ROCKAWAY TWP. - Ed Bornemann had a hint that it was not going to be his team's day when his Rockaway Township National 10-year-old All-Star team had two runners on in each of the two first innings but could not score in their District One Little League 10s Baseball Tournament game held at Freedom Park in Randolph on Thursday, June 29, 2011.
    While RT-National was being held scoreless, Randolph East scored once in the first and six times in the second for a 7-0 lead and, although RT-National came back to close the gap to 7-5 after five innings, Randolph East scored six times in the final inning to win, 13-5.
    RT-National finishes 1-2 in Pool D, a four-team pool that is sending Randolph East (2-1) and Randolph West (2-1) on to the eight-team bracket-play double-elimination portion of the tournement. RT-National and Hanover (1-2) failed to advance.
    Mike Katz opened the game against Randolph East for RT-National with a single but was forced at second when he had to hold up to see if Alex Russo's bloop to center was caught. It wasn't and Katz was out at second. Christian Bornemann and Christian Morales followed with hard-hit line drives to center that were caught.
    In the top of the second, Josh Perez and Patrick Gallagher singled to put two runners on with two outs but, once again, Randolph East got out of the inning - this time on a popup for the third out.
    Meanwhile, Randolph East scored a run in the first inning on a two-out double and two passed balls and then added six more runs in the second inning on four hits, three walks, an error and three passed balls.
    RT-National broke through for a run in the top of the third on three consecutive hits and a walk and had bases-loaded with one out only to have Randolph East get out of further trouble on a strikeout and a groundout.
    In the top of the fourth, RT-National closed to 7-5 when Patrick Gallagher started a four-run rally with a one-out single. After Zach Trautz hit a hard shot right at the left fielder for the second out, Katz and Russo followed with singles to load the bases and Bournemann cleared them with a double.
    After Andrew Clementoni walked, Christian Morales knocked in Bournemann with a single up the middle. With runners on first and second, Josh Perez followed with a hard shot up the middle that was knocked down by the pitcher who then recovered the ball and threw out Perez at first.
    RT-National threatened again in the top of the fifth when, trailing by two runs at 7-5, Gallagher reached on his third hit of the game, Trautz walked and, after Katz flew out for the first out, Russo drew a walk to load the bases.
    Randolph East brought is infield in on the grass with RT-National's No. 3 and No. 4 batters coming up and the strategy worked as Bornemann's hard one-hopper to short was turned into a force at the plate and Morales followed with a hard shot to third that the Randolph East third baseman gloved and stepped on third for the final out of the inning.
    Randolph East answered with a five-run outburst in the bottom of the fifth inning to end the scoring for the game.
    Bornemann, Gallagher and Russo handled the pitching chores for RT-National.
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RT National Stars fall to Hanover, 3-0
    ROCKAWAY TWP. - Christian Morales and Patrick Gallagher combined on a one-hitter for the Rockaway Township National 10s All-Stars, but Hanover pitching was able to keep RT National off the board in spite of giving up nine hits in a District One Little League Baseball Tournament Pool D game won by Hanover, 3-0, at Black Brook Park in Hanover on Tuesday, June 28, 2011.
    Morales pitched the first five innings and gave up one run (unearned) on one hit. Gallagher pitched the sixth inning and retired all three batters he faced.
    Hanover made the most of its one hit - a single by Jake Rehling to lead off the game - and combined it with an error and three wild pitches to score two runs in the first inning.
    RT National had runners on second and third in its half of the first but could not score. Mike Katz and Christian Bornemann singled with one out and moved up a base on a double-steal. Hanover got out of the inning on a strikeout and a groundout.
    Hanover scored the final run of the game in the top of the second on a one-out walk, a wild pitch and a two-out infield popup that fell in when two RT Nationals infielders collided while trying to make the play, allowing the final run to score.
    Hanover did not get a runner on base for the remainder of the game.
    RT National had runners on base in each of the last three innings of the game, but could not score.
    In the fourth, Alex Russo and Morales singled but Anthony Donofrio's sinking line drive to left-center was caught by diving center felder Tim Dalguaer. A strikeout and a lineout to second base ended the inning for RT National.
    In the fifth, RT National loaded the bases on singles by Katz, Gallagher and Bornemann but Hanover got out of that jam with force at home, a strikeout and a line drive out back to the pitcher.
    Hanover escaped another jam in the sixth when RT National put two runners on but  couldn't get them across.

