Nutley Legion Team Going to State Championships
• Overpowers Bloomfield 5-3 in Final Inning Yesterday
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Enlarge This Photo | Photo by NJHometown |
Nutley's starting pitcher Mark Gualtieri covers home plate as Bloomfield's Mike Carter slides into the dust for the first score in yesterday's game for the championship.
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Enlarge This Photo | Photo by NJHometown |
Nutley's leaping shortstop Nick Gariano is about to put the tag on Matt Schroeder's attempted steal at second base that ended the third inning of yesterday's game.
Jul 11, 2010 – Nutley's American Legion team edged out the closest of victories over Bloomfield yesterday to qualify for the opening round of the N.J. State Championships next weekend. Final score yesterday, Nutley 5, Bloomfield 3.
Bloomfield held the lead for most of the afternoon and was still ahead 3-1 going into the final seventh inning when Nutley catcher Dominick Auriemma led off with a single into left field. That alone was enough to prompt a Bloomfield conference on the mound but when Kevin Garcia, the next Nutley batter, singled to deep center, Bloomfield made the pitching change with Jeremiah Smith relieving starter Cavan Penberthy.
Smith's opening pitch was a bunt off the bat of shortstop Nick Gariano that seemed to startle the Bloomfield infield. Gariano's bunt was mishandled and ended up rolling into the outfield, providing enough time for Auriemma and Garcia to score. The game was now tied at 3-3.
A strikeout and a walk set up the finale for Nutley when the next batter, first baseman Phil Condito, blasted a double into deep center field scoring two runs . Nutley was now in the lead 5-3.
But Nutley's big seventh inning wasn't over. Condito reached third on a passed ball behind the plate while the next two batters, Joe Dispoto and John Llano both walked to again load the bases. Nutley's final chance to increase its lead ended with a Auriemma's strikeout with the bases loaded.
Bloomfield opened its half of the final inning with two stikeouts. But just as the Nutley fans were about to celebrate, Devin Radzowicz and Mike Carter each drew walks and forcing Nutley to bring in relief pitcher James Juhrden.
The first batter facing Juhrden was Matt Schroeder who singled to right field sending Radzowicx half-way down the third-base line a ready to score before he changed course and returned to third.
Nutley now was facing Bloomfield with bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh. Juhrden's final pitch was hit hard to center field where Joe Dispoto made a rolling catch that ended the game, 5-3.
Game times for next weekend's opening round of the state tournament will be announced here on NJHometown as soon as the schedules are finalized – most likely tomorrow (Monday) or Tuesday.
In the meantime, Nutley also has one more game to play in the Essex County Senior League – and that game's time and location also will be announced tomorrow (Monday).
As of Sunday afternoon, Nutley is in second place in the National Division with a 13-9 record. Caldwell Legion Post 185 has already captured first place with the team's current record of 17-4-1.
Belleville finishes third in the National Division.
The American Division leaders are Livingston, 19-4, West Essex 17-3-2, Bloomfield 17-5 and Montclair 12-9-1.
