Denville Post 390 Sophomore (15U) Baseball - 2011
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Players: Rocco Aliotta, Ryan Basile, Chris Brindle, Tyler Brosius, Brian Chegwidden, Evan Fischer, Shahzod Hairullaev, Walter Keiper, Devin Lee, Johnny O’Dell, Chris Rupp, Mike Sweeney, Matt Tavarone, Mike Tavarone and Justin Weick.
Head Coach: John O'Dell. Assistant Coaches: Joe Aquino, Chris Brindle, Neal Casey, Chris Dick. Roving Instructor: George Aliotta.
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2011 SEASON
Rupp's walk-off, 2-run double
gives Denville first victory
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DENVILLE - Chris Rupp's two-run walk-off double capped a three-run seventh-inning rally when Denville American Legion's sophomore baseball team beat Roxbury, 7-6, in a Morris-Sussex American Legion Sophomore Baseball League game played at Veterans Memorial Field off Zeek Road here on Monday, June 6, 2011.
The win was Denville's first of the season after opening with two losses.
"This was a huge win for us ... we really needed it," said Denville manager John O'Dell after the game. "The kids played well, battled all the way and deserv ed the win ... we are starting to come together as a team."
Roxbury broke a 4-4 tie with two runs in the top of the fifth and took that 6-4 lead into the bottom of the seventh and final inning.
Ryan Basile started Denville's comeback with a one-out single, went to second on a passed ball and, after the second out of the inning was made, winning pitcher Mike Sweeney singled in Basile to keep the drive alive and cut Roxbury's lead to a single run.
Chris Brindle singled Sweeney to second and Walter Keiper was hit with a pitch to load the bases for Rupp. Rupp sent his double into the left-center gap and Sweeney and Brindle scored to give Denville the victory.
Earlier Roxbury took a 3-0 lead with three runs in the second inning and Denville answered with three in its half of the inning.
Rocco Aliotta singled; Mike Tavarone reached on an error; and Basile singled to drive in Aliotta for the first run. After Tavarone was thrown out trying to steal, Justin Weick singled and was caught in a rundown, allowing Tavarone to score. Sweeney helped himself by following with a solo homer.
Roxbury scored a run in the top of the third and Denville tied it at 4-4 in its half of the inning when Rupp doubled, took third on Johnny O'Dell's groundout, and scored when Tyler Brosius grounded out to second.
Sweeney got the win, giving up six runs (five earned) on 12 hits and two walks while striking out two.
Sweeney and Rupp both finished 3-for-4 to lead Denville's 13-hit attack. Sweeney had a homer, two RBIs and scored two runs; Rupp had three doubles, two RBIs and scored once.
Brindle finished 2-for-4 with two stolen bases and a run scored; Basile was 2-for-3 with one RBI and two runs scored; Keiper was 1-for-3; Aliotta was 1-for-2 with a run scored; and Justin Weick was 1-for-3.
"Sweeney had a great game for us and Rupp pounded the ball all day," O'Dell said. "Sweeney and Rupp were certainly the stars of the game for this one."
Denville faces Musconnetcong next, traveling to Lenape Valley High School on Friday, June 10, for a 6 p.m. game.
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Denville loses early lead in falling to 0-2 for the season
DENVILLE - Denville scored all its runs in the first inning in a 7-3 loss to Mount Morris in a Morris-Sussex American Legion Junior Baseball Leauge game played at Rock Spring Park in Long Valley on Friday, June 3.
The loss is the second in two outings for Denville.
Mike Sweeney led off the game by reaching on an error, stole second and took third when Chris Brindle singled. Walter Keiper followed with a two-run double and Keiper then scored when Chris Rupp followed with a single. Mount Morris pitching held Denville to three hits the rest of the way.
Mount Morris tied the game witgh a three-run flurry in the second; took the lead for good with two more runs in hte third; and then scored single runs in each of the fourth and fifth innings to complete the scoring for the day.
Keiper finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored; Mike Tavarone was 1-for-3 with a double; Rupp was 1-for-3 with an RBI; Keiper was 1-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored; Brian Chegwidden was 1-for-3, and Brindle was 1-for-4 with a run scored.
Brindle pitched a complete game for Denville, allowing seven runs (five earned) on five hits and four walks while striking out three.
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Denville, trailing 8-0 after two, loses opener to Mendham
DENVILLE - Eight was more than enough for the Denville American Legion (U15) sophomore baseball team when it lost a 11-6 decision to Mendham in a Morris-Sussex American Legion Sophomore Baseball League opening-season game played at Veterans Memorial Field off Zeek Road here on Wednesday, June 1, 2011.
Mendham scored eight times in the top of the second inning and then added three more runs in the top of the fourth before Denville could get on the board with a two runs in the fifth and four runs in the seventh and final inning.
"We gave up too much early on," said Denville manager John O'Dell after the game. "The kids battled back but we came up way short."
Trailing 11-0 going into the bottom of the fifth, Denville's Shahzad Hairullaev drew a one-out walk and scored on Mike Sweeney's triple to left-center. Sweeney scored when Chris Brindle bounced out to second.
In the seventh, Sweeney led off with his second triple of the game and scored on a single by Brindle. Walter Keiper followed with a single; Chris Rupp hit into a fielder's choice as Brindle scored; Mike Tavarone reached on an error as Keiper scored the third run of the inning; and Ryan Basile followed with a two-out RBI double to drive in Denville's final run of the game.
John O'Dell started and took the loss and the Tavarone brothers - Matt and Mike - finished up.
