards to Andre Delacruz to Mike May cut down a runner at home. And in the bottom of the sixth inning, May threw out a runner at first after a Monaghan strike out.
Facing a very strong Morristown squad, Madison scored all its runs in the sixth inning. Peter Samori led off and was hit by a pitch, and Walter Brownlee walked. Andre Delacruz’ infield single loaded the bases, and after a strikeout Will Hart walked to force in a run. With two outs, Troy Edwards stroked a double into left center, driving in two runs.
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Offensively, Edwards, Delacruz and Monaghan had singles, and Logan Sabol had a pinch- hit single in the fifth, but none were able to score.
The Dodgers completed the season with a 16-2 record. The team was steady throughout the batting order, received excellent pitching performances, and made few errors in the field. Samori, Brownlee, Jack Flanagan, Ian Magnani, Will Hart, and Mike May gave Madison strength up the middle. Nicky Samara supplied strong outfield defense and was steady at the plate, backed up by Christian De Poortere. Delacruz, Brownlee, Maybaum, and Monaghan were the primary pitchers. Morgen Bruhn and Gabe Schlicksup provided solid reserve pitching and hit well throughout the season. Colin Kidd, Shane Flanagan, and Sabol contributed both in the field and at bat.
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Coach Chris Henry, assisted by Bobby Waer, deserve credit for helping to develop such a deep and well-rounded team in a short time.
Picture Caption:
Front: Logan Sabol, Troy Edwards, Andre Delacruz, Walter Brownlee, Mike May, Shane Flanagan, Will Hart
Rear: Head Coach Chris Henry, Mike Maybaum, Gabe Schlicksup, Ian Magnani, Nicky Samara, Colin Kidd, Matt Monaghan, Christian De Poortere, Peter Samori, Morgen Bruhn, Assistant Coach Bobby Waer, Varsity Assistant Coach Matt Gertler, Varsity Head Coach Frank Dasti.
Not Pictured: Jack Flanagan
