Rugged opponents are all over the place in the Super Essex Conference American Division. Not that the West Orange High School baseball team had forgotten that – but Wednesday was a very good reminder.
The Mountaineers fell behind Livingston 4-0, rallied to tie the game at 4-4 in the seventh inning, but lost 5-4 when the home team Lancers scored in the bottom half of the inning.
Both teams are now 5-2.
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The Mountaineers had their four-game winning streak snapped.
"It was just a little too late, their pitcher did a great job and Livingston is good, very good,’" said Mountaineer head coach Steve Zichella.
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Livingston's Ryan Sullivan threw six scoreless innings before the Mountaineers got going.
The Mountaineers loaded the bases in the sixth, but couldn't score. In the seventh, they did. Senior Cory Feigenbaum – who was 4-for-4 for the day – slapped a two-run single to tie the game at 4-4. But on the same play, an over-eager Mountaineer base runner was thrown out at third base.
"One or two mistakes and it costs you,"’ said Zichella.
It was the bottom of the Lancers' order that really hurt the Mountaineers throughout the game – and that happened once more in the bottom of the seventh. It meant the game.
Livingston's No. 9 hitter John Sorrentino led off the inning with a triple. Feigenbaum, who pitched another strong game, then intentionally walked two batters to load the bases to give the Mountaineers a force at any base. With one out, however, Brandon Levy scored on a passed ball to win it for Livingston.
"The adrenaline post game was very good," said Zichella. "We had a lot of adrenaline. It's no reason to go quietly. We just have to keep it going and move on."
"The kids have played good, solid baseball against a top notch opponent," he added. "The game was in our grasp."
