E.J. Onyschak slams a two-run double in the fourth inning for Montgomery.
By Rich Bevensee
Montgomery Superior leads the Diamond Nation High School Fall League with eight runs per game, so it hasn’t needed much help generating offense this fall.
The league playoffs were no different for Montgomery, which cranked out a double-figure runs total for the 10th time this season and grabbed an 11-3 verdict over Flemington Post 159 in a quarterfinal game at ‘The Nation’ in Flemington.
Montgomery scored 11 runs on six hits and with the help of six walks and got a little more help from an unusually suspect Flemington defense which committed four errors.
Although only two Montgomery runs were earned runs in this contest, Montgomery coach Zoran Milich was pleased with how his players took nothing for granted and ran out every play even when it seemed to be a routine out.
Milich cited the bottom of the second inning when, with Montgomery trailing by a run, Stefano DiGeronimo lofted a routine fly ball with two outs and the bases loaded. The ball was dropped for an error and all three runners scored to give Montgomery a 5-3 lead it would not relinquish.
“The last few days we talked about having good at bats and hustling,” Milich said. “I was really proud of our hustle. Our guys were really moving on that fly ball and that’s why all three scored. It doesn’t take any talent to hustle.”
The victory moved Montgomery (16-4) into the semifinals where it will meet defending champion and top-seeded Whitehouse Post 284 (8-0). Whitehouse advanced after a 7-3 decision over ninth-seeded William Allen of Allentown, Pa.
Flemington, which was riding a three-game win streak, closed at 10-5-1.
Carter Olson, a senior at Montgomery, enjoyed his second straight quality start for Superior. The right-hander allowed three runs in four innings on four hits and two walks with one strikeout on 55 pitches.
In his previous outing, he pitched a complete-game, three-inning shutout of Flemington Baseball Jays White on Oct. 20.
“I was mentally there today and my offense hit them real hard,” Olson said. “In the second inning I gave up three runs and my offense went back out there and put a four on the board. They were there for me.”
It wasn’t too long ago that Olson struggled with control, and that’s a trend that Milich was pleased his righty corrected. On Oct. 15, Olson lasted just 1⅓ innings against Zoned 16U after giving up a run on one hit and three walks.
“Carter threw four great innings for us,” Milich said. “He threw strikes all night. We were hoping to get three and he gave us four. We thought about five but he’d be going through the lineup a third time, and also we like to keep the kids under 60 pitches. He gave us his best performance of the fall when we needed it most.”
The game seemed to begin as a slugfest, as Montgomery scored twice in the first and Flemington answered with three runs in the top of the second.
Then came the bottom of the second, which was catastrophic for Flemington. Montgomery loaded the bases with three walks and DiGeronimo’s two-out fly ball was misplayed into three runs. Chris Loniewski added an RBI single for a 6-3 lead.
Montgomery provided more fireworks in the fourth inning.
Matthew Ressa reached on an infield error and scored on another error. Montgomery made Flemington pay for providing extra outs when Onyschak blasted a two-run double to right-center field and DiGeronimo smacked an RBI triple for a 10-3 lead.
Michael Parillo singles in the second inning for Flemington.
A long double from Henry Maddox that almost left the yard and an RBI single from Aaron Corcoran in the fifth gave Montgomery an eight-run lead and brought about the mercy-rule conclusion.
“In baseball, hitting is contagious,” said Loniewski, who went 2-for-3. “Look at the Brewers (in Game 3 of the World Series). They had one hit with two outs, and got seven straight two-out hits and ended up winning by nine (10-1).”
“For a pitcher it’s one of the best feelings in the world (to have offensive support),” Carter said. “You can go out there and make a few mistakes and knowing your offense will be there to pick you up is a great feeling. Very comforting.”
Zac Davis relieved Olson and pitched a scoreless fifth inning, yielding one hit and one walk with one strikeout.
For Flemington, Tyler Kuhns delivered a game-tying, two-run double in the second inning and Michael Augustus’ RBI single provided a 3-2 lead.
Flemington starter Ben Annese pitched two innings and surrendered six runs (one earned) on one hit and six walks with two strikeouts. Andrew Fisher threw 2⅓ innings and allowed five runs (one earned) on five hits and no walks with three strikeouts.
QUARTERFINAL RECAPS
2-Zoned RedHawks 18U 5, 7-Allentown Legion 4
Zoned (7-0-1) avoided the upset by scoring five runs in the bottom of the sixth and final inning, a rally capped by a one-out squeeze bunt by Luke Barry which scored Anthony Russo from third. With the RedHawks trailing, 4-0, entering their final at bat, Nate Richards and Russo each had an RBI single, Tyler Fiorentino scored on a wild pitch and Thomas Molnar singled to drive in William Oldham with the tying run. Josh Rommell had a double and three RBI to pace Allentown (8-6).
3-OOTP Cyclones 18U 2, 6-Bucks County Phillies Scout 1
Lucas Bolton ripped a shot into the right field corner with the bases loaded and one out to drive in the game-winning run with no time left on the game clock for the Cyclones (8-1). Jacob Vosseler and Davis Murphy held the Phillies to one unearned run on four hits and four walks with six strikeouts. Bucks County pitchers Liam O’Brien, Pierce Perry and Julian Schenck were nearly as stingy, allowing two runs on three hits and five walks with eight strikeouts.
1-Whitehouse Post 284 7, 9-William Allen 3
Whitehouse (8-0) was protecting a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third inning when Mason Roman stole home and Joey Tedesco belted an RBI triple to give their team some breathing room. Colin Ford and Mason Matis combined for a five-hitter for Whitehouse with five strikeouts and one walk. J.P. Santos had two hits and two RBI and Roman had a double. Emill Roman’s solo home run in the first inning was the first homer for William Allen (3-5-1) this season. Jayden Mercado had two hits with a double and Joargenis Centeno drove in a run for the club from Allentown, Pa.
SEMIFINALS
Wednesday, Oct. 28, 6 p.m.
4-Montgomery Superior (16-4) at 1-Whitehouse Post 284 (8-0)
3-OOTP Cyclones 18U (8-1) at 2-Zoned RedHawks 18U (7-0-1)
Championship, 8 p.m.