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2009 - 2019 10 YEARS Inside The Nation Baseball/Softball News at Diamond Nation AnNIVERSARY since 2009 th FREE Friday, June 7 , 2019 FLEMINGTON, NEW JERSEY COPY SUPER 16 INVITATIONAL, ALL-STAR TAILGATE FIRE UP ‘THE NATION’ By Bob Behre The 13U championship game is set for 8:30 p.m. on Sunday on Field 5. The Diamond The big boys are back in full force this weekend as the Jacks Super 13U, Full Count Baseball and Pro 44-team Super 16 Invitational storms into Diamond Skills 13U Black fortify the talented 13U  Nation in Flemington, N.J. All-Star Tailgate field.

The younger teams still maintain a mighty presence The 14U All-Star Tailgate begins its pool play this weekend, too, as the All-Star Tailgate tournament with a pair of 4:30 p.m. openers on Saturday boasts impressive fields in the 12U, 13U and 14U age pitting the Monmouth Nationals against the brackets. Locked In Expos and Pro Skills 14U Black against the Diamond Jacks Gold 14U. River Rats Showcase collides with LVBA Prospects in one of a quartet of Super 16 Invitational openers at 5 The 14U All-Star Tailgate championship game p.m. on Friday. The large field will break into three will be contested at 8:30 p.m. on Sunday on playoff brackets, Red, Green and Blue, beginning with first round games at 2:15 p .m. on Field 4. Sunday. South Jersey Elite, Morris County Cubs, the Diamond Jacks Super 14U and Full Count The Super 16 Invitational Blue Bracket championship game is 6:30 p.m. on Sunday. The Red Baseball help to round out an excellent field of veteran programs. and Green Brackets will contest their title games at 8:30 p.m.

All-Out Baseball, Diamond Jacks Super 16U, Wladyka American, East Coast Lumberjacks, Taconic Rangers, Evoshield Canes North Atlantic and Full Count Prospects are just a few of the talented teams in a frightening deep Super 16 Invitational field.

A combined 30 teams will compete in the All-Star Tailgate, which will get underway on Satur- day morning.

Warrior Baseball NY faces off with the Diamond Jacks Super 12U and Canes Mid-Atlantic Gold plays the East Fishkill Patriots in a pair of intriguing 12U All-Star Tailgate openers.

The 12U playoffs begin with the semifinals at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday before the championship game will be contested at 6:30 p.m. on Field 2.

The Keystone Outlaws, Hustle Baseball Academy, CB Raiders and the Hudson Valley Rene- gades help to bolster the impressive 12U field.

The 13U All-Star Tailgate kicks off at 8 a.m. on Saturday, too, as the Diamond Jacks Gold 13U takes on the Locked In Expos and the Glen Rock Panthers face ASBA West Chester in two outstanding openers. ROSTERS SET FOR DIAMOND CENTRAL PITCHERS INFIELDERS TH Nick Feretec, 2020, Notre Dame Shane Hickey, 2020, Jackson Liberty NATION’S 7 UNDERCLASS David Zamora, 2021, Hamilton West Chris O’Connor, 2020, Middletown South Ryan Sekman, 2021, St. John Vianney Max Rivas, 2020, Toms River South Tommy Delany, 2021, Princeton Phil Antoniotti, 2020, Toms River North Jordan Nitti, 2021, Steinert GAMES Braedin Hunt, 2020, Christian Brothers Jay Harry, 2020, Metuchen Ricky Erbeck, 2021, Hun Walter Zampalla, 2021, Edison By Bob Behre Nick Beetel, 2020, Jackson Memorial Shane Panzini, 2021, Red Bank Catholic FIRST BASEMEN The Garden State Underclass Adam Boucher, 2020, St. Joseph (Met.) Games, clearly one of the Seb Mueller, 2020, St. Joseph (Met.) favorite showcases for scouts Zach Gorman, 2021, Freehold Twp. Jay Bant, 2021, Wall in the Northeast, has Ben Simon, 2020, Hightstown announced its four-team, Patrick Reilly, 2020, Christian Brothers OUTFIELDERS 100-man roster for its seventh Matt Potok, 2021, Jackson Memorial Nick Callano, 2021, Ocean Twp. annual event on June 12 at Ali Pompey, 2020, Trenton Catholic Danilo Perdomo, 2021, Hamilton West Diamond Nation in Fleming- Jared Zimbardo, 2020, Middlesex ton, N.J. Andrew Schmid, 2021, Rumson-Fair Haven COACHES Four high school all-star teams representing geographic areas of New Jersey will compete in two HC-CJ Hendricks, South Brunswick CATCHERS 10-inning games, played simultaneously at the premier baseball facility in the Garden State. AC-Kevin Cust, Immaculata Christopher Sparber, 2020, Red Bank Catholic AC-Keith Naylor, Trenton Catholic Jedier Hernandez, 2021, Trenton Catholic The Central team will play the Northwest team and the South squad will encounter the team PC-Mike Korneski, Spotswood representing the Northeast area of the state. Mason Wolf, 2020, Christian Brothers

