Tyler Uram pitched 6.2 shutout innings for Baseball U. PA-Scranton-2 in the Blue Chip.

By Luis Torres

Eric Newton entered the game with multiple outcomes possible.

Baseball U PA-Scranton-2’s reliever toed the rubber with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the seventh inning. Newton’s team was trying to hold a two-run lead against MVP NY Taraska, and Newton came in trying to get the final out of the game.

The positive outcome would be Newton finding a way to get the final out, winning the game for his team. A negative outcome would likely mean the game would end up being tied, and then all bets would be off from there.

The stakes were high for Newton. But in a tense situation, Newton kept his cool and delivered.

Newton rallied after throwing three consecutive balls to begin his relief outing, and struck out the final batter of the game as Baseball U PA-Scranton-2 defeated MVP NY Taraska, 2-0, in 17/18U Blue Chip Prospects play on Monday at Diamond Nation in Flemington.

“My heart was beating fast. I didn’t want to walk the kid,” Newton said. “I fooled him with fastballs and then threw that little front door curveball and sat him down.”

The final out capped off what ended up being a tremendous pitching duel between Tyler Uram of Baseball U PA-Scranton-2 and Matthew Arnott of MVP NY Taraska. Both right-handed pitchers were stellar on the mound.

Uram tossed 6 ⅔ shutout innings, scattering four hits, walking two and striking out eight. Arnott spun six innings, allowing two runs and striking out three.

Uram’s delivery and his ability to hide the baseball during his windup, which he said he’s tinkered with over the years, seemed to mess with the timing of MVP NY Taraska’s hitters. He sat down 15 of the first 18 hitters that he faced.

Gabe Corgatelli of Baseball U. PA-Scranton-2 makes his way to third base shortly after a double.

“Everything,” Uram said of what was working for him on Monday. “I was just trying to throw strikes and let the defense make the plays.”

Baseball U PA-Scranton-2 opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning, courtesy of a sacrifice fly by left fielder Dominick Palma. The team added a second run in the second inning when catcher Patrick McComb hit an RBI single to right field, scoring center fielder Isaac Gesford. Gabe Corgatelli added a double to left field in the fifth inning.

But that was all Baseball U PA-Scranton-2 could muster against Arnott, who shook off the early struggles, retiring eight of the last nine batters he faced.

Uram was just slightly better during the battle between the two, finding ways to get out of trouble when he ran into it. He ran out of gas in the seventh inning, just missing out on a complete-game shutout.

“It’s everything we could’ve asked for,” Baseball U PA-Scranton-2 coach Nick Reposa said. “He went out there and threw strikes, attacked the zone, and kept the hitters off balance. And when he needed it, he got the big outs when runners were on the bases.”

Reposa said he had no doubts about bringing in Newton to finish the job.

He said he has confidence in all of his players and preaches to them that they should be confident in their abilities.

Newton rewarded his faith in him as he closed the game out.

“Eric knew the job. He was confident, and we have 11 or 12 guys here today, and they are all dogs,” Reposa said. “And Eric wants to be in there and wants the ball, and he showed it today.”