Denville outhit Mendham, 10-9, with Basile leading the way by going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Sweeney finished 2-for-4 with two triples, an RBI and two runs scored; Brindle was 2-for-4 with two RBIs; Keiper was 2-for-3; Rupp was 1-for-3 with an RBI; and Tavarone drove in a run.
Denville is scheduled to face Mount Morris at Mount Morris on Friday, June 3, in a 6 p.m. game at Rock Spring Park.
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FINAL 8 STATE TOURNEY - 2010
O'Dell won't let loss in finale
mar season of two titles, 20 Ws
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DENVILLE - John O'Dell's Denville Post 390 American Legion 15U baseball team suffered its worst loss of the 2010 season in its seaon finale, but the first-year manager refuses to let it mar the team's 20-win season.
Piscataway jumped out to a 7-0 first-inning lead and then coasted to a 17-3, five-inning mercy-rule victory over Denville in a first-round game in the Legion's Final 8 state baseball tournament in a games played on Saturday, July 31, at Mount Laurel.
The loss left Denville with a final overall season record of 20-2.
"We went out 1-2-3 in the top half of the first and then they scored seven runs in their half of the inning and never stopped," O'Dell said after the game. "They hit everything ... Chegs (losing pitcher Andrew Chegwidden) was on and locating and they just flat out HIT!"
Denville won the Morris-Sussex league's regular-season and post-season titles to earn entry into the Final 8 and O'Dell preferred to reflect on the season as a whole rather than a 14-run loss in the team's final game.
"These boys deserved the two titles they got ... they worked their buts off," O'Dell explained. "They bought into our game plan of showing discipline and patience at the plate and worked on their mechanics and fundamentals in the field throughout the season.
"Plus, they have a passion for the game and played it well as a team. Put everything together and you get one amazing 20-win season."
O'Dell didn't stop at praising only his players, either.
"The whole season was a good one for me, starting when Bill Tonero (who directs the baseball program at Post 390 as well as coaches the junior 17U team) asked me to coach the team," O'Dell added. "I can't thank enough the members of the Post who did everything they could for all the teams ... and the parents were very supportive, too.
"It was a great season and I was very proud to be a part of it."
After Piscataway scored its seven first-inning runs, Denville made a mini-comeback of its own in the top of the second by scoring all three of its runs and getting four of its six hits for the game.
A.J. Trillo led off the Denville second inning with a walk, was balked to second and moved to third on John-Lucas Duffy's one-out single.
Connor Grady grounded out for the second out as Trillo scored the first run and Duffy moved to second. Alex Bubak followed with a double to drive in Duffy and, after Ryan Tiefenbacher singled to put runners on first and third, Zack Blume singled to bring in Bubak with Denville's third and final run of the game.
Piscataway, which finished the game with 13 hits, answered with two runs in the bottom of the second inning and then put the game out of reach with an eight-run outburst in the bottom of the third inning.
Chegwidden and Bubak each had doubles and Thomas Boehm, Blume, Duffy and Tiefenbacher each had singles to account for Denville's six hits.
Chegwidden (6-1) worked the first two innings and Bubak and Duffy each threw an inning to finish the game.
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MORRIS-SUSSEX PLAYOFFS
Duffy's two-run double in 6th
beats Mount Morris for title
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DENVILLE - John-Lucas Duffy broke a 7-7 tie with a one-out, two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning and Andrew Chegwidden pitched a 1-2-3 seventh when Denville beat Mount Morris, 9-7, to win the Morris-Sussex American Legion Sophomore Baseball League playoff championship in a game played at Veterans Memorial Field here on Tuesday, July 27.
Chegwidden came into the game in relief of starter Connor Grady with a 6-4 lead and two on in the top of the sixth. Chegwidden got the first batter on a strikeout but the next batter doubled to the gap in left center to drive in two runs and tie the scored at 6-6.
A single drove in the go-ahead run before Chegwidden got the final two outs of the inning on comebackers.
Chegwidden made up for losing the lead with his bat in Denville's half of the inning when Zach Blume and Sean Green opened the sixth with walks and, after both moved up on a passed ball, Chegwidden singled in Blume with the tying run.
A.J. Trillo forced Chegwidden at second and Thomas Boehm walked to load the bases for Duffy and Duffy delivered his double to drive in Green and Trillo with Denville's eighth and ninth runs of the game.
Chegwidden (7-0) then nailed down the win as he retired Mendham in order in the top of the seventh, getting the first two hitters on strikeouts and then ended the game with a popup to Blume at second base.
Grady worked the first five-plus innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on four hits while striking out eight and walking four. Chegwidden threw two innings and allowed one run (earned) on two hits while striking out three and walking one.
"Connor Grady has pitched awesome for us all season ... he had been a leader on this team since Day One," said Denville manager John O'Dell after the game. "He kept us in the game ... he pitched a tough five innings and, when he ran out of gas, I went to Chegs.
"Andrew had to battle to get it finished ... Mount Morris just wouldn't go away. He settled down in the seventh inning and retired the side in order ... game over, playoffs over -- Denville wins!
"These boys deserve their title ... they worked their tails off all seasons. They worked into our game plan of discipline and patience at the plate and fundamentals in the field ... they are having an amazing year."
The Denville players, with the playoff title and regular-season title in hand, will attempt to improve upon their 20-1 record on Saturday, July 31, when they go right to the American Legion Sophomore Final 8 State Tournament in Mount Laurel where eight teams will play a single-elimination tournament to determine the state's 15U champion. The time and opponent for Denville's first game has yet to be determined.
