Saturday,
May 24, 2014
By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer
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Eamon Catherina threw 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball as Ridgefield beat Pompton Lakes, the two-time defending champion, 4-1, in the
North 1, Group 1 state sectional tournament. |
RIDGEFIELD – Two years ago, Eamon Catherina was a freshman and Joe Biggiani a sophomore on Ridgefield’s state sectional title winning baseball team. They remember the euphoria of winning a section crown as it was the school’s first section title in 42 years. However, that feeling evaporated when the Royals got beat by Pompton Lakes in the Group 1 semifinals a year later. A rare chance for redemption came on Friday as Pompton Lakes, now a two-time defending section champ, came to town looking to defend its crown.
Catherina and Biggiani both took advantage of the second chance at the Cardinals. Catherina, a junior right-hander, had a quality start and Biggani gave him the run support he needed. His two-run double gave Ridgefield the lead and they tacked on two more runs in the sixth as the third-seeded Royals knocked off No.6 seed Pompton Lakes in the North 1, Group 1 quarterfinals, 4-1, in Ridgefield.
“We really wanted this win and it’s a great feeling to get it,” said Catherina. “They have a really tough lineup and a lot of lefties right in a row. I just tried to pound the outside corner and keep attacking it. This is a close team and we want to win this section. We’re just trying to keep it rolling right now and have the momentum carry over into our next game.”
Pompton Lakes has made a living in the state tournament over the past two years by jumping on top early and never letting up, but Catherina danced his way out of trouble by fielding a comebacker with the bases loaded to end the top of the first. The Cardinals got their only run in the second on a sac fly by Jimmy Huber, but Catherina followed with a strikeout with two on to end that threat right there.
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Jimmy Huber had three hits and drove in the Pompton Lakes run. |
The Royals answered back in the bottom half of the inning despite recording just one hit. Chris Martucci and Jordan Neira drew walks and moved up on a fielder’s choice before Biggiani lined a shot over the head of Cardinals’ centerfielder Ryan Kazanowski to bring both runners home and put Ridgefield ahead 2-1.
“I just came to the plate looking for a fastball and trying to be aggressive when I got one to hit,” said Biggiani. “I got a good fastball to drive on the outside corner. This is a huge game and I’m a senior, so I’m playing every game like it’s my last.”
The Cardinals had a chance to tie the game in the fifth after a leadoff single and a balk put a runner in scoring position with no outs. Ridgefield junior catcher Santo Guinta made the defensive play of the game though, throwing behind the runner and shooting a perfect strike right on the bag to pick him off at second.
With the outcome of the game still very much in doubt going into the bottom of the sixth and with Gavin Salazar on in relief of Catherina, the Royals finally got the bats going to provide some much-needed insurance runs. Neira started things off with a one-out double down the left-field line. After a walk to Syam Lafi, Vinny Cumella stroked a ball into right-center for an RBI single. Biggiani followed with a double to plate Lafi and give the Royals a 4-1 lead.
After coming on to end the top of the sixth with a strikeout, Salazar wiggled out of trouble in the seventh. He gave up a leadoff double to Huber and the tying run came to the plate before Salazar inducing a groundball to end the game.
Biggiani knocked in a season-high three runs for Ridgefield (17-10). Catherina improved his personal record to 6-1 on the season. He tossed 5 2/3 innings, giving up four hits and one earned run with three walks and 2 K’s before Salazar came on to pick up his first career save.
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Joe Biaggiani and Ridgefield will host Emerson in the state sectional semifinals on Tuesday. |
Justin Wazaney allowed six hits in 5 2/3 innings in taking the loss for Pompton Lakes (17-4). Huber led the way offensively going 3-for-3 with two doubles and an RBI. The Cardinals still have plenty to play for this weekend as they attempt to defend their Passaic County title. They take on Lakeland on Saturday morning at 10:30 A.M. at Passaic County Tech with St. John’s University-bound lefty Kevin Magee taking the hill. It will be a rematch of last year’s Passaic County final won by the Cardinals 8-6.
Ridgefield also has plenty to play for and is pleasantly surprised to get another home game. The Royals will get that because No. 7 seed Emerson was able to pull a 6-2 upset over second-seeded Waldwick in its North 1, Group 1 quarterfinal. With one goal left, the Royals motivation is simple: Work hard, win every inning, and live to play another day.
“I like the way we battled and how we responded when they scored first today,” said Ridgefield head coach Joe Gambardella. “We had a few guys on this team who were on the team that lost to Pompton Lakes in 2012. (Biggani) had a big knock to get us going and we made some big plays when we needed to make them. That’s a great ballclub we were able to beat today that will probably win the Passaic County Tournament. That’s going to give us a lot of motivation moving forward.
“It won’t get any easier playing a tough Emerson team that has one of the best coaches in Bergen County history (Bob Carcich). But to win a section title, you have to bet some really good teams along the way. We’re going to do what we do every time we step on the field. Try to win every inning and leave it all on the field. It should be fun.”
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