WEST ORANCE, NJ - The Livingston Junior Legion team swept a double header Sunday against the West Orange Mountaineers and, with those two victories, the Lancers clinched first place of the Essex County Junior Legion.
"It feels great to clinch first place but we [still] have two regular season games against a very strong Montclair team," second baseman Evan Miles said.
Livingston won a nail bitter, 8-7, in the first of the two games.
West Orange had a 5-1 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth inning but the Livingston bats awoke as Livingston rallied for three runs on four hits. With two outs, outfielder Joe Cappuccino drew a base on balls. Taylor Parsons then laced a single into left field and the next batter, Justin Tepper, did the same and his base hit scored Cappuccino. Jake Dock came to the plate and followed Parsons and Tepper as he, Dock, roped the third consecutive two out single scoring Parsons and Tepper.
Hunter Bushwell then came out in the top of the sixth inning and struck out the side giving Livingston a boost of momentum.
"Hunter came in and did a great job," catcher Alex Haberman said. "After we scored three in the fifth, we knew we had to hold then and Hunter did just that."
Livingston scored four more runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth to take an 8-5 lead.
The scrappy Mountaineers scored two more runs in the top of the seventh but Bushwell regained his composure and finished strong securing the first game for Livingston.
Joe Cappuccino went 2-for-3 with three runs on the day. Justin Tepper continued his hot hitting, as he was 3-for-3 while driving in four runs.
In the second game, Livingston picked up right where they left off as they defeated the Mountaineers 6-2. The combination of Jake Dock and Brady O’Connor held the West Orange bats to two runs and four hits.
"When you have two pitchers throw a great game, you can’t let it go to waste," Miles said.
Livingston did not hesitate to score runs as Evan Miles laced a single through the middle and was brought home on a Justin Tepper double in the top of the first.
West Orange bounced right back with a run of its own as Mike Ditamassio hit a triple to left field and later scored on a wild pitch.
Livingston tacked on another run in the third and yet again West Orange matched it in the bottom half of the inning.
The Lancers broke open the game in the fifth inning when they scored four more runs. Doug Bresnick led the inning off with a single and stole second base. After a strike out, Evan Miles lined a center to centerfield, which plated Bresnick. Justin Tepper hit his second double of the game and that scored Miles. The Lancers pushed two more across and led 6-2 after five innings.
O’Connor retired the Mountaineers in order in both the sixth and seventh innings. This ultimately clinched the division for the Lancers.
"We have had a real successful season up to this point," shortstop Nick Striglia said. "We have great pitching and timely hitting that’s the key to our success. Our coaches also do a phenomenal job."
Both Stirglia and Miles went 3-for-3 in the second game.
"Next weekend we have the Essex County Championship and then the State Playoffs so we need to be playing our best baseball and we have such a great nucleus of guys that when everyone is playing to their potential we are a tough team to beat," Miles concluded.