The Thunderbirds evened up their 2011 season record on Friday by putting together a 15-hit attack to defeat Pascack Valley 12-8 in their Big North, Patriot Division match up.
It was a big game for Mahwah, who finished the 2010 season with an 18-12 record and were looking to bounce back after dropping their season-opening game to Bergenfield 6-4.
The Thunderbirds banged out 11 hits over the first three innings, including a pair of homeruns by Chris Baldi and Andy Shuart. The early barrage helped Mahwah to a 10-1 lead after three.
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Mahwah took advantage of five walks and strung together five hits to put together an 8-run inning in the third that featured Shuart’s long blast over the right field fence.
“I was pretty happy the way we hit the ball earlier in the game,” said Mahwah coach Jeff Remo. “They brought in a left-handed pitcher that kind of shut us down, but overall I’m very happy.”
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Pascack Valley wasn’t about to go away quietly. The Indians put together five base hits of their own to produce a four-run, fourth inning to make the score 11-5.
That was the only real rough spot for Mahwah - starting pitcher Brendan Brown. The right hander worked the first five innings of the game for the Thunderbirds before coach Remo went to his bullpen in the sixth inning.
“[Brown] threw about 89 pitches. It’s early in the season and it’s a cold day, and we certainly don’t want to hurt anyone’s arm this early,” explained the coach. “He threw the ball very well,” he added.
After PV scored another run in the sixth, the Indians’ first baseman Mike Niego stepped up in the bottom of the seventh and crushed a two-run homer.
But, with two men on and two out in the final inning, Mahwah third baseman, Andy Shuart flashed his glove and made a great stab at a hot grounder, wheeled and fired over to first to allow Mahwah to hang on for a 12-8 win.
“It was pretty big to beat PV because last year we had a few tight games,” said a happy Andy Shuart who collected three hits including a homerun in the game. “It was always close when we played them. They have good pitching, but today we beat them. It was good.”
For the Thunderbirds, they’ll try to put another game in the win column when the come right back today to face River Dell in the “Coaches vs. Cancer Classic” at Overpeck County Park – Ridgefield Park Area at 10:30.