Player registration will begin at 3:30 p.m. and players are asked to arrive no later than 4:30 p.m. NORTHWEST While players will receive a game shirt and cap, they are reminded to where their own white pants and black belt. Metal cleats are NOT permitted. Turf shoes, molded cleats and sneakers are CATCHERS OUTFIELDERS permitted. Alex Stone, 2020, Newton Aidan Kane, 2020, Delbarton Roddy Martinez, 2020, Union Mike Bello, 2021, Pope John The event will be scouted by Prep Baseball Report. Kevin Reardon, 2020, Mendham Chris Markovich, 2021, North Hunterdon Jimmy Brennan, 2021, Pope John Mark Darakjy, 2020, Delbarton The Garden State Games, since its inception in 2013, has quickly become one of the premier Jayden Hylton, 2022, Ridge showcases in the Northeast. Dozens of college coaches keep this marquee event marked on INFIELDERS their recruiting calendars. Dren Gocaj, 2020, Union Josh Kuroda-Gauer, 2021, Franklin PITCHERS Aidan Watson, 2021, Morristown Nick Fox, 2020, Hillsborough “This is a great opportunity for Diamond Nation to give back to the baseball community by Tyler Casella, 2020, Hunterdon Central Andrew Holmes, 2021, Bernards providing a showcase for the talented underclassmen throughout the state,” said Steve DiTrolio, Matt Miceli, 2021, Somerville Jack Findlay, 2021, Roxbury director of the Garden State Underclassman Games. “We’ve received a great response from the Matt Gluck, 2020, West Morris Zach Roskowsky, 2021, Jefferson many college scouts in attendance the past six years and look forward to an outstanding seventh Zack Sylvester, 2020, Montville Drew Conover, 2020, Voorhees annual Garden State Games.” Pat Coyne, 2020, Morristown Beard Conor Maclachlan, 2020, Mt. Olive Pat Montfort, 2020, Morristown The event has since grown to include two younger levels of all-star teams as the top 7th and 8th COACHES Gavin Stellpflug, 2020, Somerville graders were included in 2017 and the top 5th and 6th graders were added this year. HC-Ed Collins, Morristown AC-Pete Zoccolilo, MLB retired The high school teams are selected with input from coaches around the state. The two younger FIRST BASEMEN aged teams are selected via the Garden State Games trials weeks before the games. AC-Chris Banos, Somerville Andrew Bregman, 2020, Chatham AC-Rob Kumbatovic, Hillsborough Luke Chenault, 2020, Pope John Here are the 2019 Garden State Underclass Games high school rosters. (continued on back page) PAGE 2 || Friday, June 7th 2019 Inside The Nation www.diamondnation.com Baseball/Softball News at Diamond Nation

