Father & Son juniors falter in district play
BY SHAWN LAYTON
Staff Writer

EDISON - The Father & Son Junior team fell a game short of moving out of the District Tournament and finished the tournament with two wins and two losses.

The Middlesex County Champions finished the summer an impressive 20-3 and 18-1 in county play.

"Overall it was a very productive season," Father & Son head coach Tom D'Agostino said. "We were a little disappointed we couldn't put it together in the District Tournament, but some of these kids will be back next summer and hopefully they can remember what it was like to play in the districts and allow the experience to motivate them next summer."

The team opened the tournament with a 6-3 win over Mount Morris led by starting pitcher Nick Marics' solid performance. Marics threw five innings allowing just four hits and one unearned run. Reliever Chris Virag came on to pitch the final two innings and fanned the side in the seventh for the save.

Steve Nappe, David Goodman and Tony Olarra all finished with two hits. Nappe's solo homer tied the game in the fourth inning and he finished with three RBIs.

"It was a great way to start the tournament," D'Agostino said. "Unfortunately, we didn't pitch as well in the second game."

Despite a nine-run performance led by another monster game from Nappe, Father & Son lost its second game of the tournament 13-9 to Seneca. Nappe went 2-for-4 with four RBIs and a three-run dinger in the third inning. Centerfielder Andrew Rivera and shortstop Matt Rohal each had three hits in the loss.

"We hit the ball and had our chances, but we left 13 runners on base," D'Agostino said. "It was a big game for us and the loss really turned the tournament upside down for us. Seneca was a well-coached team and they hit the ball from top to bottom. Every time we scored, they had an answer."

Father & Son bounced back from the loss with a 4-3 win over county foe Sayreville. Olarra notched the win with four innings of solid work before handing the ball to Virag, who once again threw two innings for the save.

Rivera went 2-for-4 with a double and Rohal was 1-for-2 with an RBI-triple. Goodman and Nick Errico also hit two-baggers in the win.

In the deciding game, Father & Son was stunned by Roselle, 9-1, in a game that was decided in the first inning.

"We went 1-2-3 in the top half of the first inning," D'Agostino said. "When Roselle came up and its first five guys reached base and scored before we recorded an out, it really gave them the momentum and they carried it the rest of the way. They put the bat on the ball and we couldn't get anything going. We managed just three hits the entire game."

Despite the disappointing loss, the future looks bright for Father & Son baseball and the Edison High School team.

"A lot of these young players proved they are ready for the next level," D'Agostino said. "Both the senior and junior teams enjoyed successful summers, and we'll be back next year."