Noah Magnuson of Outlaws 11U zeroes in on a pitch he hit for an opposite field double.

By Sean Reilly

You never need to win a championship, or even reach a tournament final, to return home happy from a visit to Diamond Nation. 

That’s the case throughout the year, but it rings especially true in March, when much of the focus is putting winter training to use, and embarking on a path to growth and development, especially at the younger levels. 

That’s why TAG Baseball from Morris County could feel good about its 13-7 win over Outlaws 11U from Northern Westchester (N.Y.) on Sunday afternoon at the 11U Spring Invitational in Flemington. 

Pool A in the tournament had already been clinched by the eventual champions, the Toms River Titans, on Saturday, so there were no playoff implications at stake in the matchup. 

But there are always opportunities to grow, which is exactly what TAG Baseball accomplished during the two-day tournament, as it closed with a 2-1 record and 28-14 run differential. 

They totaled nine hits, six of them for extra bases, to defeat the Outlaws.

The leader was fifth batter Dean DiPasquale, who went 2-for-3 in the game, with a two-run triple in the first inning and two-run double to wrap up an eight-run second that resulted in a 10-2 lead. 

DiPasquale also pitched two 1-2-3 innings as part of a four-inning relief stint.

“This was a good weekend,” he said. “I hit three triples and two home runs. I put in a lot of work during the winter, so it was a good way to start.” 

DiPasquale gave his team an early spark with his two out, two-run triple to right field in the top of the first, after Justin Sabatos and Anthony Schiavone had reached on walks. 

“That was an inside pitch, and I just tried to get on it fast,” he said. 

The Outlaws scored twice on wild pitches in the bottom of the inning, but TAG Baseball broke the game open in the second. 

The first two runs of the inning scored on an error off a grounder hit by Matteo Martinelli. The next two batters were retired before Sabatos hit a grounds rule double to right-center field to score Martinelli.

Noah Gonzalez reached on an error that scored Sabatos, and Chris Fassnacht (2-for-4) followed with a two-run home run to right-center for an 8-2 lead. 

Schiavone singled to right field, and DiPasquale connected on his blast, also to right center, for the eight-run lead. 

“I was sitting back waiting for something good,” he said. “I got it and swung.”

Justin Sabatos of TAG Baseball steals third base. 

The Outlaws scored a second inning run on a wild pitch and added a run in the third on a single by Maddox Meladosi to close within 10-4. 

TAG Baseball scored its final three runs in the fifth, with Schiavone (2-for-2, walk, three runs) hitting an RBI grounds rule double to center before he scored on a wild pitch. Kris Schrodi accounted for the final run by reaching on an error before also scoring on a wild pitch. 

Dominic Suriano hit an RBI double, Nick Stazzone had an RBI ground out and Noah Magnuson (3-for-3) singled across a run in the fifth for the Outlaws.

All in all, there was enough in the game for everyone to depart with satisfaction and eagerness for the remainder of the season.

“I’m looking to keep getting better and better this year, and hit more home runs,” DiPasquale said. “This was a good way to start it off.”