Slugging Spartans Beat Ridgewood for League Title

RIDGEWOOD—Maybe it was the weather. Maybe it was the circumstances.

Whatever the case, the Paramus bats came alive, as the Spartans won the league title by defeating neighboring Ridgewood 14-0 in five innings on a hot and sunny Wednesday afternoon at Veteran’s Field.

“Our game is hitting,” said Paramus third baseman Nick Henriquez, who had two RBI on the afternoon. “If we don’t hit, we don’t win.”

The Spartans (21-4) racked up a season high 15 hits—off of three Ridgewood pitchers—and scored in every inning.

Paramus spotted starter Frank Colasante (7-2) a four-run lead in the first.

The Spartans pulled off two double steals in the inning, and first baseman Tony Billera drove in two runs with a single to right.  Billera, who in the opening round of the North 1, Group 3 state tournament, went 2-for-3. He drove in three runs and came around to score three times.

Paramus added two more runs in the second, three in both the third and fourth, and two more in the fifth.

“There’s nothing better than beating Ridgewood,” said shortstop Brian Criscione, who was a home run away from hitting for the cycle. “I helped my team as best I could. Everyone contributed, not only myself.”

Paramus designated hitter Matt Krum (2-for-3) hit a three-run homer—his fourth of the year—to left center in the third.

“The past few games I haven’t been hitting so well,” the DH admitted. “I was relaxed, got my pitch to hit and I drove it.”

Colasante was the only Spartan without a hit, but the junior sparkled on the mound. In four innings, Colasante held Ridgewood hitless through the first three innings. He allowed only two base runners—a walk by left fielder Mike Coniglio in the first inning and a single by shortstop Tyler Welence in the fourth—and struck out four.

Behind the right-hander, center fielder Chris Covello (2-for-4, two doubles, two RBI) made a diving catch to his left to rob Ridgewood catcher Russ Tanner of a base hit in the first inning.  The Spartans played without committing an error, something that has troubled the team of late.

“Frankie was on,” said Paramus head coach Joe Cervino, who got a celebratory water cooler “shower” from his team. “We made all the plays defensively. The base running was excellent.”

Joe Mastrofilipo came on to pitch the fifth and recorded three ground ball outs.

The win avenged an earlier season 6-5 loss to the Maroons (17-7).

This is Cervino’s ninth league title, and underneath his No. 7 jersey—for Mickey Mantle—the longtime head coach wore a 2003 Paramus baseball T-shirt. In 2003, the Spartans went 23-7 and won both the league and state sectional title. Current pitching coach Mike Santana was the ace of the ’03 squad.

“Winning league feels great,” the skipper said, “but it would be great to add a state title."

“This is the best our team has played all year,” Colasante said. “This is really the true potential that we have.”