WEST DEPTFORD, NJ -- Newark National, DE scored four runs with the
benefit of just one hit in the bottom of the sixth to rally from down
5-2 and then held on for dear life in the seven to eliminate South
Portland National, ME, 6-5, Tuesday at the 2002 Senior Little League
Eastern Regional.
Newark National rallied in the bottom of the sixth. A double-steal gave
the Delaware state champs runners at second and third with two outs.
Agnew beat out a grounder to third and the throw skipped by the first
baseman, allowing both runners to score and make it a 5-4 game.
South Portland National decided to make a pitching change and it was
only fitting to have Tait come into to try to save the game. However,
Tait came in and promptly walked Bittner and pinch-hitter Ryan Pike to
load the bases. Then, he hit Trent with a 2-1 fastball to force in the
tying run, which signaled the end of Tait’s time on the mound.
However, Wood didn’t fare much better, walking Schmidt on four straight
pitches to give Newark National a 6-5 lead.
To cap things off, Bittner, who gave up six runs without getting an out
in his first appearance in the regional, came in to pitch the seventh.
With a walk and singled by Caruso and Lavoie, the Maine state champs
loaded the bases. Tait hit a mile-high pop-up into a stiff wind, which
was corralled by Agnew to end the ball game.
After battling 95-degree temperatures and 105-degree heat indexes all
week, the teams got much more livable conditions on Tuesday afternoon.
While the temps were struggling to get into the low 80’s, teams had to
contend with a 25-mph wind blowing in from center field. Shades of
Candlestick Park came to mind as teams battled the wind on the simplist
of pop-ups.
One day after getting shutout by Elkton, MD, South Portland National
waisted no time getting on the scoreboard Tuesday. Andrew Wood plated
the first run with an RBI ground out to score Bryan Lavoie, who had led
off with a walk. Anthony DiCenso followed with a pop-up behind third
that turned into a single thanks to the wind. That scored Chris Tait,
who had singled, and gave South Portland National a 2-0 lead.
Newark National came right back in the bottom half of the frame. Kevin
Ellis, the winning pitcher in Newark National’s win on Monday, led off
with a single and stole second. He moved to third when Mark Agnew
grounded out to first and then scored on an RBI single by Justin Bittner
to make it a 2-1 ballgame.
In the second, Newark National threatened but could not take advantage.
With runners at second and third and one out, Dante LaPenta hit a
two-hopper right at the third baseman Matt Caruso. Josh Schmidt started
to break on contact, hesitated, and then got hung up between third and
home. He was tagged out by Caruso for the second out. Newark National
loaded the bases after that, but Agnew struck out to end the inning.
The wind contributed to Newark National’s tying the game in the third.
With runners at the corners and one out, Justin Schmidt lifted what
should have been a routine fly ball to right field that would have been
to shallow to score the runner from third. However, the wind knocked it
down and sent right fielder Justin Collett sprawling for the ball.
Collett got the force out at second base for your atypical 9-6 fielder’s
choice with an RBI as Steve Spiese scored from third.
South Portland National pitcher David Bogart made his own trouble in the
fifth, but Tait saved him twice to preserve the tie. After Agnew got on
via a bunt single and Bogart walked the next two to load the bases. Eric
Trent lifted a fly ball to center, on which Agnew tagged. However, a
perfect throw to the plate by center fielder by Tait nailed Agnew for
the second out.
One batter later, it was Tait again. Schmidt singled up the middle and
Tait came up gunning. This time, he threw a two-hopper that easliy
nailed Justin Bittner at the plate to end the inning.
With that, the momentum shifted and South Portland National took a 5-2
lead. Lavoie led off the inning by mashing a ball through the wind into
the left-center gap for a double. Collett followed with a single that
might have scored Lavoie had the shortstop Bittner not knocked it down
and kept the ball in the infield. After a fly out to left was to shallow
for anyone to advance, Wood hit a grounder to third that was booted,
allowing Lavoie to score. DiCenso followed with a single to right-center
that scored Collett and moved Wood to third. Then, Spiese uncorked a
wild pitch that scored Wood to make it a three-run lead.
