Saturday,
May 30, 2015
By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer
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Eamon Catherina (right) and Santo Guinta, two of Ridgefield's senior leaders, celebrate the Royals second straight state sectional title after a 3-2 win over Weehawken in the North 2, Group 1 final on Friday afternoon. |
RIDGEFIELD – After making it all the way to the Group 1 state final last year with a talented junior class, Ridgefield had its work cut out for it this season. The only way to top 2014 is to get back to Toms River and walk off the field on the final day of the season as state champion. There is no way to fast forward to that point, however, and the only way back is one step at a time.
The task at hand on Friday was the North 2, Group 1 state sectional final against an upstart Weehawken team that the Royals have had hard-fought battles with in the state tournament over the past several years. This senior-laden Ridgefield group knew that repeating as section champ was not going to come easy.
Playing on their home field for the last time, it was only fitting that one senior after another stepped up when the team needed them most. Michael Ragone drove home Chris Martucci with the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning and Eamon Catherina slammed the door shut in the seventh with the tying run and go-ahead runs on base as top-seeded Ridgefield won a section title for the second straight year with a thrilling 3-2 triumph.
“I was definitely concerned at the end but we always seem to come up clutch in the big moment,” said Martucci. “We know when we need the big hit and we have the confidence in each other that we’ll get the job done.”
The Royals struck quickly with a run in the first inning. Catherina drew a leadoff walk then went to third on an error before scoring on a groundout off the bat of Santo Guinta for a 1-0 lead. The duo were at it again in the third inning with Catherina stroking a leadoff single before coming around to score on a double in the gap by Guinta to make it 2-0.
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Oliver Molano was solid on the mound for Weehawken, which finished its season with a 21-9 record. |
To show the strong effort on the mound by both Martucci, Ridgefield’s southpaw, and Weehawken right-hander Oliver Molano, each of them allowed just one extra-base hit in the game.
Weehawken got on the board in the top of the fifth. Yasiel Gonzalez poked a leadoff single to right-center and came around to score on a two-out single by Alain Ravelo to cut the lead to 2-1.
An inning later, the Indians got going again by getting the leadoff batter on base. Brian Rodriguez was able to fight off a tough outside pitch from Martucci and muscled it down the right-field line for a double. Ridgefield head coach Joe Gambardella made a switch to Catherina, the hard-throwing righty. He only gave up one hit in two innings of work, but the Indians made it count. Gonzalez knocked home Rodriguez with a two-out single to knot the score at 2.
Before the Royals knew what hit them, Weehawken had snatched the momentum and was threatening to end their dream season on their own home field. With their backs against the wall, the Royals found a way out of a troublesome spot.
Martucci and Guinta lined back-to-back singles to lead off the sixth inning. Unsung hero Joel Torres laid down a bunt that moved up both runners. With a base open, the Indians elected to bring the infield in and go after Ragone.
Ragone has had the flair for the dramatic with several walk-off hits in his career, including one in the Group 1 semifinals last year. Although he did not get a hit this time around, he did get to the go-ahead run home from third. Ragone hit a hard ground ball back up the middle. Weehawken second baseman Yeuly De La Cruz made a diving play to knock it down but had no play at the plate and threw to first for the sure out. Martucci scored on the play to put Ridgefield back in front, 3-2.
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Ridgefield's Michael Ragone knocked in the game-winning run on a fielder's choice in the sixth. |
“Last year I was in a really similar situation in a big spot, so I just went up there with the same mindset,” said Ragone. “I just went up there with a clear head and focused on staying calm. I knew the first pitch was the best pitch I was going to get so I went after it.”
Molano got out of a jam to give the Indians a chance going into their last at-bat. They nearly took advantage of it as a walk and a two-out error put the tying run in scoring position. Even worse, it brought Rodriguez to the plate with a chance to tie the game with a hit or possibly pull Weehawken into the lead with an extra-base hit. Catherina and his teammates had to come too far to let this latest piece of adversity break them.
“After getting to this point, there was no way I was going to pitch around (Rodriguez),” said Catherina. “I know he’s a good hitter but I had to come after him. I went into that at-bat with confidence knowing that if he hit it that someone was going to make a play behind me.”
After Rodriguez fouled off the first pitch, Catherina got a called second strike on the outside corner and went back to the same spot for a called strike three to touch off a wild celebration.
Catherina picked up the win in relief with two scoreless innings for Ridgefield (22-9). Martucci tossed five innings, allowing four hits and one earned run with one walk and one strikeout. Guinta paced the offense by driving in two of the Royals’ three runs. Gonzalez went 3-for-3 with a run scored to lead the way for Weehawken (21-9).
Ridgefield now moves onto the Group 1 semifinals on Tuesday where they will face another Bergen County team. Emerson made a statement with an 11-1 victory over Hawthorne in the North 1, Group 1 final yesterday. Just two games away from their goal though, the Royals will be far from intimidated and are looking forward to yet another challenge.
“We’re excited to still be playing more than anything else,” added Catherina. “We know Emerson is a good team, it’s going to be a battle and we’re looking forward to it.”
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