Any hopes of making the playoff round for either team rested on which team would be the victor when the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Raiders matched skills with the Westfield Blue Devils in the qualifying round of the Cal Ripken, Jr. 12U District 12 Tournament at Gumbert Field 1 in Westfield on June 19. The Raiders’ hopes became brighter when Austin Briamonte tossed a three-hitter and his team came through with the offense to grab a four-inning, 12-0 victory (13 runs were scored but one was eliminated due to batting out of
order.)
The Raiders had lost their first round game, 8-1, to Millburn-Short Hills who also beat Summit, 9-3. The Blue Devils lost their first game to a strong Cranford Cougar squad, 23-3.
Nick Rossitto started on the mound for the Blue Devils and gave up nine runs on six hits and three walks, while striking out one, until he was relieved by Alex Beebe with one out in the third inning. Beebe allowed four runs on four hits, three walks and a hit batter, while striking out one. Briamonte struck out five Blue Devils and walked only one batter in his four innings on the hill.
Todd Simo coached the Raiders and played all 10 of his players, which consisted of Marco Barretta, Cooper Simo, Brendan Klotz, Will Sacchetti, Colin Craig, Luca Blake, Brayden Bates, Briamonte, Declan Bastable and Joey Llano. The Blue Devils coached by Stu Glassman, JPRavetier, Pete Hansen and Dan Ehrlich, consisted of Gavin Welsh, Luke Hansen, Jon Paster, Rossitto, Evan Ravetier, Liam Mroz, JA Rucker, Beebe, Sean Ehrlich, Drew Gerlach, Mason Ropiak and Reid Glassmith.
The Raiders totaled 10 hits and Sacchetti went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored and a stolen base. Briamonte rapped a two-run double and an RBI single for three RBI and scored once. Bastable went 1-for-1 with a two-run double, walked once, was hit and scored twice. Blake rapped a two-run single, walked and scored twice. Barretta had a two-run single, stole a base and scored once. Klotz singled, walked, had an RBI and scored once. Bates singled, had an RBI and scored once. Craig walked in all three of his plate appearances and scored twice. Llano walked, stole a base and scored.
In the top of the first inning, Barretta led off and reached safely on a throwing error. After a strikeout, Barretta stole third base then scored on Klotz’s groundout to second. Sacchetti singled and stole second base but when his foot slid off the bag, shortstop Rucker was there to make the tag for the third out.
Hansen drilled a one-out single to left in the Westfield first. When he attempted to steal second, he was gunned down by Llano the catcher. Briamonte fanned the next batter then four more Raiders would score in the SPF second inning. Craig and Blake both walked and Bates plopped a single into shallow center to load the bases. Bastable hammered a two-run double to leftfield then two more runs scored when Briamonte’s grounder slipped past the shortstop. Later in the inning, Blue Devil centerfielder Mroz made a great diving catch to rob Barretta.
Briamonte yielded a leadoff single to Rossitto in the Westfield second but got the next three batters out. Seven more Raiders scuffed home plate in the third. Klotz clouted a single to right and Sacchetti doubled to left. Craig walked to load the bases and Blake bounced a two-run single past third. Bates lofted an RBI sacrifice fly to right. Bastable took a fastball to the arm and Briamonte lined a two-run double down the leftfield line. Llano walked and stole second then Barretta hacked a tworun single over second base.
Gerlach singled to right in the Westfield third then the Raiders would add another run in the fourth. Sacchetti launched a high double that ticked off the centerfielder’s glove. Craig would walk for the third time and Briamonte hopped an RBI single over third base.
Rossitto drew a two-out walk in the fourth and Ravetier reached on an error but Briamonte struck out the final Blue Devil.