In Tuesday's game, after Grady shut down Mount Morris in the first, Denville took a 2-0 lead in its half of the inning when Sean Green walked and scored on Chegwidden's double. Chegwidden came around to score on Boehm's two-out single.
Both teams scored in the second with DH Tom Bright scoring Denville's run when he was hit with a pitch, took second on a fielder's choice and scored on Blues' two-out single.
Mount Morris took a 4-3 led in the top of the third that lasted until the bottom of the fourth when Denville tied the game at 4-4 when Jon Hyer, Blume and Green drew back-to-back-to-back two-out walks to load the bases and Hyer then scored on a passed ball.
Denville broke the tie with a two-run fifth when Boehm led off with a walk and stole second and third; Duffy also walked; Grady followed with a single to bring in Boehm; and Bright followed with a double to bring in Duffy with the second run of the inning to give Denville a 6-4 lead.
Mount Morris came back to do its three-run thing in the top of the sixth ... Denville matched it with its three runs, thanks to Duffy's two-run double ... and then Chegwidden came in with his three-cents worth -- as in 1-2-3, game over!
Notes: Denville had nine hits with Chegwidden going 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored and Boehm finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI, four stolen bases and a run scored ... Blume was 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored; Trillo was 1-for-4 with a triple and a run scored; Grady was 1-for-4 with an RBI; Bright was 1-for-2 with an RBI; Duffy was 1-for-1 with his two-run double, three walks and a run scored; and Green also walked three times and scored twice ...
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Wins by Duffy, Chegwidden put Denville in title game
DENVILLE - The Denville American Legion Post 390 sohomore baseball team is in a position to win the Morris-Sussex playoff championship today (Sunday, July 25) ... all it has to do is to win a game againt a team it has already beaten once in these post-season playoffs.
Morris-Sussex regular-season champion Denville beat Flor-Mad, 4-2, on Saturday, July 24, after beating Mount Morris, 8-4, on Friday, July 23 in games at Veterans Memorial Stadium off Zeek Road here in the township.
Flor-Mad and Mount Morris meet in a 1 p.m. game today with the winner moving on to play Denville in a 4 p.m. game. If Denville wins, the double-elimination tournament ends with Denville as the playoff champion; if Denville loses, the same two teams will meet again on Monday, July 26, in a 5:30 p.m. game at Veterans Memorial Field to decide the playoff champion.
John-Lucas Duffy (6-0) gave up eight hits and walked five batters in a seven-inning, complete-game pitching performance against Flor-Mad on Saturday. Duffy struck out two and one of the two runs he allowed was earned. The victory was Denville's 19th in 20 games this season.
"Duffy didn't have his best stuff today and struggled a little bit," said Denville first-year manager John O'Dell after the game. "He got the outs when we needed them, though, and found a way to win this one.
"We got two great hitting performances from Seth Green and Johnny O'Dell, too."
Green doubled in the first Denville run and finished 2-for-2 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored. O'Dell singled in Denville's final run in the fourth inning and was also 2-for-2 with one RBI.
Denville opened up a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Zach Blume led off with a double and Green doubled him home.
Flor-Mad tied the game in the top of the second and then went ahead wth another run off Duffy in the top of the second before Denville took the lead for good with a two-run flurry in the bottom of the third.
Green got the winning rally started with his second double of the game and came aruond t score when Andrew Chegwidden followed with another double. DH Anthony Trillo's two-out single delievered Chegwidden with what proved to be the winning run.
Denville scored its final run of the game in the fifth when Alex Bubak led off the inning with a triple and was driven in by O'Dell's secong single of the game.
Denville finished with seven hits with Green and O'Dell each getting two. Chegwidden finished 1-for-2 with a double, RBI, run scored and three stolen bases; Trillo was 1-for-3 with an RBI; and Bubak was 1-for-2 with his triple and a run scored.
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Chegwidden five-hitter holds off Mount Morris, 8-4
DENVILLE - Andrew Chegwidden scattered five hits and drove in two runs when Denville opened play in the Morris-Sussex American Legion Sophomore Baseball League post-season playoff tournament with an 8-4 win over Mount Morris in a game played at Veterans Memorial Field on Friday, July 23.
Chegwidden (6-0) struck out five and walked only one in pitching a six-inning complete game. The game was delayed and then eventually called due to lightning.
Mount Morris scored first with a run in the first inning, but Denville scored twice in the bottom of the second inning to take a lead it never lost.
Walks to Thomas Boehm, John-Lucas Duffy and Connor Grady loaded the bases and then ground ball outs by Alex Bubak and Thomas Bright followed to bring in Denville's first two runs.
Denville added another run in the third when Chegwidden reached on an error, stole second and third, and scored when Anthonly Trillo's infield grounder was misplayed.
Mount Morris added a run in the top of the fourth, but Denville answered with three in the bottom of the fourthto take a 6-2 lead.
Bright was hit with a pitch; Jonathan Hyer walked; and Zach Blume followed with a single to drive in Bright with the first run. After Sean Green walked to load the bases, Chegwidden followed with his two-run single to drive in Hyer and Blume with the second and third runs of the inning.
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Denville awarded two forfeit wins, takes league title
DENVILLE - Denville has been crowned the first regular-season champion of the Morris-Sussex American Legion Sophomore Baseball League as the result of picking up two additional victories through Mount Morris' use of an ineligible player in two games in which it beat Denville.
The player in question did not meet the age requirements of the first-year 15U league and the two regular-season victories by Mount Morris over Denville were overturned.