2002 SENIOR LITTLE LEAGUE EASTERN REGIONAL SCHEDULE / RESULTS
Friday, August 2
G 4 - Floral Park, NY 6, Derry, NH 1
G 2 - West Deptford, NJ15 6, Elmwood (Providence), RI, 4
G 1 - South Vineland, NJ 6, Swampscott, MA, 0
NOTE: G3 eliminated due to Vermont withdrawl
Saturday, August 3
G 7 - South Portland National, ME 5, West Side (West Chester), PA 3
G 8 - Elkton, MD 11, Floral Park, NY, 1
G 6 - West Deptford, NJ15, 5, Max Sinoway LL (North Haven), CT 3
G 5 - South Vineland, NJ, 7, Newark National, DE 2
Sunday, August 4
G 11 - West Side (West Chester), PA 4, Swampscott, MA 2 (Massachusetts
eliminated)
G 12 - Elmwood (Providence), RI 3, Floral Park, NY, 2 -- 10 innings (New
York eliminated)
G 10 - Max Sinoway LL (North Haven), CT, 6, Derry, NH 0 (New Hampshire
eliminated)
NOTE: G9 eliminated due to Vermont withdrawl
Monday, August 5
G 14 - Elmwood (Providence), RI 5, West Side (West Chester), PA 2
(Pennsylvania eliminated)
G 13 - Newark National, DE 7, Max Sinoway LL (North Haven), CT 2
(Connecticut eliminated)
G 15 - South Vineland, NJ 13, West Deptford, NJ15 9 -- 9 innings
G 16 - Elkton, MD 5, South Portland National, ME 0
Tuesday, August 6
G 17 - West Deptford, NJ15 5, Elmwood (Providence), RI, 2 (Rhode Island
eliminated)
G 18 - Newark National, DE 6, South Portland National, ME 5 (Maine
eliminated)
G 19 - South Vineland, NJ vs. Elkton, MD, 7 pm
Wednesday, August 7
G 20 - West Deptford, NJ15 vs. Newark National, DE , 5 pm
G 21 - Loser G19 vs. Winner G20, 8 pm
Thursday, August 8
G 22 - Winner G19 vs. Winner G21, 5 pm
G 23 - if necessary
S. Portland Natl, ME vs Newark National, DE (Aug 06, 2002)
* Box score
* Play-by-Play
Box score
2002 Senior LL Eastern Regional
S. Portland Natl, ME vs Newark National, DE
Aug 06, 2002 at West Deptford, NJ (Union Field)
S. Portland Natl, ME 5 (9-3,1-2 REGIONAL)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB Avg.
------------------------------------------------------------
Lavoie, Brian lf......... 3 2 2 0 1 0 1 0 0 .375
Collett, Justin rf/cf.... 3 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 .222
Tait, Chris cf/p......... 4 1 1 0 0 0 2 2 3 .222
Wood, Andrew c/p......... 3 1 0 1 0 0 6 0 0 .222
DiCenso, Tony 1b/3b...... 3 0 2 2 0 1 5 0 0 .556
Tweedie, Joe pr/c....... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .000
Bogart, Dave p/1b........ 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 .200
Sedil, Craig ph......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Asdorian, John 2b........ 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 .000
Tirado, Carlos 2b....... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .000
Caruso, Mat 3b/1b........ 3 0 1 0 0 2 2 2 0 .400
Card, Ben 1b............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
Damone, Mat ss........... 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 .000
Totals................... 28 5 7 3 2 7 18 8 4
Newark National, DE 6 (1-2,2-1 REGIONAL)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB Avg.
------------------------------------------------------------
Ellis, Kevin 3b/ss....... 2 2 1 0 2 0 0 1 0 .222
Agnew, Mark 2b........... 4 1 2 1 0 1 2 1 3 .333
Bittner, Justin ss/p..... 2 1 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 .300
Spiese, Steven p......... 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 .286
Pike, Ryan ph/lf........ 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 .000
Trent, Eric lf/3b........ 3 0 0 1 1 1 2 1 1 .444
Schmidt, Josh rf......... 3 0 1 2 1 0 2 0 0 .286
Keith, Jordan 1b......... 4 0 1 0 0 2 6 0 4 .250
Covey, Butch c........... 2 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 .222
Humphrey, J.D. ph....... 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 .000
Lapenta, Dante cf........ 2 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 .000
Totals................... 24 6 6 5 10 5 21 4 10
Score by Innings R H E
-----------------------------------------
S. Portland Natl, ME 200 003 0 - 5 7 4
Newark National, DE. 101 004 X - 6 6 2
-----------------------------------------
E - DiCenso(2); Bogart(1); Caruso(3); Damone(1); Ellis(1); Covey(1). DP - S.
Portland 1. LOB - S. Portland 4; Newark Nat'l 10. 2B - Lavoie(2). SB -
Collett(1); Caruso(1); Ellis 2(4); Agnew(2); Bittner 2(2); Lapenta(1).
S. Portland Natl, ME IP H R ER BB SO AB BF ERA
-----------------------------------------------------
Bogart, Dave........ 5.2 6 5 4 6 4 23 29 3.32
Tait, Chris......... 0.0 0 1 0 2 0 0 2 0.00
Wood, Andrew........ 0.1 0 0 0 2 1 1 3 0.00
Newark National, DE IP H R ER BB SO AB BF ERA
-----------------------------------------------------
Spiese, Steven...... 6.0 5 5 4 1 6 23 24 4.67
Bittner, Justin..... 1.0 2 0 0 1 1 5 6 35.00
Win - Spiese (1-0). Loss - Tait (0-1). Save - Bittner (1).
WP - Tait(1); Bogart(1); Spiese(1).
Umpires - Home:Graham 1st:Lloyd 2nd:Swope 3rd:Bassler
Start: 4:29 pm Time: 2:10 Attendance: 325
Game: GAME-18
Game notes:
7.14 runners: Tweedie (6th)
Tait faced 2 batters in the 6th.
