Page 14 Thursday, June 2, 2016 The Westfield Leader and The Scotch Plains – Fanwood TIMES A WATCHUNG COMMUNICATIONS, INC. PUBLICATION LEICHTLING, CANAVAN, WARREN EACH RAP SINGLES Millburn Ousts Raiders, 10-0, In Baseball Section Quarters

By ALEX LOWE Head Coach Brian Chapman. “We fall to the ground for a hit. Another Specially Written for The Westfield Leader and The Times decided that we wanted to get their seeing eye infield single loaded the The Scotch Plains-Fanwood High pitcher deep into counts. It was a bases and Geissel was in deep trouble. School baseball season ended with a very hot day out here today, so it was Geissel walked the next batter, thud against Millburn. The Raiders worth the effort. In high school base- which drove in another run. Michael were shut out 10-0 in the quarterfinals ball, if you can get the other team’s Garawitz then singled through the of the North Jersey, Section 2, Group starter off the mound you are really left side of the infield plating two 4 tournament held on May 26 at helping your chances to win because more runs and spotting the Millers to Millburn. Starting pitcher Kevin bullpens are usually thin.” a 6-0 lead. Higgins pulled Geissel at Czapelski allowed just three hits in Millburn executed that plan to per- that point in favor of Dan Wilkinson. five innings of work, while the Mill- fection. In the blazing 90-degree heat The freshman struggled with his con- ers scored three runs in the bottom of they forced Geissel to throw a lot of trol and was not helped when the the first to take an early lead before pitches in the first inning, which re- next batter bunted for a single to erupting for seven runs in the fifth to sulted in three runs, and even more once again load the bases. Wilkinson end the game. importantly, may have worn the crafty walked the next two batters making “In the first inning, we made some junior down. it 8-0. The game ended on a slow mistakes that hurt us,” said Scotch “Tim ended up throwing 28 pitches rolling grounder to short, which Plains-Fanwood Head Coach Joe in the first inning,” said Higgins. “So Warren fielded but then hurried an Higgins. “Millburn got the momen- yeah, it probably slowed him down errant throw to first base. The ball tum right away and they were able to on a day as hot as this one. Even so, sailed high allowing two more runs Courtesy of John Beckwith ride that all the way through the he was around the plate most of the to score and resulted in the 10 run SEALING THE DEAL...Blue Devils Owen Bartok, left, and Matt Bartok sealed Westfield’s victory over Montgomery when game.” time. They didn’t get too many solid rule. they won their match at first doubles at the Group 4 Championship at Mercer County Park on May 24. Raider starter Tim Geissel hits off of him.” “The score will say 10-0 but this struggled throughout the game, un- Indeed, Geissel would grind his game was a lot closer and a lot more able to put Millburn batters away, way through the next three innings competitive than that,” said Coach while allowing seven earned runs on without allowing another run. Un- Chapman. “Scotch Plains is a tal- Blue Devils Stop Montgomery for Group 4 Title eight hits, striking out four and walk- fortunately for him, on this steamy ented and very well-coached team. ing three batters. There was a con- day, the Raider bats were ice cold. Things got away from them a little CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11 scious effort by the Millburn batters The Raiders could not muster much bit in that final at bat for us. Through- but Ruparel delivered a point at sec- step at a time and to embrace the iency of the team and the contribu- to take Geissel deep into counts on a of anything offensively against out most of the game it was 3-0 and ond singles. With Westfield, 2-1, and journey.” tions of all the players declared, “We very hot day. Czapelski, who struck out five bat- you could never feel comfortable. Montgomery leading 4-2 in the third Freshman Matt Bartok confirmed the lost to both Livingston and Mont- “After our last game, my assistant ters. Only George Leichtling, Jake Our kids were very opportunistic and deciding set against Owen and attitude by declaring, “My prime focus gomery in the regular season, but beat coaches came up to me and told me Canavan and Peter Warren were able today. They made their breaks and Matt Bartok at first doubles, it seemed in each match was to stay positive.” both of them today. And we advanced that we needed