Mahwah Rallies Early In 10-5 Win Over Fort Lee

The Mahwah Thunderbirds surged ahead to a 9-0 lead on Wednesday and survived a late rally from Fort Lee in a 10-5 victory over the Bridgemen.

The fans in attendance witnessed the visiting Thunderbirds take the early lead 1-0 on a sacrifice fly from first baseman Brandon Block and then add to it with an RBI triple by third baseman Andy Shuart.

Ahead 2-0, Mahwah increased the lead in the second inning as Fort Lee committed a few defensive errors.

“We didn’t make the plays early,” said the Bridgemen head coach Mike Raftery. “In the first two innings we gave up 4 runs on 2 hits and 3 errors…we have to mentally focus and we got to come out from the first pitch and be ready. Right now, that is not happening.”

Mahwah’s Andy Shuart then struck again with an inside-the-park home run to begin the third inning, a frame in which the Thunderbirds would bat around against Fort Lee. After Shuart was retired for the final out of the inning nine hitters later, Mahwah was eyeing a possible mercy rule win if they could add another run and prevent Fort Lee from scoring one themselves.

“If you fall behind 9-0, it’s a tough hole to dig out of,” Raftery added.

But his Bridgemen team had an opportunity to do so with the relief pitching of senior Bryan Halpern. After sophomore starter Patrick Darcy threw just two plus innings, Halpern allowed just a pair of runs the rest of the way for Fort Lee.

“We slowed down after three or four innings,” said Mahwah’s coach Jeff Remo. “Give credit to the relief pitcher that [the Bridgemen] brought in.”

With Halpern holding the Thunderbirds from adding any more runs, the Bridgemen began their comeback against Mahwah pitcher Chris Baldi. Fort Lee interrupted the one-hit effort of the righty by scoring two runs on a single by senior infielder Troy Mattesich. Then, down 9-2, Fort Lee was looking for even more until shortstop Stephen Neer made a diving play to his right to end the inning and prevent any additional runs.

The score would remain the same until the top of the seventh inning when Mahwah scored another run for an eight run advantage.

Not going down easily, the Fort Lee Bridgemen greeted new pitcher Ian Curry with a barrage of base runners to cut the lead down to five. But following a mound visit from coach Jeff Remo, Curry was able to record the final two outs to secure the 10-5 win.

“It scared me a little bit,” said Remo. “It is a credit to them. [Fort Lee] never gave up.”

The Mahwah Thunderbirds improve to 6-2 this season as the Fort Lee Bridgemen see their record fall to 4-8.

NOTES: Mahwah third baseman Andy Shuart finished 2 for 4 with an inside-the-park home run, RBI triple, and two stolen bases...catcher C.J. Musumeci was 2 for 3 with a triple that scored a pair of runs. He also caught with starting pitcher Chris Baldi who only allowed two runs over six innings. Pitcher Ian Curry threw the 7th and final inning for Mahwah.

THE NEXT GAME: The Mahwah Thunderbirds have another game on Thursday afternoon as they play at rival Ramsey beginning at four o’clock. Coach Jeff Remo said: “We are throwing our ace and I am sure they are going to throw their ace. It is going to be a low scoring game.”