Warrington rock 'n rolls North Jersey
By James D’Arcangelo
For BucksLocalSports.com
It took a game and a half in this Cal Ripken Regional Tournament, but it looks like the Pack is back. The Warrington Wolfpack that is – and they are all the way back and then some.
Building strong momentum on a wave of smart small-ball and timely big hits, Warrington has outscored their opponents 26-11 in the last game and a half. They made North Jersey their latest victim, 13-3, in a mercy-rule shortened, four-inning game.
But, unlike their recent games, no comebacks or late inning dramatics were necessary in this one. T.J Anthony (pictured) pitched the complete game win for Warrington, and Ky Rossi was 2-for-3 with 3 RBI while he also turned the game with a clutch double play with bases loaded for North Jersey in the third.
Having scored 13 runs in the last five innings the night before against Maryland, the Warrington bats kept thumping pitchers as the Pack jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, leveraging singles and strong base running.
Tommy Funk led off with a single off of pitcher Eric Nickel, and moved to second on a first baseman’s runner interference call. Brendan Parker sacrificed him over to third and Ky Rossi’s single drove him in, with Rossi taking second on the throw home. The extra base mattered when Will Moller then singled behind second to knock him home. Connor Moffat was next, safe at first when he hustled through a fielder’s choice, moving Moller to third. Moffat then drew the “pickle” play between first and second, tying up the play until Moller could score, and then taking second on the throw home. Though the scoring was over for the inning, the tone for the game was set.
Anthony threw a six pitch, 1-2-3 second to quickly get the Warrington batters up again. Brendan Parker slammed a double to right to open things, and Ky Rossi and Connor Moffat patiently took walks. Jared Conroy knocked in Parker with a hard grounder to third and was safe at first. Though the Wolf Pack left the bases loaded, a 4-0 lead after two seemed pretty insurmountable the way the Pack was batting.
North Jersey showed why they were in the tournament as champions in the top of the third. Hardly shrinking away and giving up, they fought Anthony to stay in the game. Nick Scimone led off with a hard single to left and stole second. After a walk, Al Wahl then singled off the fence in left, missing s home run by a few feet to load the bases. John Kay walked for a run, before Alex Thul knocked a single to right. Nick Yurchak then singled up the middle and suddenly not only was it 4-3, but North Jersey had bases loaded.
At this point, when the game could have gone in either direction, Ky Rossi made sure it went in Warrington’s. He snagged Kyle Dunphy’s line shot up the middle and doubled up the runner cheating off of second to end the inning. Advantage Warrington.
Indeed, they took advantage--six runs worth in the bottom of the third in a crazy array of long ball and savvy offensive play inside the diamond. Zach Dennis and T.J. Anthony smelled the blood of a pitcher who couldn’t find the strike zone, both taking four-pitch walks. Tommy Funk followed with a perfect bunt down the third base line for a single that loaded the bases.
Brendan Parker hit a hot shot to short that was kept in the infield but he beat out the first baseman’s stretch, scoring Dennis. Ky Rossi followed with a laser that hit the fence a foot short of a grand slam, settling for a double and two RBI. Jake Fitts then executed a perfect suicide squeeze play to score Funk, and North Jersey was dizzy.
Next play, Connor Moffat popped out to right, but Rossi alertly scored on an overthrow to the cut-off man. Jared Conroy reached on an error, stole second, and then scored from second on smart base running when Ray Maletz beat out an infield hit and the ball was held by the fielder.
North Jersey’s best laid plans to make it a game at 4-3 a half inning earlier spun into a 10-3 Warrington hit storm just like that.
With a new definition for efficiency, Anthony gave the North Jersey batters a buzz cut with a four pitch, 1-2-3 inning. Warrington put the game away in the bottom of the fourth. Three runs came across, starting when J.M. Clauss reached on an error, and Tommy Funk reached when the second baseman missed the tag on an evasive Clauss. Brendan Parker walked to load the bases.
The next play epitomized Warrington ball as Ky Rossi hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Clauss, and Funk tagged to third. But the play wasn’t over there as Parker took second on the delayed throw into the infield, and Funk sprinted home when the late throw went to second. After Parker stole third, Jake Fitts slammed a single up the middle to score Parker and the game ended with Warrington’s 10-run lead.
Both teams await their opponents in the single elimination round to follow, but it is clear that few teams have the momentum Warrington does when it is on top of its game. And at this point, Warrington has reached the height of its game.
