By Sean Reilly
Tri-State Arsenal 2027 Victus captured a championship on Friday at Diamond Nation, and did so with a true team effort.
But when Arsenal needed a boost over a six-game week in Flemington, it seemed that two particular players were often involved.
Arsenal opened play at the 16U Blue Chips Prospects on Monday afternoon with a 6-5 loss to Diamond Jacks Super 14U.
The setback against a younger team could have had a lingering effect, especially with three more pool games to play beginning with a matchup a couple of hours later against Hustle Baseball.
That’s when the Arsenal turned to pitcher Jack Loughlin, a right-hander from Allentown High School. He responded with a seven-inning no-hitter, striking out 10 Hustle batters and walking two, in a 4-0 win.
That performance got Arsenal on track, and it proceeded to win its remaining two pool games to secure a spot in the playoff among seeds four-through-six on Friday.
A key factor in those victories was the spark provided by leadoff man Justin Mangano, an infielder from Monroe High School.
Mangano, who reached base at least once in every pool game, was 2-for-3 with two runs scored in a 10-1 triumph over 3Up3Down 16U Red in the morning semifinals.
Paired up against the Body Armor Titans 2028s in the afternoon final, Mangano was 2-for-3 with a walk in a 6-0 triumph.
And fittingly, Loughlin returned to mound, this time throwing two hitless innings of relief to close out the game.
For their efforts, Loughlin and Mangano were selected co-MVP’s.
Arsenal, which closed out its summer season with the championship, not only needed to win its last pool game — a 5-3 decision over the Diamond Jacks 16U Gold on Thursday afternoon — it also needed favorable outcomes in other games to advance out of its 10-team pool.
“We went from thinking we were out, to battling back and finding out last night that we were in,” Mangano said. “Then we were like, ‘Let’s do this and win it.’”
The rebound began with the Monday no-hitter from Loughlin.
“That shifted momentum a lot,” he said. “After that, the bats came alive, the pitching was great, and it was awesome. It was a perfect way to end the summer.”
In the championship matchup, each team had a first-inning threat thwarted by a double play.
Arsenal then took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second.
Jack Loughlin (left) and Justin Mangano of Tri-State Arsenal 2027 were named 16U BCP co-MVPs.
Aidan Dill drew a two-out walk, Krish Gupte was hit by a pitch and Joey Conley walked to load the bases for the top of the order. With Mangano at the plate, a wild pitch scored Dill.
J.R. Brovak, meanwhile, was in a groove as the Arsenal starter. A one-out single by Christian Bekiers in the first inning turned out to be the only hit he surrendered in a four-inning stint, and the only hit by the Titans in the game.
Brovak, a righty from Bordentown High, totaled two strikeouts and four walks.
Arsenal extended its lead to 3-0 in the fifth.
Mangano, who went 8-for-16 in the tournament, led off with a single to center. Chase Pullen followed with a single to right which sent Mangano to second.
Ben Fagin added a base hit to right that scored Mangano and sent Pullen to third. T.J. Francis then grounded a single to third base which brought in Pullen.
The remaining Arsenal runs came in the sixth.
The inning began with a walk to Cooper Himes. Skylar Garcia was hit by a pitch and Dill walked to load the bases with nobody out. Gupte followed with a two-run single to left. Dill scored the final run on a wild pitch with Conley at the plate.
The play clock expired before Loughlin pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth.
“We blew it open with the bats in the middle innings,” said Loughlin.
“We had a rough start to the week, losing the first game, but we all bounced back and came through,” Mangano said. “It’s a great way to end the summer. I’m proud of this team and myself for battling. It showed our fight and passion and confidence in each other to bounce back.”