UNDERCLASS GAMES (continued from front page) SOUTH NORTHEAST

CATCHERS OUTFIELDERS CATCHERS OUTFIELDERS Chris Mariani, 2020, Haddonfield Zach Bernard, 2020, Cherokee Brian Skettini, 2020, Ridgewood A.J. Zaccareo, 2020, Montclair Dan DiGiovannantonio, 2021, Cedar Creek A.J. Tropiano, 2020, Paul VI Allan Suero, 2021, Ridgefield Park Trevor Santos, 2020, Nutley Nathan Goranson, 2020, Millville Kaleb Willis, 2021, Kings Christian Ty Gilligan, 2021, Lakeland Brian Baranok, 2020, Bayonne Alejandro Rosado, 2020, Pleasantville Andrew McDermott, 2020, St. Joseph (Mont.) FIRST BASEMEN Kyle Neri, 2022, St. Augustine Ryan Achey, 2021, Williamstown INFIELDERS Raymond Ortiz, 2020, St. Peter’s Prep FIRST BASEMEN Colby Garrison, 2020, West Deptford PITCHERS Ben Chrzanowski, 2020, Millburn Sean Hard, 2021, St. Joseph (Mont.) Chase Petty, 2021, Mainland Kevin Hogan, 2020, Nutley INFIELDERS Anthony Solometo, 2021, Gloucester Catholic Jimmy Kemp, 2020, Hudson Catholic David Hagaman, 2021, Cedar Creek Luke Vaks, 2020, Cedar Creek Lou Fabbo, 2020, Waldwick PITCHERS Bobby Falese, 2020, Shawnee Robert Ready, 2020, St. Augustine Ernesto Polanco, 2021, Memorial (WNY) Nazier Mule, 2022, Passaic Tech Charlie Sanzio, 2020, Bishop Eustace Matt Nunan, 2021, Ocean City Garrett Kurtz, 2020, Mahwah Jacob Gomez, 2020, Rutherford Adam Aquilino, 2021, Highland Reg. Jayden Shertel, 2021, St. Joseph (Hamm.) Aries Samek, 2021, Teaneck Lucas Rich, 2020, Newark Academy Justin Szestowicki, 2021, Kingsway Julian Costa, 2021, Clearview Andy Antonio, 2021, Ferris Pierce Coppola, 2021, Verona Greg Rossi, 2020, Washington Twp. Ryan Rumsey, 2021, Paul VI Justin O’Connor, 2020, Bayonne Steven Petrosh, 2021, Holy Spirit Josh Willitts, 2020, Seneca COACHES Jimmy Romano, 2021, St. Joseph (Mont.) Brody Colbert, 2021, Williamstown Joe Mascio, 2021, Bishop Eustace HC-Jim Wladyka, Don Bosco Prep Angelo Deer, 2020, Bergen Catholic COACHES AC-Brian Chapman, Millburn Devin Rivera, 2020, Don Bosco Prep HC-Joe Smith, Williamstown AC-Sean Coyle, Atlantic County Tech AC-Jim LaRose, Bergen Catholic Zack Oswald, 2020, St. Peter’s Prep AC-John Scanzano, Kings Christian AC-Rocco Cornacchia, Williamstown AC-Ron Gavasi, Montclair Mark Hindy, 2020 Seton Hall Prep DJACKS SUPER 11U, NHYB WIN HOME CLASSIC TITLES with nine runs in the second and the battle was on. Each team struck for five runs in the third as Super 11U took a 14-9 lead. Flood City Elite scored twice in the top of the fourth to draw within 14-11, but the Diamond Jacks responded with a three-run rally in the bottom of the inning to extend the lead to 17-11. More importantly, the long innings would signal an end to the donnybrook via the time limit.

“Flood City is a quality team,” said Crawford. “They went the 10U World Series last year and beat us 10-2 in the summer. I felt this game would tell us a lot about where we were going in the tournament, advancing or not.”

Markovich blasted a three-run homer in the win over Flood City Elite and Raymond picked up the victory in relief.

North Hunterdon Youth Baseball 5, Tri-State Arsenal 4

North Hunterdon Youth Baseball Red Elite stubbed its toe in its 10U Classic opener, falling 12-8 to the Diamond Jacks 10U squad. But NHYB ran the table from there to nail down the tournament championship.

