The Cubs completed a late comeback to clinch the DEF pool title at the 16U Blue Chip Prospects.
By Rich Bevensee
Say this for Morris County Cubs 2028 Navy. There’s no quit in this group.
On Friday the Cubs surrendered two monstrous home runs in the first inning, were held to one hit through four innings, and trailed by four runs with time running out and when all signs indicated the offense was not arriving any time soon.
And then they showed who they really are.
In a remarkable comeback which reflects their personality as well as their overall record, the Cubs tied the game with a three-run rally in the sixth with no time left on the game clock, scored two runs in the seventh to take the lead and held on for a 7-6 victory over NJ Rising Rebels 2028 Scout and the DEF pool championship at the 16U Blue Chip Prospects event at Diamond Nation in Flemington.
The seventh and final inning was conducted by using the tiebreaker rule, in which the extra inning begins with the bases loaded and one out. The Cubs scored twice in the top of the inning to take an 8-6 lead, then surrendered one to the Rebels before stranding the tying run at third base to clinch the title.
“This is a very resilient group,” said Cubs coach J.J. Jensen, whose team improved to 14-1. “They’ve had a phenomenal summer. I never count them out, and they never count themselves out. They stayed in it and stayed in it and stayed in it and we were able to capitalize at the end of the game.”
Vinny Santorelli, a rising junior at West Morris, had the late key hit for the Cubs. In the top of the sixth with two out, Santorelli lined a single into center field to drive home Connor Hale and tie the game at 5-5, capping a three-run rally.
“I like to feel like I’m a big part of the team, so when you show up big you feel better about yourself and all the hard work you put in really shows out,” Santorelli said.
Santorelli got a good feeling during his at bat when he smacked a pitch well over the right field fence but foul.
“I was seeing the velo and I’m good with velo,” Santorelli said about facing Rebels reliever Quinn Barron. “I smoked one down the line so I thought I’m all over this guy. Why not catch a barrel now? And he gave me one to smoke.”
The Rebels were retired in order in the bottom of the sixth by Cubs righty Nate Martortelli, a rising junior at Jefferson, to set up the tiebreaker scenario.
In the top of the seventh, starting with the bases loaded and one out, Joe Elko coerced a walk to give the Cubs a 6-5 lead – their first of the game – and Martorelli added an RBI groundout for insurance.
In the bottom of the seventh with Martorelli still on the hill, Alex Checchio plated a run with a sacrifice fly to bring the Rebels within one. After a walk reloaded the bases, Martorelli struck out Will Haggard to end the game and clinch the title.
“In that moment you have to zone everything out and continue to take deep breaths and focus on what you have to do to get it done, cause if you try to do too much it’s not gonna work,” Martorelli said. “I love that situation. I love being the dog. Pressure builds diamonds. It proves who the best athletes are when you’re in those pressure situations, that’s why I like it.”
Connor Hale, another Cubs righty, was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Hale, a rising junior at Jefferson, pitched a complete game, five-inning shutout in the semifinals Friday morning against Pro Skills, a 10-0 Cubs win, on three days rest.
Hale struck out seven while allowing only two hits and three walks.
Cubs righty Connor Hale pitched a complete-game, five-inning shutout in the semis on three days rest to earn tournament MVP honors.
On Monday, Hale was pitching a shutout through four innings against Hustle Baseball in a pool game before slowing down in the fifth, allowing five runs. For the game he allowed five runs on four hits and four walks and three strikeouts.
“We needed Connor to bounce back on three days’ rest to start the semi and he threw outstanding,” Jensen said.
“I’m glad I got the ball for the semifinal. I always want to pitch. I like to keep control of the game,” Hale said. “In the earlier game I did all right but I struggled a little bit. I threw four scoreless then proceeded to walk a couple batters and give up five, so this was a good bounce back game for me today. I had a better mental approach. I just thought, ‘Don’t let one at bat affect you, move on to the next.’”
The Rebels announced their presence with authority before anyone broke a sweat. In the bottom of the first, Brendon Keown blasted a 2-2 pitch over the left field fence for a solo home run, and two pitches later, Barron followed with his own solo shot which caromed high off the light tower beyond the left field fence.
The Cubs countered with a run in the top of the second when Trevor Hopp walked with the bases loaded, but the Rebels scored another in the bottom of the second on Michael Mejia’s RBI single up the middle for a 3-1 lead.
The Rebels tacked on two more runs in the third, as Barron doubled and later scored on a wild pitch, and Keown, pinch-running for Jack Livingstone, scored on a sac bunt by Ryan Flack.
Rebels starter Brian Morhardt endured a rough two innings by allowing six walks, but he still permitted just one run in that time. Matthew Hauck came on to relieve and helped the Rebels preserve their 5-1 lead for two more innings.
In the fifth, Elko doubled in Cooper North with two out to bring the Cubs within 5-2.
In the sixth, Nick D’Amico began the Cubs’ game-tying rally with a double. Trevor Hopp was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make the score 5-3. North drove in a run with a fielder’s choice grounder, and Santorelli tied the game with his single into center, driving in Hale.
“We applied pressure with walks and getting on base but we just weren’t able to execute with timely hitting,” Jensen said. “We’ve played from behind several times this year so they’re very resilient. They’re super confident at the plate so they never think they’re out of it.”
“We have grit,” Santorelli said. “We don’t stop till the last pitch.”