Denville, therefore, has an adjusted season record of 16-1, which puts it four games ahead of second-place Roxbury with two regular-season games to play.
Denville finishes out the regular season with two road games - Monday, July 19, at Roxbury at 6 p.m. and Tuesday, July 20, at Sparta at 6 p.m.
The post-season playoffs for the six-team league start on Thursday, July 22, with Denville and Roxbury getting byes in the opening round of the double-elimination tournament.
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Duffy two-hits Mount Morris, 14-0
DENVILLE - John-Lucas Duffy was perfect through four innings and finished with a five-inning two-hitter when Denville beat Mount Morris, 14-0, in a Morris-Sussex American Legion Sophomore Baseball League game on Tuesday, July 13, at Palmer Park in Chester.
The victory enabled Denville to gain a measure of revenge for the 8-6 loss it suffered to Mount Morris on Friday, July 9, at Veterans Memorial Field here.
In Tuesday's game, Duffy (5-0) struck out three and issued his only walk in the bottom of the fifth inning, when Mount Morris (7-8) also got its two hits - both singles. Duffy got out of the jam without a run being scored and he game was halted because of the league's 10-run mercy rule.
The win puts Denville at 13-3 and atop the league standings with Roxbury (12-4) a game back in second place. Denville and Roxbury have one rescheduled regular-season game left to play and they are working on setting up a site, time and place for the game.
Duffy got all the runs he needed in the first inning when Denville scored six times. Zach Blume and Ryan Tiefenbacher each singled and scored when Andrew Chegwidden followed with a double. DH Thomas Boehm singles to drive in Chegwidden and, after Thomas Bright is hit by a pitch and both runners move up on a passed ball, Duffy helps out his own cause with a two-run single. Jonathan Hyer's RBI single accounted for the sixth run of the innings.
Denville made it 8-0 in the second when Blume singled, stole second and scored when Tiefenbacher reached on an error. Tiefenbacher went to second on a passed ball, stole third, and scored on a single by Chegwidden.
In the third, Duffy, John O'Dell and Chris Brindle walk to load the bases and, after Duffy scored on a sacrifice fly by Blume, Tiefenbacher follows with a double to drive in O'Dell and Brindle.
Denville closed out the scoring with three more runs in the top of the fourth inning. Anthony Trillo singled, took second on a passed ball, moved to third when Boehm grounded out and scored when Thomas Bright reached on an error. Hyer followed with a triple to drive in Bright and O'Dell followed with a two-out single to bring in Hyer.
Blume, Tiefenbacher, Chegwidden and Hyer each had two hits to pace Denville's 12-hit attack. Blume was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored; Tiefenbacher was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored; Chegwidden finished 2-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored; and Hyer was 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBIs and a run scored.
Boehm was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored; Duffy finished 1-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored; O'Dell was 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored; Trillo was 1-for-3; Bright had an RBI and scored twice in two official at-bats; and Bridle scored a run.
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Denville defeats Mendham, 10-3
DENVILLE - John O'Dell has the perfect answer for his players when they ask him how many games they need to win to clinch the Morris-Sussex American Legion Sophomore Baseball League regular-season championship.
The question is a logical one since Denville is 14-2 after its 10-3 victory over Mendham at Veterans Memorial Field on Wednesday, July 7, and has a two-game lead on Roxbury (12-4) with three regular-season games to go ... or is it four?
When Randolph dropped out of the 15U league at the beginning of the season, the teams were urged to fill in Randolph's spot on their schedules. O'Dell is working on the final details of at least one more game so he is not as yet sure of exactly how many regular-season games Denville has yet to play.
"I keep telling the players we need one more - the next one," O'Dell said after Wednesday's game. "This way, they keep their focus on what we have to do ... now I tell them we have to beat Roxbury this weekend (Sunday, July 11, at 1 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Field in Denville)."
Denville won its 14th game of the season and 11th in a row Wednesday when his pitcher John-Lucas Duffy (4-0) beat the heat by scattering seven hits over seven innings and giving up three runs (all earned) while striking out three and walking three in a complete-game, seven-inning effort.
"The heat was brutal and Duffy did a great job out there," O'Dell said. "We showed we had some depth today, too."
Ten different players contributed to the scoring as Denville finished with 13 hits and scored runs five out of its six at-bats. O'Dell's son John made the most of his first start of the season and went 1-for-2 with three RBIs and one run scored.
Denville got on the board first with a two-run second inning when Duffy singled, moved up twice on two passed balls and scored when Connor Grady reached on an error. Grady stole second, John Hyer walked and, after both runners moved up on a passed ball, Grady scored on O'Dell's RBI groundout.
In the third inning, Ryan Tiefenbacher singled and stole second and moved to third when Andrew Chegwidden followed with a single. Tom Boehm singled in Tiefenbacher and Chegwidden scored on an RBI single by Duffy.
Mendham touched Duffy for a pair of fourth-inning runs but Denville came back in its half of the inning to restore its four-run lead when O'Dell walked, Chris Brindle followed with a triple to drive in O'Dell with one run and Blume followed with an RBI groundout as Brindle scored the second run.
Denville added three runs in the fifth inning when Tom Bright hit a one-out single, Boehm reached on an error and, after Duffy forced Bright at third for the second out, Rocco Aliotta singled in Boehm and O'Dell followed with a two-run single.
Each side scored a run in the sixth with Denville scoring on singles by Brindle and Zach Blume and an RBI double by Chegwidden.
