Max Freese celebrates with his Hudson Valley teammates after blasting a solo homer in the third.
By Rich Bevensee
When Camden Misasi wasn’t busy silencing opposing bats, he was enjoying the view from the dugout as every single one of his teammates made the most of their at bats.
In an offensive display that coach Randy Delanoy said has been quite typical for his ballclub this summer, Hudson Valley Select received an RBI from all 11 batters in its order.
It was that kind of balanced offensive production – highlighted by solo home runs from Max Freese and Danny McGuiness – that backed Misasi’s four-inning four-hitter in Hudson Valley’s 14-4 pool play victory over PAC Journeymen 2028/2029 in the Summer Finale on Saturday afternoon at Diamond Nation in Flemington.
“It shows we can hit the ball, stack up runs and I can have a little breathing room on the mound,” Misasi said.
“That’s great for our team,” Freese said. “If we keep hitting the way we are, it’ll turn out good for us.”
Hudson Valley scored in all four innings, building a five-run rally in the second and four-run bursts in the third and fourth innings.
Andrew Capicchioni earned a bases-loaded walk to start the second-inning scoring before Jackson Milroy stroked a two-run single and Wes Intonti rocked a two-run, grounds-rule double for a 6-0 Hudson Valley lead.
In the third, back-to-back homers set the tone for Hudson Valley’s four-run rally and a 10-0 lead. Freese sent a laser over the left field fence for his eighth homer of the season and McGuiness’ blast, his 13th, was a towering shot of which there was no doubt.
“It felt good off the bat but I was surprised it went out,” Freese said. “In 12U you’re kinda trying to hit home runs but I’m more focused on hitting line drives and if it goes over, it goes over.”
Jackson Milroy launches a two-run single in Hudson Valley’s five-run, second inning rally.
Landon Palmisano got Hudson Valley revving in the fourth with an RBI double. When Johnny Fitzpatrick and Mason Murtagh recorded RBI singles and Mason DeVall added a sacrifice fly in the fourth, all 11 batters had knocked in a run.
“That’s typical for us,” Delanoy said. “All 11 guys can put the ball in play. We work two-strike approaches and at this level, putting the ball in play is key. And the hitting is contagious. When we’re hitting, we’re moving. There’s not a weak spot in our lineup. Once the leadoff guy gets on we know it’s going to have a positive effect.”
Also for Hudson Valley, Dan Sampson drove in a run with a groundout in the first inning, and Misasi and Capicchioni had back-to-back RBI singles in the third.
Misasi, mixing his fastball, slider, curveball and changeup, had a one-hitter going through three innings, and Austin Pulire was the only Journeyman to drive in a run to that point, doing so with a two-out groundout.
In the fourth, PAC’s Harper Rowe added to the game’s fireworks with a two-run homer to left and Pulire added an RBI double before Misasi recorded his seventh and final strikeout to end the game.
Hudson Valley was slated to face Naturals 12U Blue in the second game of its Saturday doubleheader, and the Tri-State Trailblazers on Sunday at 10 a.m.
The PAC Journeymen were to play the Tri-State Trailblazers later on Saturday and Naturals 12U Blue on Sunday to complete pool play.