Wednesday,
May 28, 2014
By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer
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Eamon Catherina is fired up after scoring a run against Emerson in Ridgefield's 3-1 win in the North 1, Group 1 state sectional semifinals. |
RIDGEFIELD - Gavin Salazar was aware of how quickly things were unraveling. After coming on in relief to get out of a jam in the top of the sixth with a three-run lead, the senior could only try to keep his emotions and his composure in check as Emerson mounted a late rally and put the tying run in scoring position in its final turn at-bat. Salazar and his teammates had come to far though to let it all slip away. Even with his team's season on the line and the pressure squarely on his shoulders, Salazar never doubted his ability to get one more out.
Up two runs and with runners on second and third, Salazar buckled down and got the last batter of the game looking at a fastball on the inside corner as third-seeded Ridgefield advanced to the North 1, Group 1 section final with a 3-1 semifinal triumph over No. 6 seed Emerson on Tuesday in Ridgefield.
"Even though they had two runners on I still had confidence that I'd get the last out," said Salazar. "I just focused on the batter and had to throw a first-pitch strike."
It looked early on as it would be a pitcher's duel between Ridgefield's Chris Martucci and Emerson ace Joe Fisco. It was Ridgefield that took advantage of a pair of throwing errors and a wild pitch to take the lead. Joe Biggiani reached on an error and Eamon Catherina was hit by a pitch with two outs in the bottom of the third inning. They advanced to second and third on the wild pitch before both scored on another throwing error. Without the hitting the ball out of the infield or getting a base hit in the frame, the Royals were able to scratch across a pair to take a 2-0 lead.
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Joe Fisco pitched well in defeat for Emerson as the senior right-hander gave up just four hits with one walk and six strikeouts. |
The Royals tacked on another run in the fifth. Catherina roped a two-out single and, after a walk, he came around to score on an RBI single by Salazar to make it 3-0.
Through five innings, Martucci was effective in commanding the strike zone and with his dangerous pickoff move. The junior southpaw picked off a pair of runners and nearly got three others leaning the wrong way. The Cavos finally got to him in the sixth. After a leadoff single by Jon Juri and a walk, Ridgefield head coach Joe Gambardella decided to make the switch to Salazar, an experienced hard-throwing righty.
The move paid dividends as Salazar came on to get a fly ball out before striking out the final two batters to end the threat.
Emerson finally got on the scoreboard with one swing of the bat to open the top of the seventh when No. 8 batter Anthony Scozzafava turned on a fastball and drove it over the 330-foot sign in left for a leadoff solo homer to cut the lead to 3-1. After a single and a fielder's choice, Chris Nedilsky laid down his second bunt hit of the day to reach as the tying run.
After a ground out moved the runners up, the speedy Nedilsky was in scoring position with any base hit to the outfield likely tying the game. Salazar was well aware of the pickle he was in but went right at the next batter like it was just another game. He quickly got to an 0-2 count; after a waste pitch, he froze the batter on a fastball for a called strike three and let out a celebratory yell as the Royals moved one step closer and now just one game away from a section title.
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With the tying runs in scoring position, Ridgefield's Gavin Salazar got a called strike 3 to close out the game. |
"We just wanted to play small ball and we'll do whatever it takes to keep it rolling," said Ridgefield catcher Santo Guinta. "We couldn't wait to get to the field to play today. This is the what we play for and we're happy to get a shot at winning the section."
Salazar picked up his second consecutive state tournament save for Ridgefield (18-10). That backed the solid pitching of Martucci, who tossed five scoreless innings. He allowed five hits, walked two, and struck out three. Catherina led the way offensively, reaching base in all three of his plate appearances with a pair of hits.
Fisco pitched well in defeat for Emerson (17-8). The senior right-hander gave up just four hits with one walk and six K's. This represented the last state tournament game in the illustrious career of one of Bergen County's all-time winningest coaches, Emerson's Bob Carcich, who was given a standing ovation by both teams and the fans following the game. Weather permitting, the Cavos will look to give their skipper a proper send off with one more regular season home game on Wednesday against Waldwick.
"This is tough for us because we didn't play our 'A' game and they took advantage of opportunities," said Carcich. "We took too many called third strikes and gave them too many extra outs. I love this game so much and it hurts. I just wanted us to keep playing."
Ridgefield will be at home one last time on Friday with the North 1, Group 1 section crown up for grabs. The Royals will face perennial Group 1 stalwart Cedar Grove, which scored twice in the bottom of the seventh for a 4-3 comeback win over Cresskill in the other North 1, Group 1 semifinal. As exhilarating as this win was, the Royals know they have to turn the page.
"We've wanted this opportunity since day one and now it's all down to one game," said Gambardella. "I loved the way we battled today. We put the bat on the ball and when you do anything can happen. We have a few kids who were on the 2012 team that won a section title, so they know what it takes to get there. We'll have to raise our level of play in the final if we want to be champions.”
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