Ty Kane, who went 6-for-13 in the tournament, delivered Jude Henn with a fielder’s choice grounder in By Bob Behre the bottom of the fifth inning to give North Hunterdon a 5-4 lead over Tri-State Arsenal. Henn started the rally with a one-out single and Ray Tavares followed with a single. The Diamond Jacks Super 11U found itself in a battle for survival in the rugged 11U Home Run Classic last weekend at Diamond Nation. It was Tavares who stepped up on the mound in the final for North Hunterdon. He permitted two runs on four hits, struck out six and walked two in an impressive 5.1 innings of relief. Liam Kane, George Fortunately for the Super11U squad, it had brought along a fully loaded bat rack that DeTorres and Kyle McBride each chipped in with an RBI in the championship game. would produce 58 runs in five games and, ultimately, the tournament championship. “This is a great group of boys,” said head coach Mike Kane. “They’ve been playing together since they While the Super 11U’s pitching was strong in spots, including three impressive perfor- were 8 years old.” mances in which the staff surrendered a total of just five runs. But the Super 11U also had to battle through two slugfests to remain undefeated, if not untied, in the Home Run North Hunterdon (3-1) avenged its tournament-opening loss to the Diamond Jacks with a thrilling 5-3 Classic. victory over the home squad in the semifinals. The Red Elite trailed 3-1 entering its final in the top of the sixth inning when it rallied for four runs to take a 5-3 lead. The Diamond Jacks (4-0-1) capped the tournament in a flourish, defeating a tough Mid Atlantic Shockers squad, 14-1, in the championship game. The Shockers had reached the championship game at 3-0. North Hunterdon Youth Baseball Red Elite won the 10U Home Run Classic championship at Diamond Nation. The Diamond Jacks struck for two runs in the first inning, one in the second and nine runs McBride delivered a two run to tie the game at 3-3 before Aaron Corcoran brought home the in the third to take an early 12-0 lead. Blake Echternacht got the start in the final and go-ahead run with a fielder’s choice grounder. Henn then drew a bases-loaded walk to boost the lead picked up the win. The Super 11U had defeated Warrior Baseball NY, 6-3, in the semifi- to 5-3. nals to advance. North Hunterdon had righted itself in the second game of the tournament when it rolled to an 11-1 “We played well defensively, too, in the two playoff games,” said Super 11U coach Mark decision over Tri-State Arsenal. Crawford. “ Jadon Krisanda went 5-for-10 with a pair of doubles, scored three runs and drove home two to earn Echternacht and Jack Markovich each contributed mightily to the Super 11U’s champion- the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award. ship and were named the 11U tournament co-Most Valuable Players. “Jadon had a break out weekend,” said Kane. “He did a great job.” Krisanda had plenty of help from his Drew Hartong pitched four scoreless innings in the hot Sunday sun as the Diamond Jacks teammates at the plate. built a 4-0 lead against the Warriors in the semifinals. But the gritty Warriors, who had tied Super 11U, 10-10 in pool play, rallied for three runs in the top of the fifth. But the McBride went 5-for-9 with a pair of triples, drove home seven runs and scored twice. DeTorres was Diamond Jacks struck for two runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 6-3 lead and regain 5-for-11, drew three walks, drove in two runs and scored four times. Jack Schlaudecker had two hits, breathing room. Soren Gregor closed out Hartong’s victory with two scoreless innings of drove in four runs and scored three times. Liam Kane had two hits, scored six runs, drove in two and relief. caught every inning of the tournament. He threw out two base runners at second base, to boot.

The Diamond Jacks certainly showed their grit in the 10-10 tie with the Warriors, rallying North Hunterdon Youth Baseball Red Elite is now 15-2 on the season after closing 2018 with a 34-4 from a 10-3 deficit with two runs in the fourth inning, four in the fifth and one run in the record. sixth to tie the game. Super 11U was down to its last out in the sixth and final inning when HOME RUN CLASSIC RECAP it scored to tie the game. The game ended tied after the fourth inning due to the time limit. 17-18U Wood Bat DIG IN BASEBALL 3, MORRIS COUNTY CUBS 1 “We didn’t take care of the ball in that game,” said Crawford. “We committed four errors.” But Super 11U did come up with some clutch defense to hold the Warriors scoreless in Dig In Baseball nipped the Morris County Cubs, 3-1, in the the sixth. Gregor, the second baseman, made a diving stop in the hole and threw to first 17-18U Wood Bat Home Run Classic championship game. for the third out to strand the bases loaded. Doug Marose of Dig In Baseball was named the 17-18U tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Dig In Baseball (4-1) Justin Labrador threw just 47 pitches in an impressive four-inning pitching performance outscored its tournament opponents 22-13 while the Cubs in the second game of pool play as the Diamond Jacks cruised to an 11-1 victory over (3-1) held a 28-4 runs advantage on their opponents. Team Combat. Markovich had two hits, Echternacht had two hits and drove in three runs and Cole Raymond hit a walk-off home run that gave the Diamond Jacks an 11-1 lead and 10U HomeRun Classic the win via the 10-run mercy rule. NHYB RED ELITE 5, TRI STATE ARSENAL NATIONAL 4

“We played well in that one and it set us up pretty well for a playoff berth,” said Crawford. North Hunterdon Youth Baseball Red Elite edged Tri-State Arsenal, 5-4, in the 10U Home Run Classic. Jason Krisanda The Diamond Jacks and Flood City Elite fought a back-and-forth battle of wills in the of NHYB was named the 10U tournament’s Most Valuable tournament opener as pitching took a backseat to heavy lumber. Player. NHYB (3-1) outscored its tournament opponents 29-20 while Tri-State Arsenal (1-3) was outscored 22-29 in Flood City Elite struck first, scoring four runs in the first, but the Diamond Jacks answered the tournament.