After Potential Game-Winning Run Thrown Out at Plate, Watchung Hills Falls in Eight Innings

The baseball team lost to Ridge 5-3 Saturday in eight innings in the semifinals of the Somerset County Tournament at TD Bank Ballpark. The Warriors were trying to make it to their second county final in the last three years and have now lost two games in a row.

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Final

Ridge (10-10)

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Watchung Hills (12-6)

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IN SHORT

With the game tied at 3 in the top of the eighth, Ridge's JB Kole and Andrew Graziano led off the frame with singles. Kole then scored on a Dan Volpacchio single and Graziano scored after a Watchung Hills error.  Kole, who went the distance on the mound, quickly got through the bottom of the eighth and secured Ridge’s first trip to the county finals since 2002.

The Warriors struck first with a three-run third inning. Nick Rivera drove in the first run with a bases-loaded walk.  Then Christopher Berry drove in two with his single.

After Ridge rallied to tie the game at 3 with one run in the fifth and two more in the sixth, Watchung Hills then had a chance for a walk-off win in the bottom of the seventh,

Frank Urso led off with a triple. After two intentional walks, Urso attempted to score on a fly ball to center fielder Dan Curico, but was thrown out at the plate—with the potenial game-winning run—when he collided with catcher Brian Winkler. Urso was thrown out of the game for the collision and Kole then retired the next batter to end the threat.

“In retrospect, I probably shouldn’t have sent Urso on that play. It was shallow, but the center fielder needed to make a perfect throw, and he did.”—Head coach Mario Diez

WARRIOR OF THE GAME

Richard Hunt pitched well enough for a win, but had to settle for a no-decision. He pitched seven strong innings, giving up three runs on eight hits, with eight strikeouts and three walks.

OTHER KEY PERFORMANCES

Christopher Berry had two of the six hits for the Warriors and drove in two runs in the third inning.

Nick Rivera went 1-for-2 with an RBI on a bases-loaded walk in the third.  He also pitched the last inning, giving up one hit.

COACH’S TAKE

“It was a good game with a lot of energy. Their pitcher did a nice job of effectively changing speeds with his curveballs. Even though we got outhit, I thought we did a decent job against him.  We had our shots but we just couldn’t capitalize.”—Diez

THEY SAID IT

“We have to get ready for the final stretch, because we are in the middle of a tight conference race and we still have the state tournament to look forward to. In baseball, it’s very hard to go three-for-three (county, conference and state titles).  We’re disappointed right now but we know we’ll bounce back.”—Diez

UP NEXT—At Hunterdon Central Tuesday at 3:45 p.m.