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Team earns first sectional title in 31 years
(by Kathryn A. Burger - July 30, 2008)
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Staff Photo By Kathryn A. Burger
The Park Ridge High School Varsity Baseball Team was honored recently at a board of education meeting. The team is pictured here with their coaches. From left front row are Coach Kim Karpowich, Matt Misely (24), Nick Moltzen (holding plaque), Dan Franco, Alex Clemente (27), Matt Del Rosso, Coach Pete Crandall, and Evan Friedman (striped shirt). Back row, Zack Carroll, Matt Moreno, Dan McEldowney, Jesse Buckman, Steve Kozar, Kevin Herget, Ryan Howell and Billy Moylan. Not pictured is team member Kevin Hwang.
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The Park Ridge High School Varsity Baseball Team had an amazing season, despite having lost a number of players who graduated in 2007. Chris Brown, the district’s athletic director, speaking at a recent board of education meeting where the team was honored, provided the following rundown of the team’s performance.
“With a relatively young team, a fast start was important. The boys had early season victories over rivals Emerson, Cresskill, and
New Milford . At the end of the regular season, the team had posted a 13-9 record and was the eighth seed in the State Tournament.
“The first round game pitted
Park Ridge against Saddle Brook. A fast start provided enough of cushion, and
Park Ridge won 10-8 to move on to the next round. The Owls would face Bergen County Scholastic League Champions and number one seed
New Milford , on the road. Again, the team got off to a quick start and held on for an 8-2 win.
“The team next faced BCSL foe Leonia and fell behind quickly 5-0. The boys never gave up, rallying to tie the score at 5 before falling behind again 6-5 heading into the last inning. A seventh-inning rally provided the excitement and the team made it to the State Sectional Finals against Cedar Grove.
“The team started fast with a three-run first inning but fell behind again, trailing 5-3. The resilient Owls rallied again to take a lead they would not relinquish. When the last out was recorded, the players and coaches burst onto the Cedar Grove home field, celebrating the first Sectional title for
Park Ridge
High School baseball in 31 years.
“The Owls then faced
Lyndhurst
High School in the State semi-finals. In one of the best high school games of the year, both teams battled for 11 innings. Although many hearts were broken, there was joy in ‘Owl-ville’ for the outstanding season-long performance of the team.”
The team members were each given their championship sweatshirts, and certificates from the board of education.
Kathryn A. Burger's e-mail address is burger@northjersey.com.
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