Gaeta's Double Keeps Warriors in Battle at Hillsborough

Freshman Jess Gaeta delivered an RBI double in the top of the seventh inning to knot the game Thursday, but two infield hits by Hillsborough and a wild pitch in the bottom of the inning sunk the Warriors.

IN SHORT
First baseman Jess Gaeta drove in two runs Thursday, and left fielder McKayla Brady scored all three runs for the Warriors, whose bats came through in the clutch all afternoon. But the Raiders scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning and took a close one from Watchung Hills for the second time this season, 4-3 in Hillsborough.

The Warriors, who fell to the Raiders 2-0 on April 7, took the early lead, getting a two-out RBI single from pitcher Grace Hurley in the top of the second inning.

Hillsborough scored twice in the bottom of the frame and once more in the top of the third inning to open a 3-1 lead, but Watchung Hills closed the gap to 3-2 in the top of the fourth on Gaeta’s sacrifice fly.

After a fortunate umpiring call prevented Hillsborough from extending its advantage in the bottom of the fifth, Watchung Hills tied the game in the top of the seventh when Gaeta doubled – a knock that likely would have resulted in a triple had the freshman not slipped and fallen between second and third base and been tagged out.

Still, the rally came up just short, as Somerset County’s top team scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to edge the Warriors.

WARRIOR OF THE GAME
Jess Gaeta – The rookie delivered a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning and a game-tying double in the top of the seventh inning Thursday.

OTHER KEY PERFORMANCES
McKayla Brady (Watchung Hills) – The Freshman left fielder went 2-for-3, including a double, and scored all three runs for the Warriors on Thursday at Hillsborough High School.

Grace Hurley (Watchung Hills) – The senior pitcher, who allowed just one earned run from the circle, went 2-for-3 at the plate and drove in the Warriors’ first run with a two-out single in the second inning.

Jamie Schoenbach (Watchung Hills) – The senior center fielder made a sliding back-handed shoestring catch with a runner on base to end the sixth inning and prevent Hillsborough from extending a one-run lead. The play helped to allow the Warriors the opportunity to mount their rally in the top of the seventh.

THEY SAID IT
“We believe we can play with them, and I think they (Hillsborough) know that, too. Sometimes, beating them the third time is the best time to beat them, and I think that every player in that dugout feels we can play with this team.”
– Watchung Hills coach Mike D’Alessandro on the prospects of seeing Hillsborough again should they both reach the Somerset County Tournament semifinals a week from Saturday.

UP NEXT – at Somerville, 3:45 p.m. Saturday in the quarterfinals of the Somerset County Tournament at Torpey Field against the fourth-seeded Pioneers. Top-seeded Hillsborough will play host to No. 9 Immaculata the same day.