Tiefenbacher, Chegwidden, Duffy and Brindle had two-hit games for Denville as Tiefenbacher was 2-for-2 with a run scored; Chegwidden was 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and a run scored; Duffy was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored; and Brindle finished 2-for-3 with a triple, RBI and two runs scored.
Blume was 1-for-4 with an RBI; Bright was 1-for-3; Boehm finished 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored; Aliotta was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored; and Grady was 0-for-1 but drove in a run and scored a run.
Notes: Assistant coach Chris Brindle will be running the team for O'Dell in at Friday's (July 9) 6 p.m. game at Mount Morris' Rock Spring Park ... O'Dell will be coaching two of the teams participating in the two-game Keith J. Lyden Memorial Hockey Night scheduled Friday, July 9, at Aspen Ice on 16 Aspen Drive in Randolph Township starting at 6 p.m. ... for additional details on the games and rosters for all four participating teams, please click on the "Keith J. Lyden" icon in the menu bar at the left ...
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Denville holds off Flor-Mad, 8-6
DENVILLE - Denville's 8-6 victory over Flor-Mad in the heat at Madison High School on Monday, July 5, put the team another game closer to the Morris-Sussex American Legion Sophomore Baseball League title.
Denville (13-2) holds a two-game lead over Roxbury (11-4) with three games left on the regular-season schedule.
Neither the heat nor Flor-Mad would go away during Denville's win on Monday, a win that extended Denville's winning streak to 10.
"It was too hot to play baseball," said Denville manager John O'Dell after the game. "Both teams felt the heat
Denville took a 3-0 lead after its second at-bat and a 4-0 lead after adding a run in the top of the third. But Flor-Mad came back with a three-run flurry of its own in the bottom of the third to cut the lead to one at 4-3.
Denville added a run in the fourth and two more in the sixth to regain its four-run lead only to see Flor-Mad score three runs again to again trail by one - this time at 7-6 going into the last inning.
Denville added an insurance run in the top of the seventh without the benefit of a base hit as Jonathan Huer walked, advanced to second when Joe DeRosa reached on catcher's interference, and scored when Alex Bubak reached on a two-base error.
Connor Grady (4-0), who pitched well in spite of the heat, went the first 5.2 innings and gave up six runs (all earned) on five hits while striking out four and walking four.
Joe DeRose relieved Grady with bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the sixth and, after hitting a batter to force in a run, got the last out to avoid further damage.
In the bottom of the seventh, DeRose got the first out on a groundout and, while walking the next batter, felt a twinge in his arm and came out in favor of Sean Green. Green got two quick groundouts to end the game with Grady getting the win, DeRose getting a hold; and Green picking up the save. Denville played errorless ball while Madison made four errors.
Zach Blume and Chris Brindle each had two hits to lead Denville's nine-hit attack. Blume finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Brindle was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Ryan Tiefenbacher was 1-for-4 with an RBI; Thomas Boehm was 1-for-2; Alex Bubak also finished 1-for-4 with an RBI; and Thomas Bright was 1-for-4 with a double, RBI and two runs scored.
Denville's next game is against Mendham (5-7) on Wednesday, June 7, at Veterans Memorial Field off Zeek Road. Game time is 6 p.m.
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Hyer RBI single in 7th beats Mendham, 6-5
DENVILLE - Sometimes, all it takes is a short conversation to win a baseball game.
Take Denville's 6-5 win over Mendham on in an American Legion Sophomore Baseball League game played at Mendham High School on Monday, June 28
The game had been tied or the lead had changed hands five times after six innings with Mendham (8-4) scoring twice in the bottom of the sixth to take a 5-4 lead over Denville (11-2) going into the final inning.
Denville's Ryan Tiefenbacher led off the seventh with a double and tagged up after the catch and moved to third on Zach Blume's fly out to right field. Sean Green followed with an RBI single to drive in Tiefenbacher with the tying run.
Johnny O'Dell is sent in to run for Green and O'Dell moved to second when Andrew Chegwidden grounded out. A.J. Trillo drew a walk and, with Jon Hyer at bat, both runners moved up on a wild pitch to put runners on second and third with two out.
Mendham's manager asked for a timeout at this point and, while he was on the mound talking with his battery and his infielders, Denville manager John O'Dell took the opportunity to talk to Hyer.
"Jon has been pressing at bat lately and I didn't want the pressure to get to him," O'Dell said after the game. "I just reminded him to stay loose because even if he made an out, the game was tied and we'd get another change to win it.
"I told him the only thing that could happen to him here was that he would be the hero -- it was a win-win situation for him."
Hyer must have listened well because Hyer singled to drive in the younger O'Dell with the go-ahead run and starting and winning pitcher Alex Bubak made it stand up by shutting down Mendham in the seventh, getting two outs on infield grounders, giving up a walk, and then striking out next Mendham batter for the final out of the game.
"It was another late win for us," O'Dell said. "Tiefenbacher's leadoff double, Green's RBI single and Hyer's two-out RBI single were huge for us -- each hit seemed bigger than the other as it was all unfolding.
"Bubak was good all game, but he really had to dig deep in the seventh inning ... he was tired but gutted it out and finished with a strikeout."
Bubak (3-0) allowed five hits (four earned) on nine hits while striking out eight and walking but two batters.
Mendham answered a Denville first-inning run with a run of its own in the bottom half of the opening inning; took a 3-1 lead with a two-run fourth inning; after Denville went ahead 4-3 in the fifth, Mendham came back again with a two-run rally in the sixth to regain the lead at 5-4 to set up Denville's late-game heroics by Hyer & Co.
