Matt LaRose hit the go-ahead home run, over the batting cage next to Field 2 for the Cubs.
By Sean Reilly
Matt LaRose was looking to hit a pitch to the opposite field when he came to the plate in the third inning on Friday afternoon at Diamond Nation.
LaRose, the first baseman and sixth batter for the Morris County Cubs 12U Navy, was up with one out and a runner on second. His team had already scored three times in the inning to cut a four run deficit to one against the Out Of The Park Cyclones 12U Prospects. It was the pool play opener for both at the 12U School’s Out tournament.
“I was just trying to stay through the ball and hit it to right-center,” LaRose said. “I’m always trying to hit it to the opposite field and not pull it down the line.”
He took a 2-1 offering and did more than just take it the other way. The swing produced the longest hit of his life, a shot that cleared the roof of the batting cage structure beyond the right field fence at Field 2 at ‘The Nation.’
Damian Ramirez of OOTP Prospects is greeted at the plate by teammates after his 2nd-inning HR.
The home run gave the Cubs the lead for good in what became an 11-7 victory.
“I’ve never hit one that far before,” he said.
The Cubs came into the tournament feeling great. They’ve been a frequent visitor to Diamond Nation this year, as usual, and have finished tournament runner-up in three events.
Last week, the Cubs competed at an event in Delaware, and returned home with their first championship of the season.
“That gave us confidence,” LaRose said. “It felt really good.”
A key to making a strong tournament-winning run is to win your first pool play game. That wasn’t going to be an easy task in the meeting between two strong teams who can hit quite well.
The Cubs took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Ryan Postorino doubled to right field with one out and moved to third as Troy Ruiz singled to left. Evan Parker ran for Ruiz, who is the catcher, and stole second. Owen Varua hit an RBI groundout to first. Parker scored the second run on a wild pitch.
The lead was short lived, as the OOTP Cyclones sent 12 to the plate while scoring six runs in the top of the second.
The rally started with a leadoff home run to center from Damian Ramirez. Lucas Fabricant reached on an error and moved to third on a double to center from Gabriel Belon.
Nolan Moy was up next, and he launched a three-run home run into the trees beyond the left-field fence.
After the first out, Ryan Hoppe and Samuel Rios drew consecutive walks. A fly out was followed by Nicolas Rios reaching on a strike-three wild pitch to load the bases. Matthew Schmieder walked to score a run, and Ramirez — in his second at-bat of the inning — hit an RBI single to shortstop for a 6-2 lead.
The Cubs’ five-run rally in the third began with singles by Parker and Postorino, followed by a walk to Ruiz that loaded the bases with nobody out.
Courtesy runner Evan Parker scores on a wild pitch for the Cubs.
Varua hit an RBI single to right, and Joshua Dizengoff hit a single compounded by an error which scored two runs and also ended with an out at the plate.
LaRose was the next batter, and his mammoth home run gave the Cubs a 7-6 lead.
The Cubs once again sent up the top of the order to begin the fourth, and the result was four more runs for an 11-6 advantage.
Parker began the inning with a single to left, and he moved to third on two wild pitches. With one out, Ruiz hit an RBI single past third and into left field. Varua walked, and Dizengoff followed with an RBI double to left for a 9-6 lead. Parker Hawkes added the single which produced the other two runs.
The Cyclones scored their final run when Dimitri Papanastasiou hit a home run with one out in the sixth.
Ruiz finished 3-for-3 with a walk for the Cubs. Parker, Postorino and Dizengoff all ended with two hits apiece.