[ back ]
Owls suffer loss after 11-inning game
(by Erin Patricia Griffiths - June 11, 2008)
 |
Staff Photos By Erin Patricia Griffiths
Matt Moreno slides safely into second base.
|
The pressure was overwhelming for the Park Ridge Owls competing in the Group 1 State semifinal on Tuesday, June 3. The team was up against the Lyndhurst Golden Bears, who held a season record of 24-5 to
Park Ridge ’s 17-10 going into the game.
After an 11-inning battle, the Owls lost to Lyndhurst when Glenn Flora launched a pitch from
Park Ridge ’s Jesse Buckman over the fence, bringing the final score to 4-3.
The game began with a bang as Matt Misley and Dan Franco each drove in runs in the first inning to give Park Ridge a 2-0 lead. The Owls kept the Bears off the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning but allowed a run to score on an error in the second when Pitcher Kevin Herget threw the ball away on a pick-off attempt at third. A second run scored later that inning on a single.
The game advanced to the sixth inning with the game still tied 2-2. After Herget flied out to lead off the inning, Matt Moreno hit a line drive single. Jesse Buckman’s single moved
Moreno to second base. Matt Misley then flew out, and Moreno was tagged out at third trying to tag up to end
Park Ridge ’s threat in the top of the sixth.
In the top of the seventh, Danny Franco advanced to first base on a drive to left field. Nick Moltzen bunted to move Franco to second. The Bears intentionally walked
Park Ridge ’s Ryan Howell and Billy Moylan grounded into a fielder’s choice, putting runners on first and third with two outs. Kevin Hwang struck out to end the inning.
With the game on the line in the bottom of the seventh inning, Herget managed to overcome the pressure of the moment striking out two players before three errors loaded the bases. Herget recovered, however, striking out the next batter to get his team out of the inning.
Lyndhurst ’s pitcher Glenn Flora was relieved in the 11th inning by Tommy Farrell due to state rules that limit pitchers’ innings. With two outs in the inning, Nick Moltzen walked and Ryan Howell delivered with an RBI double to right, hit beyond the reach of Lyndhurst’s gloves, giving the Owls a 3-2 lead as they moved into the bottom of the eleventh.
|
|
|
Pitcher Kevin Herget, above, endured 8 innings on the mound before being relieved by Jesse Buckman.
|
With Herget and Buckman, who came on in relief in the ninth inning, holding
Lyndhurst scoreless since the second inning, it seemed as though victory was within reach. Unfortunately, the Owls could not stop the infield single to short that sent the Bear’s Bubba Jasinski to first. Starting pitcher Glenn Flora approached the plate ready to hit, despite his 10 innings and 112 pitches on the mound. Flora sent Buckman’s pitch sailing over the fence for a homerun that ended the game, a 4-3
Lyndhurst victory.
With Herget and Buckman, who came on in relief in the ninth inning, holding Lyndhurst scoreless since the second inning, it seemed as though victory was within reach. Unfortunately, the Owls could not stop the infield single to short that sent the Bear’s Bubba Jasinski to first. Starting pitcher Glenn Flora approached the plate ready to hit, despite his 10 innings and 112 pitches on the mound. Flora sent Buckman’s pitch sailing over the fence for a homerun that ended the game, a 4-3 Lyndhurst victory.
Park Ridge may have lost the State semifinal, but the team’s victory over Cedar Grove the week before gave them their first sectional crown in 31 years. Crandall reflected on the day with a smile saying, “It was just a great baseball game. Eleven-innings was a classic ending, with the pressure of the moment and the kids coming through, and the pitches that they threw on both teams. There really was no loser.”
Erin Patricia Griffiths' e-mail address is GriffithsE@northjersey.com.
[ back ]