Denville got its run in the first when Green doubled and Chegwidden drove him in with a single.
In the fifth inning, Denville loaded the bases with one out when Bubak walked, Tom Bright singled, and Tiefenbacher walked. Blume followed with a two-run single and Green had an RBI groundout to put Denville back on top 4-3.
Blume, Green and John Lucas-Duffy each had two hits to spark Denville's 10-hit attack. Blume finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs; Green was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored; and Duffy was 2-for-4.
Chegwidden finished the game 1-for-4 with an RBI; Tommy Bright was 1-for-3, Tiefenbacher was 1-for-2 with a double and two runs scored; and Hyer had his game-winning single in his only official at-bat of the game.
The game was the fourth straight game Denville won with late-inning rallies and the third out of the last four games to be decided by one run - all against Roxbury.
Denville scored two in the seventh for a walk-off 5-4 win over Roxbury on Sunday, June 27; in the first game of a twilight doubleheader at Roxbury on Friday, June 25, Denville scored three runs in its final at-bat for a 6-5 win; and, in the second game, Denville broke a 3-3 tie with a three-run rally in the fifth inning and held on for a 6-3 victory.
Denville next game is a 6 p.m. game on Wednesday, June 30, against Sparta at Veterans Memorial Field off Zeek Road.
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Hit batter leads to 5-4 walk-off win over Roxbury
DENVILLE - Long after the game had ended, John O'Dell was still shaking his head.
"A walk-off hit batter ... that's a strange way to win a game," the Denville American Legion junior baseball team coach said after his team had edged Roxbury, 5-4, in a Morris-Sussex American Legion Sophomore Baseball League game played at Veterans Memorial Field off Zeek Road here in Denville on Sunday, June 27.
"We'll take it, though, because it gave us three wins in two days against a very good Roxbury team."
Denville, which beat Roxbury 6-3 and 6-5 in a twilight doubleheader at Roxbury's Horseshoe Lake Park on Friday, June 25, now has a two-game lead over Roxbury in the six-team league as the win improved Denville's first-place record to 9-2 while Roxbury slipped to 7-4 after starting out the season 6-0.
Denville had to erase two deficits, the second with a two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh and last inning.
Roxbury held a 4-3 lead going into Denville's last at-bat where Connor Grady led off the inning by drawing a walk. Tom Bright followed with a single and Ryan Tiefenbacher reached on an error to load the bases.
One out later, Sean Green walked to force in Grady with the tying run and Andrew Chegwidden was hit by a pitch to force in Bright with the walk-off winning run.
Earlier, Roxbury took a 2-0 first-inning lead on two unearned runs, a lead that held until the bottom of the fourth when Denville scored three times with two outs to take a 3-2 lead.
DH Tom Boehm got it going for Denville with a two-out single, stole second and went to third when Alex Bubak reached on an error. Starting and winning pitcher John Lucas-Duffy singled in Boehm and, after Bubak and Duffy moved up a base on a double steal, Grady singled both runners home with his two-out single.
Roxbury tied the game at 3-3 with a run in the top of the fifth and then regained the lead with another single run in the top of the sixth before Denville came back with its two in the bottom of the seventh.
Duffy (3-0) pitched a complete game, allowing four runs (two earned) on nine hits while striking out three and walking five.
"Duffy worked hard for this win - he was his usual workhorse self and left a lot of people on base," O'Dell said. "But he got the big outs when he need them and kept a good Roxbury team close so we could pull out the win."
Denville was outhit by Roxbury, 9-7, with Grady the only Denville hitter with a multiple-hit game, finishing 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Chegwidden was 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI and his walk-off HBP; Boehm was 1-for-3 with a run; bubak was 1-for-2 with a run; Thomas Bright was 1-for-2; and Duffy was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Denville is scheduled to face Mendham in a 6 p.m. game at Mendham on Monday, June 28. Denville then returns home to Veterans Memorial Field on Wednesday, June 30, for a 6 p.m. game against Sparta.
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Denville takes league lead by taking two from Roxbury
DENVILLE - Denville took over sole possession of first place in the Morris-Sussex American Legion Sophomore Baseball League standings by beating previously unbeaten Roxbury twice in a doubleheader played Friday, June 25, at Horseshoe Lake Park in the Succasunna section of Roxbury Township.
Denville is now 8-2 with 40 points and Roxbury is in second place at 6-2 with 30 points after Denville scored three times in its final at-bat for a 6-5 victory in the first game and then came back with another three-run rally - this time breaking a 3-3 tie in the fifth inning - to win the second game, 6-3. Both games were six-inning games
Don't look now, but the two teams will be going at it again on Sunday, June 27, in a 10 a.m. game at Veterans Memorial Field off Zeek Road in Denville.
"Sweeping this doubleheader was huge for us," said Denville manager John O'Dell after the games. "Roxbury is a tough, scrappy team that is fundamentally sound and just won't go away ... I'm sure they are already pointing to Sunday's game."
O'Dell got a pair of strong complete-game pitching performances from his starters as Connor Grady gave up five runs (only one earned) by scattering seven hits while striking out 12 and walking three in the first game and Andrew Chegwidden gave up three runs (all earned) on six hits while striking out five and walking two in the second game.
"Our pitching has been solid all season," O'Dell said. "We come back with three runs to take the lead in the first game and then Connor comes out and strikes out the side in Roxbury's last at-bat. And Cheg stayed strong all game and finished with a low pitch count."
In the first game, Denville took a 3-0 first-inning lead when Zach Blume walked, Sean Green singled and Chegwidden brought them both home with a triple. Chegwidden later scored when Tom Boehm bounced out to second.
