Michael Lobosco makes contact for the Zoned RedHawks.
By Sean Reilly
Jordan Snow batted four times for the Zoned RedHawks 16U in the team’s Super 16 Invitational opener on Friday at Diamond Nation.
Each of the appearances produced a different outcome. But each one also showcased the leadoff man’s blazing speed, which helped boost his Central Jersey-based team to a 6-1 victory over Heavy Hitters 2027 in Flemington.
Snow, who recently completed his sophomore season at Somerville High School, opened the game by beating out a grounder hit to right of the first baseman.
He raced around the bases to score when Michael Lobosco followed with a double to center field.
When Snow came up again in the third inning, he was safe on a bunt single.
In the fifth inning, he led off and walked on a full count. He stole second, moved to third when the throw went into the outfield, and kept going toward home and scored when the ball was mishandled in the outfield.
His quickness resulted in an RBI in the sixth inning after his bases-loaded grounder to the second baseman led to a force out, but a double-play bid was easily nullified by his hustle down the first base line.
All in all, it was a great way for Snow and his team to open their summer campaign.
“When I make contact, I try to make things happen,” he said. “I use ground balls to my advantage because I know I’m fast on the bases. Coach wanted me to work on my bunting, and I got the one down. I want to hit line drives and get my bunts down. I’d like to go right-center, because that’s my approach when I’m at bat.”
The useful production was also evident throughout the lineup.
After Lobosco’s double in the first, he moved to third as Aiden McCarthy grounded out to shortstop. He scored on a one-out wild pitch for a 2-0 lead.
The Heavy Hitters, from South Jersey, scored in the third inning. Bobby Torres reached on an error with one out. An errant pickoff attempt sent him to second and toward third, and a bad throw there allowed him to score.
The RedHawks settled down after that play, and didn’t commit another error the rest of the game.
Heavy Hitters first baseman JoJo Rivera handles throw from shortstop Kam Fiorani for an out.
In the meantime, Snow’s run-scoring steal and the double-error behind him resulted in a 3-1 lead in the fifth.
In the bottom of the frame, the Heavy Hitters got a leadoff double, but the runner was thrown out by catcher Jake Zotollo when he tried to advance on a wild pitch. There were also runners on first and third with one out, but pitcher Shane Borer picked off the trail runner at first. A line out to shortstop ended the threat.
The RedHawks scored their other runs in the sixth, which turned out to be the final inning due to the expiration of the 1:50 play clock.
Stephen Pikulin led off with a hard single to left field. Lucas Grob followed with an RBI triple to center.
Samuel Malone was hit by a pitch and stole second. Zotollo was up next. A squeeze attempt didn’t work, and Grob was out in a rundown with Malone moving to third. Zotollo singled to center to score Malone for a 5-1 lead.
Michael Drelich walked for the third time in as many at-bats, and a base hit to left field by Jason Snow loaded the bases for his brother. His fielder’s choice play scored the final run.
McCarthy pitched the first three innings for the RedHawks, allowing the unearned run on four hits, with five strikeouts and one walk. Borer threw the other three innings. He allowed two hits, with four strikeouts and one walk.
Leadoff man Rick Watt was 2-for-3 with a double and Evan Glaspey was 2-for-2 for the Heavy Hitters.