2008 World Wood Bat Association Northeast Qualifier #1 BLOG

By Mike Levandowski

Sunday 10:00pm

The Jersey Boys won their final pool play game with a 3-2 victory over the Syracuse Sports Zone Athletics. The PBI Eagles defeated the Long Island Mariners 4-2 in their last pool play game.

The New York Nine finished pool play with a 3-0 record after defeating the Ontario Prospects 5-1. Baseball U Prospects and Taconic Rangers tied at 2.

Sunday 8:45pm

The Rosters for the 2008 Northeast All Star Games have been completed. 85 players from the Northeast will compete at Fairfield University on Friday, August 29, 2008. [More Information]

A few interesting notes:

- Of the 20 pitchers that will be attending, 8 of them have at least touched 90 mph.

- All of the 20 pitchers have thrown at least 86 mph.

- There are 17 players that have run sub-7 60's at a PG event.

- 5 players have throw 90 mph from their defensive positions at a PG event

- 21 players have thrown at least 85 mph from their defensive positions at a PG event

Sunday 8:10pm

Jared Forestieri and Jerry Elsing combined on a 2-hit shutout for Farrah Builders to propel them into the playoffs. Both pitchers touched 89 mph with their fastballs and combined for 7 strikeouts. The lone run came when Giuseppe Papaccio walked, moved to second on a groundout, and scored on Frank DeSarno's RBI double. The Sports Zone Chiefs got a complete game effort from Eric Skutch who allowed only 3 hits and the lone run.

The World Yacht Clippers National defeated Nokona Select 6-4, ending Nokona's playoff hopes. John Casten was 3-3 with 2 RBI's and Mike Tandy was 2-3 with a double and 2 runs scored to lead the Clippers.

The Team New York Cardinals 18U Senior defeated the South Bergen Mets 2-0. Adam Prestifilippo threw a complete game shutout for the Cardinals.

The Paveco Storm Red was victorious over Chiefs Baseball 6-3.

Sunday 6:15pm

Kevin MacLachlan tossed a complete game 2-hitter with 10 K's against the Long Island Titans to give the New Jersey Super 17 a 3-0 win and a berth in Monday's playoffs. The Super 17 took the lead in the top of the first on Nick Allen's leadoff double and Darren Ream's run scoring hit.

The World Yacht Clippers American team defeated the East Coast Grays 10-4 to win the pool. Mike Mercurio had 2 hits for the Clippers, who took advantage of 10 walks for the win. Steven Roche threw 4 innings for the Clippers, touching 91 with his fastball, allowing only 1 unearned run.

Baseball U Underclass came from behind to defeat the Moosic Mets 5-3 with 5 runs in the top of the 7th. Adam Wayman homered for the Mets.

The Mizuno Titans defeated the Long Island Mustangs 7-3 in final Pool D action. Paced by a Sam Ross triple to leadoff the game and a Kyle Leonard home run, the Titans didn't look back after scoring 4 runs in the first inning. Leonard also went deep in the 3rd for the tournament's first multi-homer game.

Sunday 3:15pm

The Long Island Cobras, behind a Bobby Gazzola home run, defeated Frozen Ropes 11-0 to finish out their first round games.

College Select scored in the bottom of the 7th to defeat the Paveco Storm Black 4-3. Sean Hagan homered for College Select.

The South Troy Dodgers defeated Richmond County 6-2

Sunday 2:00pm

Baseball U Terminators earned the 3rd playoff berth of the day with an 8-0 win over the Team NY Cardinals 17-18. With the win, the Terminators improved to 2-0-1 and giving up only 2 runs. Kevin Needham pitched a 5 inning no hitter with 5 strikeouts. Brian Schroeded led the Terminator offense with a 3-run shot.

Sunday 1:15pm

The Taconic Rangers improved to 1-0-1 with an 11-3 win over the Long Island Mariners. The Rangers took advantage of 5 walks and 8 hits on offense. Shane Peterman and Chris Nardo had 3 RBI's apiece to lead the offense. Mike Copabianco homered for the Mariners.

The Sports Zone Athletics and Ontario Prospects played to a 2-2 tie in Pool G action, putting both teams records at 0-1-1 going into tonight's final pool game.

The New York Nine secured their spot in the playoffs by virtue of a 10-0 win over the Jersey Boys. Mike Volpe, Jonathan Bobea, and Ryan Gerspach held the Jersey Boys to 2 hits while the Nine offense pounded out 13 hits, highlighted by Alibay Barkley's second home run of the tournament.

