Evan Radoncic had a double and a home run, scored twice and drove in 3 as Northern Highlands advanced to the Bergen County Tournament Round of 16 with a 13-2 win over Wood-Ridge.
ALLENDALE – Against a schedule like Northern Highlands plays, the margin of error is thin. In a skid that included six losses in seven games three of the defeats were by one run and another came by a pair. Life in the Freedom Division and in the Big North Conference in general can be like that sometimes, even for good teams.
Bolstered by an 8-2 start to the season the Highlanders had built up enough of a cushion to not only qualify for the Bergen County Tournament, but to earn a first round home game and the perfect chance to hit the reset button on their season.
“We have been playing a lot of close games, our schedule has been tough and we have come up short in a lot of close games,” said Northern Highlands head coach Paul Albarella. “We lost to Ramsey by one, Ridgewood by one, Ramapo by two, but I think that can help us in the long run and it was nice to have the sticks going today.”
The sticks were indeed busy as Northern Highlands (10-8) banged out 14 hits in the first three innings including 8 in the bottom of the third when they sent 14 hitters to the plate. When all of the math was tabulated, Highlands advanced to the Round of 16 with a 13-2 victory that was shortened by a couple of innings.
Leadoff hitter Jake Wagner was the catalyst for the Highlanders as he went 3-for-3 with two doubles, two RBI and three runs scored.
Wood-Ridge's Lucas Mendoza hit the game's first pitch for a double.
“County game, big game, so early on we were just trying to hunt fastballs, get stuff in our zone and jump on them early,” said Wagner, the junior shortstop who has already committed to Old Dominion University. “We did that today. We put up [5] runs in the first two innings and that really got our confidence up.”
The confidence at the plate was contagious. Two-batter Jeff Weinberger (1-for-2, 2 RBI) hit a two-run double in the second inning and when Stephen Martinez took his turn at bat in the bottom of the third he also hit a two-run double making that spot in the order 2-for-3 with 4 RBI and a run scored.
Evan Radoncic was 2-for-3 with a home run, a double and 3 RBI. Cleanup hitter Zach Braunstein had a double, an RBI and scored a run. Jayden Luftman had a double, stole a base and scored a run. Alex Putrino had two hits, a run scored and an RBI. Charlie Goebbert (2-for-3) doubled, scored a run and knocked in another and freshman catcher Dean Campestre was 1-for-2 and hit courtesy runner, Martinez, scored twice. The only Highlander without a hit was Will Simmel, but not to be left out he walked and scored a run in the 8-run home half of the third inning.
“Coming off a loss yesterday and on the losing streak that we have been on, we came out with hunger today. We just had a different intensity and energy that comes with the county tournament,” said Radoncic, Highlands’ second baseman and No. 3 hitter. “We were mentally focused and did our job like in no other game we have played this season.”
Zach Braunstein drove in a run for Northern Highlands, the No. 15 seed, which will visit No. 2 Pascack Valley on Wednesday.
All of it was a bonanza for starting pitcher Rowan Treppichio, who went the distance, even if the finish line was moved a few steps closer. He struck out two, walked one against an aggressive Wood-Ridge offense and let his defense do the work behind him.
“I was just trying to go out there and throw strikes. I know I always have good fielding behind me so the plan was to let them hit it. Outfield, infield…everybody made the plays and it was great,” said Treppichio, who threw the absolute minimum of pitches necessary to finish out the official final inning. “Fastball, curveball; that is my mix and I was just trying to put them both in there for strikes.”
While Highlands’ dip came in the middle of the season, Wood-Ridge (10-8) recovered from a tough start to earn its annual spot in the county tournament. The Blue Devils got off to a 1-4 start but came into Saturday having won four of their last five games. They did not shy from the moment, either, as Lucas Mendoza cracked the first pitch of the game for a double before his aggressive trip around the bases ended when he tried to score on a pitch in the dirt.
Caine Skorsi and Jared Montoya each drove in a second inning run for the Blue Devils, who will now get back to the work of trying to win a NJIC Meadowlands Division title. Wood-Ridge and Hasbrouck Heights are tied atop the standings at 5-1 with four league games remaining.
It only gets tougher from here for Highlands as it head for the Round of 16 where the opponent is state-ranked and second-seeded Pascack Valley in Hillsdale on Wednesday.
“We know what is front of us. Pascack Valley is a really good team, state ranked,” said Radoncic. “We have to keep the intensity high, stay focused and confident. I think we are all feeling good about the opportunity we have on Wednesday.”
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