Father & Son juniors still in the running for a state title
BY SHAWN LAYTON
Staff Writer

EDISON — The Junior American Legion District 2 champions, Father & Son, kept the wins coming with a 14-3 win over Haddon Heights in the opening round of the state tournament at Tucker Field in Union Saturday.

Union, the District 3 runner-up this summer, was overmatched by a Father & Son ball club which is firing on all cylinders of late.

“I’m really proud of this team,” Father & Son head coach Tom D’Agostino said. “Everybody got hot at the right time, and we’re really starting to gel. We’ve developed into a really tough team to beat.”

Starting pitcher Maurice Riley recorded the win Saturday going five innings in the mercy-rule abbreviated game. Riley scattered two hits, struck out seven, and allowed three earned runs. He did issue four walks and hit four batters which accounted for most of Haddon Heights’ offense.

“Maurice wasn’t as sharp as he can be,” D’Agostino said. “He did what he needed to get the job done while our offense was on fire.”

Leading the offense was Ryan Amberger and Phil Okner with three hits apiece and a combined seven RBIs. Julian Laguna went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs and teammate Geoff Toro also went 2-for-4 and knocked in a run.

“The lineup is hot from top to bottom,” D’Agostino said. “Everybody is doing a solid job and keeping the line moving. We’re not swinging at too many bad pitches, and we’re finding the holes in the defense with our stick.”

The Father & Son team really picked up momentum in the district tournament, which began with a 7-5 win over Roselle Park. After the Roselle Park win, Father & Son won a thriller over Phillipsburg last weekend, pulling off a one-run victory in the bottom of the seventh.

In the final frame, Fred Pollex knocked in Rob Rubenstein from third base on a sac fly to give Father & Son a 9-8 win. Rubenstein gave the team an all-star performance going 2-for-4 at the dish and getting the win on the hill. He tossed four innings, scattered five hits, fanned five, and allowed one run.

Okner and Timmy Lowe were also productive at the plate, combining for five RBIs on the day. Okner finished the contest 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, while Lowe went 1-for-4 with a two-run double.

With the win, Father & Son advanced to the District 2 finals and steamrolled past Crawford, 7-0. Gary Thompson was dazzling on the mound, tossing a complete-game, two-hit shutout.

“That was one of the best games I’ve ever seen pitched by a high school kid,” D’Agostino said. “He was just so tough to hit and he blew kids away all game. He reared back, got ahead in the counts, and was aces from start to finish.”

Perhaps most impressive about Thompson’s performance is that he threw only 76 pitches over seven innings while striking out nine.

“He fanned the first two guys he faced,” D’Agostino said. “That set the tone from the start and he just cruised. It was an amazing performance especially considering what was at stake. An absolute pitching gem is what it was.”

Alberto Ruiz enjoyed a solid day at the plate going 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and one RBI, while Laguna and Okner both went 2-for-4 with an RBI apiece.

“They really got it going at the right time,” D’Agostino said. “Now we’re going to see if they can finish the job they started and get a state title.”

After opening the states defeating Haddon Heights, Father & Son awaited the outcome of a Saturday night match-up between Washington Township and Musconetcong to determine its next opponent. Laguna was expected to get the start for the second-round game.

“The way things are going there could be an all Middlesex County state final and that would really be something,” D’Agostino said. “St. Joe’s looks like the team to beat and we’d love a shot to play them for the title. I’m just so proud of my team right now no matter what happens for the rest of the state tournament.”