Baseball U moves to 2-0 after a 8-1 win over PBI Eagles. Baseball U was up 2-1 until breaking it open with 6 runs in the top of the seventh, 3 of those courtesy of a Eddie Sorondo 3-run blast. PBI got 6 strong innings from Patrick Butler, who topped at 88 mph.

Sunday 10:20am

The Paveco Storm Red scored twice in the bottom of the 7th to come from behind and defeat the Team NY Cardinals 18U Seniors. Chris Catan led off with a double, and following a flyball out, the Storm got 4 consecutive singles, including the game winning RBI from Joe Solomeno.

The Sports Zone Chiefs took control of Pool E with an 8-0 win over the World Yacht Clippers National. Brian Ruby tossed a complete game no-hitter with 10 strikeouts. He allowed only one walk that was caught stealing to face the minimum hitters.

Nokona Select improved to 1-1 with a 5-0 victory over Farrah Builders. Anthony Bilotta held Farrah to only 4 hits in the complete game shutout. Kyle Silva scored the decisive run in the 5th after reaching on a double. Nokona took control in the top of the 7th with 4 more runs, led by Nick Bonofiglio's bases clearing triple.

The South Bergen Mets improved to 2-0 with a 10-1 win over Chiefs Baseball. Domonic Cusick went the distance for the Mets, scattering 8 hits while only allowing 1 run and no walks. TJ Jann, a 2010 grad, was 84-88 with his fastball in the first 5 innings for the Chiefs. South bergen broke the game open with 3 runs in each of the last two innings. With the win, and the NY Cardinals loss, the Mets clinched the top seed in Pool F.

Sunday 8:30am

In late action Saturday the New Jersey Super 17 defeated Baseball U Underclass 15-0 to improve to 2-0 in pool play. Jake Porcello, 2007 first rounder Rick's younger brother, threw 4 shutout innings in the mercy rule win. El'Hajj Muhammad hit a grand slam in the 2nd for the SUper 17, Darren Ream hit a solo homer, and Evan DeLuca had 2 hits, 2 runs, and an RBI.

The Long Island Titans set up a winner advances game with the Super 17 tomorrow afternoon with a 5-0 win over the Moosic Mets. Both the Titans and Super 17 are 2-0 in pool play. Matt Metz threw a complete game 2-hit shutout for the Titans, who scored all 5 runs in the 3rd inning on 2 singles and 4 walks along with several wild pitches and passed balls.

The World Yacht Clippers American evened their record at 1-1 with a 7-2 defeat of the Mizuno Titans. Shea Policastro went deep for the Clippers and also scored 2 runs. Alex Caravella notched the high strikeout game of the tournament so far with 13 in 5 innings, mixing pitches well with an 84 mph fastball.

The East Coast Grays got strong pitching from Jason Frey and Frank Morris on their way to a 3-1 win over the Long Island Mustangs. Daniel GIlbert had the big hit in the Grays' 3-run third inning. Pool D, which inclueds the Grays and the Mustangs, along with the Clippers American and Mizuno Titans, will certainly have some excitement in the 2:45 time slot today with all 4 teams having 1-1 records and separated by only 5 runs against from top to bottom.

Saturday 7:15pm

Pool A is going to be very interesting on Sunday after College Select and Baseball U Terminators tied 2-2 leaving both teams at 1-0-1 in the race to win the pool and advance to the Monday playoffs. Tyler Scott tossed a complete game for College Select while 3 Terminators pitchers held them to 2 runs. Nick Morreale hit a 2-run double for College Select in the 7th innings to tie the score.

The Paveco Storm Black stayed alive for the playoffs with a 3-1 victory over the Team NY Cardinals 17-18. John Soldinger threw a complete game 3 hitter for the Storm.

Richmond County stayed in the playoff hunt with a 4-2 victory over the Long Island Cobras. Richmond is now 1-0-1 in pool play. They got a strong effort on the mound from McNammara with 6 innings of 1 run ball.

The South Troy Dodgers improved to 2-0 with an 8-3 win over Frozen Ropes. The Dodgers scored 6 runs in the 3rd to break the game open.

Check back tomorrow morning for the updates from the late games on Saturday night.

Saturday 5:40pm

New York Nine Scout pounded out 14 hits in a 17-2 win over the Sports Zone Athletic's. Alibay Barkley powered an opposite field home run to lead the offensive attack. Jimmy Bermudez, Arnaldo Rodriguez, and Mark Podlas all had multi-hit games for the Nine. Barkley and Podlas are scheduled to be at the 2008 PG NE All Star Games next week as well as Matt McGovern from the NY Nine.