Play-by-Play
2002 Senior LL Eastern Regional
S. Portland Natl, ME vs Newark National, DE - Play-by-Play
Aug 06, 2002 at West Deptford, NJ (Union Field)
Score by Innings R H E
-----------------------------------------
S. Portland Natl, ME 200 003 0 - 5 7 4
Newark National, DE. 101 004 X - 6 6 2
-----------------------------------------
S. Portland Natl, ME - inning 1
Lavoie walked. Collett struck out swinging. Tait singled through the
right side; Lavoie advanced to third. Tait advanced to second on a
fielder's choice. Wood grounded out to ss, RBI; Tait advanced to third;
Lavoie scored. DiCenso singled down the lf line, RBI; Tait scored. Bogart
grounded out to 1b unassisted. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Newark National, DE - inning 1
Ellis singled to right field. Ellis stole second. Agnew grounded out to
1b unassisted; Ellis advanced to third. Bittner singled to left center,
RBI; Ellis scored. Spiese flied out to cf. Bittner stole second, advanced
to third on a throwing error by p, failed pickoff attempt. Trent struck
out swinging. 1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
S. Portland Natl, ME - inning 2
Asdorian flied out to rf. Caruso struck out swinging. Damone grounded out
to 1b unassisted. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Newark National, DE - inning 2
Schmidt reached on a fielding error by ss. Keith singled to right field,
advanced to second on the throw; Schmidt advanced to third. Covey
grounded out to p. Lapenta reached on a fielder's choice; Schmidt out at
third 3b unassisted. Ellis walked; Lapenta advanced to second; Keith
advanced to third. Agnew struck out swinging. 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 3
LOB.
S. Portland Natl, ME - inning 3
Lavoie popped up to 2b. Collett flied out to lf. Tait grounded out to 3b.
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Newark National, DE - inning 3
Bittner grounded out to 2b. Spiese walked. Trent reached on a fielder's
choice; Spiese advanced to second on a throwing error by 3b, advanced to
third. Schmidt reached on a fielder's choice, RBI; Trent out at second rf
to ss; Spiese scored, unearned. Keith struck out swinging. 1 run, 0 hits,
1 error, 1 LOB.
S. Portland Natl, ME - inning 4
Wood flied out to cf. DiCenso struck out swinging. Sedil pinch hit for
Bogart. Sedil grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Newark National, DE - inning 4
Bogart to p for Sedil. Tirado to 2b for Asdorian. Covey grounded out to
3b. Lapenta flied out to lf. Ellis grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
S. Portland Natl, ME - inning 5
Tirado struck out swinging. Caruso struck out swinging. Damone lined out
to rf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Newark National, DE - inning 5
DiCenso to 3b. Asdorian to 2b for Tirado. Card to 1b for Caruso. Agnew
singled, bunt. Bittner walked; Agnew advanced to second. Spiese walked;
Bittner advanced to second; Agnew advanced to third. Trent flied into
double play cf to c; Agnew out on the play. Schmidt singled to center
field; Spiese advanced to second; Bittner advanced to third, out at home
cf to c. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
S. Portland Natl, ME - inning 6
Lavoie doubled to left field. Collett singled to shortstop; Lavoie
advanced to third. Collett stole second. Tait flied out to lf. Wood
reached on a fielding error by 3b; Lavoie scored. DiCenso singled to
right center, RBI; Wood advanced to third; Collett scored. Tweedie pinch
ran for DiCenso. Bogart struck out swinging. Tweedie advanced to second,
advanced to third on an error by c, out at home lf to c; Wood scored on a
wild pitch, unearned. 3 runs, 3 hits, 2 errors, 0 LOB.
Newark National, DE - inning 6
DiCenso to 3b for Tweedie. Caruso to 1b for Card. Keith grounded out to
ss. Humphrey pinch hit for Covey. Humphrey struck out swinging. Lapenta
walked. Lapenta advanced to second on a wild pitch. Ellis walked. Ellis
stole second; Lapenta stole third. Agnew singled to third base, RBI;
Ellis advanced to third, scored on an error by 3b; Lapenta scored.
Collett to cf. Tait to p. DiCenso to rf. Bogart to 1b. Caruso to 3b.
Agnew advanced to second on a wild pitch. Bittner walked; Agnew stole
third. Pike pinch hit for Spiese. Bittner stole second. Pike walked.
Collett to rf. Tait to cf. Wood to p. DiCenso to 1b. Tweedie to c for
Bogart. Trent walked, RBI; Pike advanced to second; Bittner advanced to
third; Agnew scored. Schmidt walked, RBI; Trent advanced to second; Pike
advanced to third; Bittner scored, unearned. Keith struck out swinging. 4
runs, 1 hit, 1 error, 3 LOB.
S. Portland Natl, ME - inning 7
Ellis to ss. Bittner to p. Pike to lf. Trent to 3b. Covey to c for
Humphrey. Asdorian fouled out to 1b. Caruso singled to shortstop. Damone
struck out looking. Lavoie singled up the middle; Caruso advanced to
second. Caruso stole third. Collett walked; Lavoie advanced to second.
Tait popped up to 2b. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
