Summit U13 Falls to Livingston in Extra Innings

SUMMIT, N.J.—The Summit U13 baseball team played with a lot of heart.  The boys were competing in Summit's own U14 tournament as the away team.  The game against Livingston U14 pitted them against a team that was a year older, stronger and wiser, but the Hilltoppers held their own for nine innings.

"(They had) grit. They hustled," said head coach Brian Kaufman. "They were in some tough situations and they came through."

In fact, the Hilltoppers kept things even through the second inning, and then grabbed the lead in the third.  Alec Fuoti led off in the third inning with a single, then proceeded to steal second, and take third on a wild pitch.  Stevie Rainero singled for an RBI when he brough Fuoti home.  Charlie Pacilio was safe at first on a fielder's choice that saw Rainero thrown out at second.  Michael Maldonado was the next batter to connect for a single before Eric Kaufman reached first on an error that allowed Pacilio and Maldonado to come home.  Noticeably pumped up, the Summit forced Livingston to go three-and-out in the bottom of the third, and moved into the fourth inning with a 5-2 lead.

"Our pitching was spectacular," said Kaufman. "We had two guys go out there, Brian Cantillo and Eric Kaufman, and we got into some tough situations and got out of it.  They pitched efficiently."

Andrew Bowyer was the only Summit player to get on base in the fourth inning when he was walked.  The Hilltoppers were unable to get anything started, and the change in momentum seemed to affect their defense in the bottom of the fourth.  Cantillo continued to pitch a strong game for the Hilltoppers, but a few mental mistakes in the field let Livingston come dangerously close to their lead.  Livingston batted in one run, and another came in on an error.  Summit still held onto a 5-4 lead moving into the fifth inning.

The top of the fifth inning looked a great deal like the fourth.  Cantillo was the only player to reach first when the Livingston pitcher walked him.  This time the Hilltoppers went into the bottom of the inning and successfully defended their lead.  Again they forced Livingston to go three-and-out and moved into the sixth inning.

The Hilltoppers extended their lead in the sixth inning.  Eric Kaufman raced to first safely on a dropped strike three, and Whit Cummings sent him to second when he reached first on an error.  Kyle Brown pinch hit for Joey Abruzzo and came up with a huge hit-and-run single to load the bases.  Cam Fuoti had a big hit into the outfield that was caught for an out but gave Kaufman enough time to tag up and race in for the sixth run.  The Hilltoppers took a 6-4 lead into the bottom of the inning, but again mental mistakes allowed two more runs in on errors.  The inning ended tied, 6-6.

"The hitting showed some things that we've been working on all year, and Kyle Brown came through with that beautifully when it mattered," said Kaufman.  "It got us into a situation where we were able to score."

Neither team would score in the seventh or the eighth innings.  Bright spots included a huge double from Rainero, and some impressive clean-up pitching from Eric Kaufman, but in the end it was Livingston who brought the run across the plate to end the game after nine innings.

"Our base running needs some work," said Kaufman, "and they still have some stuff they need to work on before they mature into high school ball players, but that's why we're doing this."

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