But Roxbury came back with four runs in the fourth inning - helped out by Denville's lone error of the game - and added another single run in the fifth to take a 5-3 lead into the sixth inning.
Green got Denville's winning rally started with a single and Chegwidden was hit by a pitch. A.J. Trillo bounced into a force as Green was erased at third, but Boehm followed with a two-run double to tie the score at 5-5. Boehm came in with the game-winner when John Lucas-Duffy came through with a clutch two-out single.
Boehm finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs to lead Denville's eight-hit attack. Green was 2-for-3, Chegwidden finished 1-for-1 with two RBIs and two runs scored; Blume was 1-for-2 with a run scored; Trillo was 1-for-3; and Duffy was 1-for-3 with his game-winning RBI.
"Grady got the big strikeout when he needed it and Duffy had the big two-out hit in the sixth," O'Dell said. "That's a nice win and gave us a real good boost going into the second game."
In the nightcap, Denville again took an early 3-0 lead. Ryan Tiefenbacher, Green and Chegwidden walked to load the bases in the first inning and Tiefenbacher scored on a wild pitch and Green scored on Trillo's RBI groundout. In the second inning, Chris Brindle reached on a fielder's choice, went all the way to third on an error on a pickoff attempt, and scored on another error.
Roxbury came back with three of its own in the top of the fourth inning and Denville had to rally again to complete the sweep.
Denville got four of its five hits in the inning as Tiefenbacher opened the fifth with a single, stole second, took third when Green bounced out to second, and scored when Chegwidden followed with a single. Trillo then plated Chegwidden with a long double to left and Trillo came around to score when Bright followed with a single.
Chegwidden kept Roxbury off the board in the top of the sixth and Denville had its sweep and its one-game hold on first place.
Bright was 2-for-2 with an RBI; Chegwidden was 1-for-2 with an RBI; Trillo was 1-for-2 with a double and two RBIs; and Tiefenbacher was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and three stolen bases.
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Trillo's 3-run HR keys 9-4 win over Mount Morris
DENVILLE - A.J. Trillo's three-run home run in the bottom of the third inning put Denville ahead to stay in a 9-4 victory over Mount Morris in a Morris-Sussex American Legion Sophomore Baseball League game played at Veterans Field off Zeek Road here on Wednesday, June 23.
Trailing 3-1 going into the inning, Ryan Tiefenbacher drew a leadoff walk, Andrew Chegwidden followed with a single, and Trillo blasted his homer well over the fence in left-center, some 370 feet from home plate.
"That got us going," said manager John O'Dell after the game. "A.J. got into that one good ... he hit a bomb!"
John Lucas-Duffy (2-0) pitched a complete game for the victory, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out six and walking four.
Mount Morris (4-4) took leads of 1-0 after batting in the first inning and 3-1 in the top of the third. Denville (6-2) had a 7-3 lead when Mount Morris scored its last run in the top of the sixth.
Denville got a run back in the second when Tom Boehm walked, stole second and scored on a single by Tommy Bright.
Trillo's blast put Denville a run up at 4-3 in the third inning and Denville added another three-spot in the bottom of the fourth.
Chris Brindle reached on an error to start the fourth-inning rally. Tiefenbacher walked and, after both runners moved up on a passed ball, Brindle scored on another passed ball. Chegwidden reached on an error and Boehm's two-out, two-run single brought in Tiefenbacher and Chegwidden for a 7-3 Denville lead.
Denville added two insurance runs in the sixth when Tiefenbacher singled, stole second, took when Sean Green bounced out to second, and scored when Chegwidden reached on an error. Chegwidden moved to second on a pass ball, stole third and scored on pinchhitter John Hyer's sacrifice fly.
Trillo finished 1-for-4 with his three-run homer; Tiefenbacher was 2-for-2 with two walks and three runs scored; Chegwidden was 2-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored; Boehm was 2-for-2 with two RBIs; Bright was 2-for-3 with an RBI; and Connor Grady finished 2-for-4.
"Duff's pitching was solid as usual and Boehm came up with a big two-out hit for us in the fourth inning," O'Dell said. "I was glad to see Grady get a couple of hits, too ... he had been pressing lately and we've been working with him on reacting to the pitch instead of thinking too much up there."
Denville is scheduled to face Roxbury at Roxbury in a twi-nite doubleheader on Friday, June 25, starting at 5 p.m.
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Bubak 5-hitter, Chegwiddin 5 RBIs beat Mendham
DENVILLE - Alex Bubak pitched a five-hitter and Andrew Chegwidden hit a three-run homer and finished with five RBIs to highlight a 16-hit attack as Denville beat Mendham, 12-0, in a Morris-Sussex American Legion Sophomore Baseball League game played at Mendham High School on Monday, June 21.
Bubak struck out one and walked one in the game that was halted by the league's 10-run mercy rule when Denville (5-2) scored five times in the top of the sixth inning and Mendham failed to score in its half of the inning.
Chegwidden finished 2-for-3, driving in a run with a first-inning single, hitting his three-run home run well over the fence in left field in the third inning and driving in a run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly.
"Bubak pitched very well today; he had a very solid outing ... he controlled the game and got Mendham to hit his pitches," said Denville manager John O'Dell after the game. "Everybody hit today, too ... it was a true team win. The highlight was Chegwidden's three-run homer -- that was a bomb!"
