Sports Recap: Ramapo Baseball and IH Softball still alive in states

After starting off the week with a bang, Ramapo Baseball and Indian Hills softball both stayed hot and advanced to the sectional semifinal next week. Like the Lady Braves did last week, Ramapo advanced to the Bergen County Championship, but unfortunately could not take home a championship.

The week also began on a good note for freshman Deanna DiLandro, who was named North Jersey Athlete of the Week by the Record for her accomplishments last week.  DiLandro took first place in the 400 and 800 meters at the Bergen County track and field championships, setting personal bests in both.

MONDAY & TUESDAY

Ramapo Baseball, Softball, and Boys Lacrosse and Indian Hills Baseball and Softball all looked to advance in their respective state tournaments.  Read about all the action from the beginning of the week .

THURSDAY

Softball- North 1, Group 3 Quarterfinals

Lady Braves 5 – Wayne Hills 0

The second round of the North 1, Group 3 state tournament went a lot like the first for Indian Hills as they took care of the Patriots to advance to the sectional semifinals.  Much like in their 6-1 victory over Mount Olive in round one, the Braves got a great pitching performance from Ashley DeYoung (23-4), played great defense and got big hits when they needed them.

DeYoung’s 4-hit shutout helped avenge a loss to Wayne Hills from earlier in the year.  Freshman Nicole Leocata led the offense with 2 ribbies, while the Levine sisters, Morgan and Madison, and Kara Pepper each added one.  Senior Kelly Strittmatter added another big accomplishment to her already illustrious career when she scored her 100^th career run.

After the Lady Braves took care of business on the field they headed straight to the varsity awards dinner at The Brownstone.  Players from all spring sports were honored by their coaches and a few lucky athletes took home individual awards; one being third baseman Christie Testa. See photos and read about the dinner .

Next up for the Braves will be one of North Jersey’s premier teams, West Milford.  IH will travel there on Tuesday, May 31 with a shot to get back in the state sectional championship for the third year in a row.

Boys Lax- North 2 Quarterfinals

Northern Highlands 8 – Raiders 7

Ramapo was downed by the Highlanders in a thriller in the quarterfinals of the Group 2 state tournament.  Tied at seven with under a minute to play, Highlands cashed in on a goal and held on for the win.  The Raiders led 5-2 at the half, but Highlands would not be denied a chance of redemption after Ramapo sent them home in the state quarterfinals last year.

Sal Sassano (2 goals, 1 assist) and Dan Smith (1 g, 2a) each tallied 3 points to lead Ramapo in scoring.  Chris Colaneri, Zach Hirsch, and the Steimel brothers, Corey and Dan, all netted one goal.  Goalie Mike Turpan had 7 saves in the loss.

FRIDAY

North 1, Group 3 Baseball Quarterfinals

Raiders 11 – Lakeland 7

It was a back-and-forth battle against the Lancers, but Ryan Dougherty’s bat would ultimately send the Raiders to the sectional semifinal.  Ramapo got out to an early lead, then Lakeland battled back to take the lead, then two huge hits by Dougherty (6 RBI) tied then would prove to be the game-winner.

With the score all knotted up at seven in the bottom of the sixth inning, Dougherty hit a grand slam homerun with two outs and two strikes against him. 

“Ryan’s been batting cleanup for about a month now, and he’s done a great job,” said Coach Mickey Hunt.  “For him to come up with that homerun, that was huge.”

The homer, the first of the juniors career, would give the Raiders an 11-7 lead, which would turn out to be the final.  Lakeland was trying to make another magical run as an 11 seed, the same seed they were last year when they took home the sectional championship.  But this year it’s Ramapo who is one step closer to accomplishing what Lakeland did last year and hopefully surpassing it and accomplishing their top goal of the season; playing in the Group 3 state championship.

Matt Osieja was the winning pitcher, relieving starter TJ Hunt and shutting the door for the win.  Justin Gartner and Chris Liquori each recorded 2 RBIs.

SATURDAY

Bergen County Baseball Semifinals

Raiders 6 – Old Tappan 2

The 7^th-seeded Raiders knocked off division rival Old Tappan on the strength of a 4-hitter by junior Ari Kaufman.  After shutting out the Golden Knights at the end of the regular season, Kaufman got the best of OT again, this time to help his team advance to the county championship.

Leadoff hitter Nick Madormo was the catalyst for the Ramapo offense, going 2-for-4 with 2 RBI and a run scored.  Andrew Boylan, Ryan Dougherty, and John Gandolfo also knocked in runs, as Ramapo won the rubber-match against one of their biggest rivals.  The Raiders now advance to the county final for the first time in two years.  Last time they were there in 2009, they were downed by St. Joseph who the Raiders took care of in the quarterfinals this year.

SUNDAY

Bergen County Baseball Championship

Don Bosco 13 – Raiders 8

After winning state and county tournament games on Friday and Saturday, Ramapo’s reward was playing the undefeated top-seeded Ironmen in the BCT Finals.  The Raiders gave Bosco a scare early, but the Ironmen would not be denied of the championship.

“They’re a good team,” said Coach Mickey Hunt.  “We gave them a battle.  We went out to an early lead, we hit the ball fairly well, we scored 8 runs.  Most of the time that’s enough to win games, but they hit the ball too.  Gotta give them credit.”

After playing the two previous days, Ramapo went to sophomore Matt Osieja as their starter in the final.  Osieja got the win in relief just two days earlier, and looked sharp in a scoreless first inning.  Bosco would touch him up in the second however, batting around and scoring five runs in the frame.

Ramapo would go down 11-3, but they never quit, battling back with four runs in the fifth.  The Ironmen would strike right back though, scoring two in the bottom of the fifth and going on to a 13-8 win.

Ryan Dougherty had another 2 RBI for the Raiders but it would not be enough.  Andrew Boylan, Justin Gartner, Chris Liquori, and Alex Nickles also added RBIs.

The Raiders hit the ball well with 10 hits, but leaving 12 men on base really hurt them.  Even though they took the loss, Coach Hunt looks to use the game for momentum heading into the next round of states on Tuesday when they travel to Paramus.

Ramapo lost 10-4 to Paramus earlier in the year, but the heavy-hitting Raiders are coming in hot despite the loss in the county final and they are out for redemption.  TJ Hunt is ready to go and will get the start on the hill.