Baseball U Prospects opened their title defense with a 3-1 win over the Long Island Mariners. The U got strong pitching from Mitch Clarke, Michael Bradshaw, and Jim Stokes. The Prospects scored all 3 runs in the 3rd inning.

Pool H had the second tie game of pool play, with the Taconic Rangers and PBI Eagles completing 7 innings knotted at 1.

Finishing out the 2:45 slate of games, the Jersey Boys defeated the Ontario Prospects 3-1. David Fischer accounted for Ontario's lone run with a solo shot in the 5th while the Jersey Boys took advantage of two walks and an error to score their 3 runs.

Saturday 3:15pm

The first home run of the event and the first double digit strikeout performance came in the Syracuse Chiefs 7-2 win over Nokona Select. Jeremy Baltz hit a 2 run homer for the Chiefs in the 5th innings and Andrew Barberino struck out 10 in 6 innings for the win.

Home run #2 came courtesy of Eric Peterson of the South Bergen Mets. Peterson was 3-3 with a 3-run homer in the Mets 7-2 win over the Paveco Storm Red.

The second 10 strikeout game came from Tyler Courter of Farrah Builders who tossed a 7 innings no hitter in a 4-0 win over the World Yacht Clippers National.

Chiefs Baseball went up 4-0 in the top of the first, then were tied 4-4 with Team NY Cardinals 18U Seniors, before taking the lead for good in the 3rd inning to earn the 6-4 win.

Saturday 1:00pm

The first come from behind walk off of the tournament came from the Long Island Titans over Baseball U Underclass. Trailing 3-1 going into the bottom of the 7th inning, the Titans scored 3 runs in the inning highlighted by Boomer Rivera's triple and Vinnie Ceaser's single to earn the 4-3 win.

Strong pitching from Steve Paladino, who was 87-89 with his fastball, and Rob Loftus propelled the Long Island Mustangs to an 11-4 win over the World Yacht Clippers American. Michael Mercurio was 3-3 with a double, 2 runs, and RBI for the Clippers.

The New Jersey Super 17 won their first Pool C game over the Moosic Mets 5-2. El'Hajj Muhammad finished off the game for New Jersey byt not allowing a run in 2 innings with a fastball from 85-89 and a good curveball.

The Mizuno Titans took early control of Pool D with an 8-0 win over the East Coast Grays. Adam Brown tossed 5 innings for the Titans and faced the minimum 15 batters, allowing 1 hit with 5 strikeouts to pick up the victory. Casey Cunningham was 2-4 with a double, run, and RBI and Stephen Luczaj had a bases loaded triple for the Titans. TJ Pecoraro threw 1.2 scoreless innings for the Grays with a fastball from 84-88.

Saturday 10:30am

The Baseball U Terminators defeated the Paveco Storm Black 2-0. Steve Nyisztor led the Terminators, going 3-3 with 2 doubles, a stolen base, and a run scored. Peter Kelich, Joseph Akel, and Louis Clemente combined on a 1-hitter for the Terminators. Nyisztor, Akel, and Clemente are all scheduled to attend the 2008 PG Northeast All Star Games next Friday at Fairfield University.

College Select defeated the Team NY Cardinals 17-18 7-3 in Pool A, setting up an important matchup at 5:00pm today. Sean Hagan earned the win for College Select with 4 shutout innings. Hagan, along with Matt Hendrixson and Mike Kelly from College Select will attend the PG NE All Star Games.

Richmond County Baseball and Frozen Ropes tied 4-4 setting up an interesting Pool B already.  In other Pool B action, South Troy Dodgers defeated the Long Island Cobras 09s 3-2. Kyle Charron led the Dodgers going 2-4 with 2 runs and a stolen base.

Saturday 8:30am

The first bid to Jupiter is up for grabs this weekend in Long Island, New York as 32 teams compete over three days. The teams in attendance have prospects throughout the rosters and highlights from the tournament will be posted here as we go through the schedule. One good sign for the weekend is the lack of rain in the forecast. In fact today's weather is for sunny skies with a high of only 80 degrees. Another good sign for the players in attendance is that only a half hour into the first games and there are already a considerable number of college coaches and pro scouts in the ballpark.

Check this BLOG throughout the weekend for tournament news, highlights, and schedule updates

This column represents the thoughts and opinions of the author and are not necessarily those of Perfect Game.