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Clementoni walk-off single beats Randolph-West, 3-2

    ROCKAWAY TWP.  - Andrew Clementoni's one-out, bases-loaded walk-off infield single capped a two-run sixth-inning rally when the Rockaway Township National 10s All-Star baseball team defeated Randolph West, 3-2, in an opening-round District One Tournament Pool D game played at Marcella Field here in the township on Saturday, June 25, 2011.
    The Nationals took a 1-0 lead into the top of the sixth and final inning when Randolph West scored its two runs with two outs on a bunt single and a home run.
    Rockaway Township got its rally started when Christian Bornemann drew a one-out walk and Alex Russo followed with a single to right that sent Bornemann to third. Randolph, in an attempt to get Bornemann at third, threw away the ball and Bornemann scored with Russo moving on to third base.
    With the winning run at third and one out, the Randolph manager had Christian Morales and Anthony Donofrio intentionally walked to load the bases and Clementoni responded by beating out an infield hit that drove in Russo with the winning run.
    Earlier, Rockaway Township got the only run of the first five innings of the game when Zach Trautz drew a lead-off walk, stole second and, after the next two National batters struck out, Bornemann followed with an RBI single to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead.
    Bornemann was the starting pitcher for the Nationals and took that 1-0 lead into the top of the sixth inning. He got the first batter on a ground out to first and struck out the second batter. The next Randolph batter beat out a bunt single on a close play at first and then the next batter hit a two-run homer to give Randolph its 2-1 lead and put Bornemann at his pitch count for the game.
    Mike Katz - who got the win - came in to pitch for the Nationals and, after giving up Randolph West's third hit of the inning and fourth of the game, struck out the next batter to retire the side and set up the Nationals' two-run sixth.
    Bornemann was one out away from a one-hit shutout when Randolph West got its bunt single and home run to take a 2-1 lead. Bornemann ended up allowing two runs (earned) on three hits while striking out six and walking two.
    The Nationals were held to five hits as Bornemann was 1-for-1 with two walks, an RBI and two stolen bases; Russo finished 1-for-3 with a run scored; Morales was 1-for-2 with a walk; Josh Perez singled in two at-bats; Andrew Clementoni finished 1-for-2 with his game-winning RBI; and Trautz was 0-for-0 with three walks and a stolen base.
    Nationals shortstop Russo had the defensive play of the game in the third inning when, with a man on first and one out, he made a diving catch on a line drive and was able to double off the runner on first.
    Rockaway Township's next pool game is scheduled for Tuesday, June 28, against Hanover at Black Brook Park in Hanover at 6 p.m. The Nationals - with only four teams in Pool D - plays it last game on Thursday, June 30, against Randolph East at Freedom Park in Randolph at 7 p.m.
    The two tops teams in all four pools at the conclusion of pool play will meet in an double-elimination, eight-team competition that will determine the District One 10s championship.

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RT National 10s to open tourney vs. Randolph West   ROCKAWAY TWP. - Ed Bornemann took one look at his team's District One Little League 10s Williamsport Baseball Tournament schedule and had a one-word reaction.
    "Tough!"
    Bornemann is the manager of the Rockaway Township National 10-year-old All-Stars this summer and his team opens play in the four-team Pool C competition with a 3 p.m. game against Randolph West at Marcella Field here on Saturday, June 25, 2011.
    RT-National will then play Hanover at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28, at Black Brook Park in Hanover before finishing pool play against Randolph East in a 7 p.m. game at Freedom Park in Randolph on Thursday, June 30.
    That's two of three games on the road and two of three games against teams from Randolph, a year-in-and year out producer of top all-star baseball teams at all age levels, the RT-National team does, indeed, have a "tough" time ahead of it.
    Three other five-team pools complete the 19-team District One field and the top two teams in each pool will then compete in a double-elimination tournament that will decide the 10s District One champion.
    Bornemann's coaching staff consists of Glen Katz and Jim Russo and the players on his team include Christian Bornemann, Andrew Clementoni, Anthony Donofrio, Pat Gallagher, Mike Katz, Joe McMahon, Christian Morales, Josh Perez, Alex Russo, Zach Trautz and Matt Vicari.