JV Baseball Captures County Baseball Crown

Westfield High School's junior varsity baseball team avenged one of its few losses this season at a very opportune time.

The Blue Devils, beaten 3-2 by Governor Livingston early in the regular season, beat the Highlanders Saturday 18-9 to win the Union County Junior Varsity Tournament for the second straight year. The Blue Devils were the fourth seed in the tournament, while Governor Livingston was second.

"The first time we played them the game took all of 90 minutes, this game was much different,'' said head coach Ken Miller, who had a roster of 20 players.

Westfield had an 8-0 lead, but Governor Livingston tied it with five runs in the third and three more in the fourth  Westfield put the game away with eight runs in the bottom of the fifth. It was the first time the Blue Devils won back-to-back county titles since 1994 in Miller's first season as coach. Joe Marino was head coach of the junior varsity in 1993.

"It gives the kids something to play for,'' said Miller, who added that the county has had a junior varsity tournament since 1970. "The kids loved it, they really got into it and I have to say we have great kids on the team.''

Sophomore outfielder Matt Varakian went 2-for-4 with thee runs scored, three RBI and hit .385 for the season. Sophomore first baseman Mike Coletta was 2-for-4 with a run scored and four RBIs in the final. He finished the season with a .327 average.

Sophomore second baseman Jon Gribbon, the place kicker for the Blue Devils' football team, was 2-for-3 with three runs scored, three RBIs and a stolen base. Shortstop Brett Ryan, who batted .342 for the season, was 1-for-3 in the championship game with three runs scored, three walks and an RBI.

Junior third baseman Ben Kraus went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Junior pitcher Justin Erickson got the win in relief of sophomore starter Mike Mondon. Sophomore pitcher James O'Rourke pitched two innings struck out two and walked two. He earned the save

"Justin pitched three strong  solid innings, and then I asked James who was our closer if he could give two innings to finish it,'' Miller said.

O'Rourke, who plays center field when he's not closing games, finished the season with a .449 average.

The Blue Devils finished the season with a 14-5-1. Westfield knocked off New Providence (13-1), A.L. Johnson (15-8) and top-seed Scotch Plains-Fanwood (8-4) to reach the county final. Westfield beat Scotch Plains-Fanwood for the second straight year when the Raiders were unbeaten, last year it was in the final. The Raiders beat Westfield 11-9 and 4-3 during the regular season.

Miller added that the Blue Devils varsity should be in good shape with tkind of players on the way to the varsity. He said that current Blue Devil starters Kevin Clancy, Mike Buontempo, Brett Johnson and Greg Fortino all played junior varisty. Clancy, Johnson and Fortino were two-year junior varsity players.