Sunday, June 10, 2012

By Cory K. Doviak
NJS.com Editorial Director

Andrew Schorr carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning before settling for a one-hitter in Audobon's 6-1 win over Pompton Lakes in the Group 2 state final on Saturday in Toms River.

TOMS RIVER – Pompton Lakes won its first state sectional title since 1969, won the Group 1 state semifinal for the first time in school history and headed down to Toms River on Saturday to play for its first outright state title. It was uncharted territory for the Cardinals and they ran into a team more updated resume. Audobon is the defending Group 1 state champion, having beaten Waldwick in last season's penultimate game, and were Group 2 state finalists in 2010.

The difference was obvious as the Cardinals needed to get used to the surroundings, while Audobon came in chirping with confidence. With those in the Audobon dugout singing his praises with every pitch, Green Wave left-hander Andrew Schorr carried a no-hitter into the top of the sixth inning before settling for a one-hit masterpiece and a 6-1 win that gave Audobon its second straight state championship.

“We came in here with a lot of heart and a lot of talent on our side, but they had that too and they also have a lot of experience in a game like this,” said Pompton Lakes head coach Paul Tanis. “What a job by Schorr. He came in here with the type of effort that we just couldn't match.”

Pompton Lakes actually had the game's first scoring chance as Jon Steele led off the game by drawing a walk and he went to second on a wild pitch. A one-out grounder to the right side by Sean Lindberg pushed Steele to third and he would have scored had Jose Arroyo's hard chopper had bounced a couple of inches higher. Instead it was gloved by Schorr before it could get passed the mound and scoring chances would be few and far between for Pompton thereafter.

Jon Steele had Pompton Lakes' lone hit and scored the Cardinals' run.

After working out of a two-on, one-out situation in the bottom of the first, Pompton Lakes starter Mike Coss, working on three days rest for the second straight start, gave up an unearned run in the bottom of the second, but it was another impressive escape act. With the bases loaded and no outs, Coss got Eric Schorr to bounce into a 6-4-3 double play, started by Lindberg and turned by Dan Foote. The run scored from third, but Pompton traded it for two outs and Coss struck out the next hitter to keep the Cardinals within a run.

Coss' did it again in the third inning to keep his team in the game. After surrendering a no-doubt-about-it lead off homer to Justin Jannetti leading off the inning, two errors and a walk let Audobon load the bases with no outs. Coss proceeded to strike out the next three hitters as the Green Wave had to settle for a 2-0 lead. They added another run in the fourth on Andrew Schorr's RBI triple and then broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth.

Keith Michalski homered leading off and Doug Young followed with a single to end the day for Coss, who battled through 4-plus innings. The sophomore who threw 13 of the 14 innings it took for Pompton Lakes to win the North 1, Group 1 state section title and the Group 1 semifinals, getting the win in both games. He gave up four earned runs and eight hits while striking out six on Saturday before giving way to Brian Piccinnini, who finished up his career the right way.

Audobon's Justin Jannetti connecting on his third inning home run.

Of Pompton Lakes four seniors, Piccinnini was the only one at the state final. The other three, including one starter, decided to take the senior trip to Virginia Beach and were not present. Piccinnini decided to skip the senior trip and started in centerfield before throwing the final two innings.

“Other than his family and his faith, this baseball team is the most important thing to him and he was where he was supposed to be,” said Tanis. “He finished his commitment the way I would have expected him to as a senior leader on this team.”

Steele's leadoff single in the top of the sixth broke up Andrew Schorr's no-hotter and the Cardinals broke up the shutout three hitters later when Jose Arroyo's fielder's choice ground ball drove in Pompton's lone run. Andrew Schorr worked a 1-2-3 seventh to finish his complete game gem and give Audobon (24-6) its second straight state championship.

Pompton Lakes got its first taste of a deep state tournament run and has plenty of weapons to make another run at it next year.

“I think this absolutely gives us something to build on,” said Tanis. “And now we have some unfinished business for next year.”

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