our batters to be more to punch out hits against Czapelski. took advantage of them. You like to through the Sectional and Group tour- selective at the plate,” said Millburn “We were back on our heels against see that as a coach.” naments with points coming from ev- him today,” said Higgins. “We needed Millburn (23-3), the fourth seed, ery position on the team.” to be more patient. We weren’t. He was set to take on Watchung Hills in Partner Max Carle shared, “I Reading is Good For You had good control and pitched to spots. the semifinal round. For Scotch learned to never give up. When our We just did not do a good job at the Plains (17-12) the loss ended their match is critical for a Westfield win, I plate today.” season sooner than they would have realize I’m not playing for myself, but Things fell apart for Scotch Plains hoped. for the whole team. Our third set win in the fifth inning. Trailing 3-0, “We did not talk too much about in the Sectional finals was one of the Geissel gave up a leadoff single then the game after it was over,” said best moments in my life and it’s been suffered bad luck when he got the Higgins. “Instead we thanked the a blessing and an honor to be a part of next Millburn batter to pop up on a seniors. This was a special group of this team.” bunt attempt. Geissel stumbled off seniors that waited a long time to get Reich stated, “We had some tough of the mound allowing the popup to the chance to shine. They have been losses to these teams earlier in the leaders for this team throughout their season, but our team stayed focused time here.” on improving so that we could play goleader.com/subscribe Probitas Verus Honos Sc Pl-Fanwood 000 00 0 our best tennis when it mattered most. Millburn 300 07 10 We have tough, committed players, both starters and non-starters, who challenge and motivate each other. Coaches Kapner, Knight and Congratulations Gerckens provide great insight and encourage us to compete relentlessly.” Agents of the Month! When asked to reflect on the sea- son, Coach Kapner explained that it was too soon to look back on the season and celebrate: “Westfield is still competing and now we move on Courtesy of John Beckwith to the Tournament of Champions to WINNER AT THIRD SINGLES...Blue Devil Noah Reich delivers a backhand try to be the 1 team in the State.” shot at the Group 4 Championship at Mercer County Park on May 24. Westfield would compete in the Tournament of Champions as the No. as if the title would come down to Roth concluded, “Winning the 2 seed on June 1 at Mercer County Roth at first singles, who had split sets Group 4 title with this team is an Park against the winner of No. 3 seed with his opponent. But the Bartok honor that I will always remember.” West Windsor- Plainsboro South and brothers turned it around and stormed Will Kelly speaking to the resil- No. 6 Mountain Lakes. Frank D. Isoldi John Papa Jayne Bernstein through the next four games to clinch Experience, Broker Sales Associate Sales Associate Sales Associate the set, the match and the title. Roth Trust, Reliability & Service played on and came through with a victory. Westfield Coach George Kapner explained, “Beating two teams that had previously beaten us in the regu- lar season makes it that much more impressive.” Discussing the matches, Coach Kapner added, “In the semifinal against Livingston, the whole WESTFIELD $1,599,000 WESTFIELD $1,575,000 WESTFIELD $1,339,000 Westfield team played sensationally. 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Along the way in triumph after winning his second singles match against Montgomery at the our coaches reminded us to take it one Group 4 Championship at Mercer County Park on May 24.

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Since 1986, the Westfield Office has been recognized as one of the best in the Coldwell Banker Corporation. Westfield Office • 209 Central Avenue • 908-233-5555 Coldwell Banker Home Loans Call now for pre-approval • 888-317-5416 Ask about our Coldwell Banker Home Protection Plan ColdwellBankerHomes.com RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE www.facebook.com/ColdwellBankerWestfield Courtesy of John Beckwith ©2016 Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Coldwell Banker is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT, LLC. COMPETING AT SECOND DOUBLES...Blue Devils Will Kelly, left, and Max Carle competed at second doubles against Montgomery at the Group 4 Championship at Mercer County Park on May 24.