Nate Eckerson of Montgomery Superior rounds third on RBI double by Brandon Shimp.
By Sean Reilly
The Diamond Nation High School Fall League offers an excellent opportunity for players like Matt Stefani.
Stefani competes in the 22-team league for Montgomery Superior. He just began his senior year at Bernards High School, where he went from seven varsity at-bats as a sophomore to 61 earlier this year as a junior.
The fall league at ‘The Nation’ offers a chance to gain more experience, and against quality competition.
“I’ve been off for a month, or month in a half,” he said. “I played a little summer thing for a high school team, but that was it. I’m looking to be a better hitter. Last year, I didn’t hit as well as I wanted to. I really didn’t hit a lot sophomore year, and had a lot more at-bats junior year, and it was a little weird to see varsity pitching. I’m hoping to get a lot better, and this is a good way of working at that.”
John Hayes delivers pitch for Montgomery Superior.
One of those opportunities came on Thursday night against the NJ Jays 17U. Stefani went 2-for-2 with a two-run double, a walk, and an RBI single as Montgomery gained a 12-4, five-inning victory.
Montgomery is now 2-0 in the league. Stefani drew a couple of walks in a 7-4 win over the Jays 18U on Wednesday.
In Thursday’s game, Montgomery starter Jake Hayes worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the first, and his team followed with a six-run outburst in the bottom of the frame.
Robby Wright led off with a walk, Nate Eckerson singled to center and Matthew Falzarano walked to load the bases with nobody out.
After a strikeout, Brandon Shimp drilled a two-run grounds rule double to left field. Stefani was up next, and he ripped a two-run double past third and into left field for a 4-0 lead. Owen Melchione followed, and he also doubled – this one to left-center – to score Stefani. Melchione stole third base, and continued home on an overthrow.
The Jays got four of those runs back in the second inning. Mikey Hand led off with a walk, Charlie Carlevarini was hit by a pitch and Drew Augusta walked on a full count to load the bases.
Michael Cirne sent a one-run single to right field before John Krywicki hit an RBI groundout to second base. Trevor Lingerfield walked to reload the bases, and Matt Matos reached on an error to score the third run. Hudock reached on a fielder’s choice force out to get the Jays within 6-4.
Montgomery added two runs in the fourth. Stefani drew a one-out walk, Melchione singled to right field and Robert Petrone singled in front of the pitcher to load the bases.
John Krywicki follows through on RBI groundout for NJ Jays 17U.
James Ferrante had an RBI groundout to shortstop to score Stefani, and Dalton Carman reached on an error to bring in Melchione.
Montgomery ended the game via the mercy rule with a four-run fifth inning.
Wright led off with a walk, stole second and moved to third on a passed ball. He scored when Eckerson (2-for-3) singled to center. Mason Neufeld, hit an RBI single to right with one out. Stefani added an RBI single to center, and after an intentional walk to Melchione (2-for-2), the game ended when Petrone reached on an error.