Little League

Jefferson - After six straight nights of Group 1 Sectional play, Washington needed to beat a well-rested Jefferson East team two straight games to take the district Little League 11-year-old title. Winning both of their games in pool play, the Falcons remained in the winner’s bracket, with the luxury of being able to drop one game and still play another day. And that’s exactly what happened on Wednesday in 100-degree-plus heat as Washington took the first game and forced a winner-take-all championship game on Thursday night, Aug. 3. With the game tied at one in the top of the fourth, catcher Tommy Zarzecki’s two-run double to right-center gave the their first lead in two games. The following batter, Kevin Silverstein, slashed a rope to right driving home “the Zman,” giving Jefferson a three-run advantage. With two innings to play, it looked as if the Falcons would be advancing to the state championship tournament. The reason for Jefferson’s optimism was eleven-year-old Steve Cuccio, an oversized pitcher who was overwhelming Washington with a good fastball and sharp slider. In the bottom of the sixth, Jefferson was up 4-1, there was one out, and a runner at first base. A slow grounder was hit to Jeremy Rodriguez who scooped up the easy roller and seemed to beat the runner to the bag. But the first-base umpire called him safe, giving Washington two on and one out. As if on cue, Washington’s clean-up hitter sent the following pitch over the center field fence to tie the game at four. Although it was a stunning blow, there were still two outs to be made in order to force extra innings. And as he did all night long, “Kong,” as his teammates call Cuccio, struck out the final two batters for his 15th and 16th K’s of the evening. The Falcons loaded the bases in the seventh, then went ahead when A.J. Willard worked out a walk to force in a run. Washington came right back in the bottom of the seventh with an inside-the-park home run to tie the game again. . But not being able to capitalize with the bags all filled, everyone knew that a one-run advantage was not safe by any means. And as fate would have it, Washington’s first batter in the 7th sent a screamer to the wall and rounded all four bases for the game tying run. Then with the winning runner on third and two outs, new pitcher Evan Rapp threw his patented knuckle-ball on a 3-2 count, catching the batter looking, for an amazing and gutsy strike out to end the inning. The pressure mounted higher than the game starting temperature of 102 degrees in the eighth, as the Falcons failed to score. In the bottom of the inning, Jefferson intentionally walked Washington’s clean-up hitter who had hit the big three-run homer, then, after getting an out, surrendered another walk to move the winning run to second. A single to right gave Washington Township the win, and the Group 1 Sectional title in one of the most exciting games anyone involved had ever seen. For the Falcons, second baseman Conor “Spike” Labita went 9-for-12 in three games against Washington Township. Third baseman A.J. “Mighty Joe” Willard hit a bomb to center for an early double. Relief pitcher Evan Rapp threw brilliantly in relief in the deciding game. Craig Zeglen made a spectacular diving catch in left field. Zarzecki caught all eight innings in the stifling heat. The loss ended the baseball season, but the kids didn’t mourn long. Some will go on to play football, others ice hockey, and some will join their town fall-ball team. But none of the boys will forget winning their third straight District 20 title, beating perennial powerhouse Randolph East, and advancing to just one win away from going to the N.J. State Championship. The team over the past three years has a combined record of 26-6.