South Brunswick U-9 Second in East Brunswick Tournament

It's hard for even a major league team to shake off a tough loss and get ready for the next game.

Now imagine if you're 9-years-old, it's a championship game and you have to play an hour later.

That was the situation the South Brunswick U-9 baseball squad was in on July 9. According to Manager Hip Crespo, the members of his team kept their emotions in check and did a great job rebounding from the tough loss. There was just one thing South Brunswick couldn't overcome.

"It was a hot day," Crespo said. "The heat got to the guys."

South Brunswick started July 9 by losing to Monroe, 8-6, in the championship game of the East Brunswick Tournament.

"I think we played well in that game," Crespo said. "You just have to give credit where credit is due. We had the lead and Monroe didn't give up. It wasn't that we played poorly, Monroe just fought well to the end of the game."

Unfortunately for the team, their action wasn't done on July 9. They had to all travel back to South Brunswick to start action in another tournament.

"An hour later, we started play in the South Brunswick Tournament," Crespo said. "It was a long, hot day."

South Brunswick was defeated by Sayerwood South, 15-12.

"When you lose a game in the morning, it's hard to psyche yourself up for the next game when it's only an hour later," Crespo said. "Give the kids credit. They got off to an 8-0 lead. It was just such a hot day. Exhaustion and the heat got to them. We ran out of gas."

Given a chance to rest up and get ready for their games, the team won its next two games in the South Brunswick Tournament. It defeated Bayonne 11-1 on Monday. It followed that with a 14-3 win over Montgomery on Tuesday.

South Brunswick was scheduled to play Marlboro on July 14.

"If we win tonight, we are in the playoffs on Saturday," Crespo said Thursday. "If we lose, we need some help from other teams."

The members of the team are Nick Nosal (pitcher, catcher and outfielder), Brendan Kane (pitcher, catcher, second base, shortstop and outfield), Travis Bush (pitcher, outfield and third base), Nick Campigotto (outfield, pitcher and second base), Matt Harrison (pitcher, outfield and third base), TJ Scarpa (pitcher, catcher, first base and outfield), Anthony Ramos (pitcher, catcher, shortstop and outfield), Reese Jenne (pitcher, outfield, shortstop and third), Eytan Lugassy (outfield, first base and pitcher), Giovanni DeLuca (pitcher, catcher, first base and outfield) and Trevor Crespo (outfield, second base and pitcher).

This group is hoping to play another important game on Saturday. Playing only one game on a cooler day would be nice.

"This is our fifth -- and last -- tournament," Crespo said.

"It's been fun to watch the kids get better throughout the summer. It's just hard when these tournaments backup and you have to play doubleheaders. It takes a toll on the kids and the coaches. But you know what? It makes you kids and coaches tougher (laughs). It builds character."