For BucksLocalSports.com
It took a game and a half in this Cal Ripken Regional Tournament, but it looks like the Pack is back. The Warrington Wolfpack that is – and they are all the way back and then some.
Building strong momentum on a wave of smart small-ball and timely big hits, Warrington has outscored their opponents 26-11 in the last game and a half. They made North Jersey their latest victim, 13-3, in a mercy-rule shortened, four-inning game.
But, unlike their recent games, no comebacks or late inning dramatics were necessary in this one. T.J Anthony (pictured) pitched the complete game win for Warrington, and Ky Rossi was 2-for-3 with 3 RBI while he also turned the game with a clutch double play with bases loaded for North Jersey in the third.
Having scored 13 runs in the last five innings the night before against Maryland, the Warrington bats kept thumping pitchers as the Pack jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first, leveraging singles and strong base running.
Tommy Funk led off with a single off of pitcher Eric Nickel, and moved to second on a first baseman’s runner interference call. Brendan Parker sacrificed him over to third and Ky Rossi’s single drove him in, with Rossi taking second on the throw home. The extra base mattered when Will Moller then singled behind second to knock him home. Connor Moffat was next, safe at first when he hustled through a fielder’s choice, moving Moller to third. Moffat then drew the “pickle” play between first and second, tying up the play until Moller could score, and then taking second on the throw home. Though the scoring was over for the inning, the tone for the game was set.
Anthony threw a six pitch, 1-2-3 second to quickly get the Warrington batters up again. Brendan Parker slammed a double to right to open things, and Ky Rossi and Connor Moffat patiently took walks. Jared Conroy knocked in Parker with a hard grounder to third and was safe at first. Though the Wolf Pack left the bases loaded, a 4-0 lead after two seemed pretty insurmountable the way the Pack was batting.
North Jersey showed why they were in the tournament as champions in the top of the third. Hardly shrinking away and giving up, they fought Anthony to stay in the game. Nick Scimone led off with a hard single to left and stole second. After a walk, Al Wahl then singled off the fence in left, missing s home run by a few feet to load the bases. John Kay walked for a run, before Alex Thul knocked a single to right. Nick Yurchak then singled up the middle and suddenly not only was it 4-3, but North Jersey had bases loaded.
At this point, when the game could have gone in either direction, Ky Rossi made sure it went in Warrington’s. He snagged Kyle Dunphy’s line shot up the middle and doubled up the runner cheating off of second to end the inning. Advantage Warrington.
Indeed, they took advantage--six runs worth in the bottom of the third in a crazy array of long ball and savvy offensive play inside the diamond. Zach Dennis and T.J. Anthony smelled the blood of a pitcher who couldn’t find the strike zone, both taking four-pitch walks. Tommy Funk followed with a perfect bunt down the third base line for a single that loaded the bases.
Brendan Parker hit a hot shot to short that was kept in the infield but he beat out the first baseman’s stretch, scoring Dennis. Ky Rossi followed with a laser that hit the fence a foot short of a grand slam, settling for a double and two RBI. Jake Fitts then executed a perfect suicide squeeze play to score Funk, and North Jersey was dizzy.
Next play, Connor Moffat popped out to right, but Rossi alertly scored on an overthrow to the cut-off man. Jared Conroy reached on an error, stole second, and then scored from second on smart base running when Ray Maletz beat out an infield hit and the ball was held by the fielder.
North Jersey’s best laid plans to make it a game at 4-3 a half inning earlier spun into a 10-3 Warrington hit storm just like that.
With a new definition for efficiency, Anthony gave the North Jersey batters a buzz cut with a four pitch, 1-2-3 inning. Warrington put the game away in the bottom of the fourth. Three runs came across, starting when J.M. Clauss reached on an error, and Tommy Funk reached when the second baseman missed the tag on an evasive Clauss. Brendan Parker walked to load the bases.
The next play epitomized Warrington ball as Ky Rossi hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Clauss, and Funk tagged to third. But the play wasn’t over there as Parker took second on the delayed throw into the infield, and Funk sprinted home when the late throw went to second. After Parker stole third, Jake Fitts slammed a single up the middle to score Parker and the game ended with Warrington’s 10-run lead.
Both teams await their opponents in the single elimination round to follow, but it is clear that few teams have the momentum Warrington does when it is on top of its game. And at this point, Warrington has reached the height of its game.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home