Denville scored three times in its first at-bat as Zach Blume and Sean Green led off the game with singles; Chegwidden got the first of his five RBIs with another single; Tom Boehm drove in a run with a single; and Tommy Bright singled home courtesy runner Tanner Ackerman for the third run of the inning.
In the second inning, DH Jon Hyer walked, Blue singled and Chegwidden sent his blast far over the left field fence to give Denville a 6-0 lead.
Denville added a single run in the fifth when A.J. Trillo reached on an error, Boehm forced Trillo at second, Bubak followed with a single to send Boehm to third from where he scored when Bright grounded out.
Chris Brindle led off Denville's sixth inning with a single, took second when Blume reached on an error, and scored on Green's single. Chegwidden followed with a sacrifice fly; rookie John O'Dell, hitting for Trillo, singled in Green; rookie Mike Carmiche and Bubak followed with single to load the bases; and Bright followed with a single to drive in two runs.
Ten Denville players contributed to the 16-hit attack with Chegwidden and Bright leading the way. Chegwidden finished 2-for-3 with his three-run home and five RBIs and Bright was 3-for-4 with three RBIs.
Blume finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored; Green was 2-for-4 with an RBI and Bubak was 2-for-4.
Boehm finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs, O'Dell was 1-for-1 with an RBI; Trillo was 1-for-3, Brindle was 1-for-4; and Carmiche finished 1-for-1.
Denville's next game is a 6 p.m. game on Wednesday, June 23, against Mount Morris at Veterans Memorial Field off Zeek Road here in Denville.
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For-Mad's 4-run rally in 7th beats Denville, 7-4
DENVILLE - Flor-Mad broke a 4-4 tie with three runs in the top of the seventh inning to beat Denville Post 390, 7-4, in a Morris-Sussex American Legion Sophomore Baseball League game played at Gardner Field here on Sunday, June 20.
Denville (4-2) took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Sean Green singled in Ryan Tiefenbacher, who had reached on a walk and moved up a base on an infield out.
Denville's 15U team made it 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth when A.J. Trillo and Andrew Chegwidden hit back-to-back singles and, after both runners moved up a base on an infield groundout, both scored when Tom Boehm followed with a single.
Flor-Mad tied the game with three runs in the top of the fifth only to have Denville regain the lead in its half of the inning when Zach Blume was hit by a pitch and Trillo followed with an RBI double to put Denville back on top, 4-3.
Once again, Flor-Mad came back to tie the game with a singleton in the top of the sixth and, after Denville did not score in the bottom of the innning, Flor-Mad scored the three runs it needed to win the game with its seventh-inning rally.
Denville finished the game with nine hits as Green, Boehm and Trillo each had two hits to lead the way. Boehm had two RBIs and Green and Trillo each had one.
Connor Grady started on the mound for Denville and went 4.2 innings and allowed three runs (all earned) on five hits while striking out five and walking three. Tanner Ackerman followed for 1.1 innings and he gave up a run on three hits while striking out none and walking one. Joe DeRose finished up and took the loss when Flor-Mad scored its seventh-inning runs
Denville is right back in action with a 6 p.m. game against Mendham on Monday, June 21, at Mendham. Denville returns to Veterans Memorial Field off Zeek Road here on Wednesday, June 23, for a 6 p.m. game against Mount Morris and then the team travels to Succasunna on Friday, June 25, for a 5 p.m. doubleheader against Roxbury at Horseshoe Lake Park in the Succasunna section of Roxbury Township.
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Chegwidden, Green combine on one-hitter to beat Sparta
DENVILLE - Andrew Chegwidden pitched six innings of one-hit ball and Sean Green retired the side in order in the seventh as Denville beat Sparta, 11-1, in a Morris-Sussex American Legion Sophomore Baseball League game played at Gardner Field here on Friday, June 18.
Chegwidden struck out eight and walked four and gave up Sparta's only run of the game in the fourth inning. Green's 1-2-3 seventh included one strikeout.
Chegwidden helped out his own cause at the plate as he finished 1-for-3, including a two-run single in the bottom of the third inning.
Ryan Tiefenbacher drove in three runs and finished with two of Denville's eight hits. He doubled home a run during Denville's three-run fourth inning and then singled in two more runs in the sixth inning.
Zach Blume was 1-for-3 with a run scored, leading off Denville's first inning with a double and scoring on Green's sacrifice fly; Alex Bubak was 1-for-3; Kevin Duffy was 1-for-3 with a two-run single in the fifth; and DH Jon Hyer drove in two runs with a double.
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Denville-Roxbury reset for June 25 twinbill
DENVILLE - The Denville-Roxbury Morris-Sussex American Legion Sophomore Baseball League game that had been scheduled for Sunday, June 13, at Veterans Memorial Field of Zeek road here was postponed due to rain.
The game has been rescheduled for Friday, June 25, as part of a doubleheader at Roxbury that will start at 5 p.m.
Denville's next regularly scheduled game is against Randolph at home on Wednesday, June 16, at 6 p.m.
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Mount Morris rallies to edge Denville, 6-5
DENVILLE - Denville saw its three-run lead vanish one run at a time as Mount Morris came back to record a 6-5 victory in a Morris-Sussex American Legion Sophomore Baseball League game played at Rock Brook Park in Long Valley on Friday, June 11.
Mount Morris took a 2-0 lead with a pair of second-inning runs but Denville came right to tie the score in the top of the third when Jon Hyer and Zack Blume walked and moved up on a passed ball; Ryan Tiefenbacher drove in a run on a groundout to short; and, with C.J. Trillo batting, Blume scored the second run on another passed ball.
Denville took the lead at 5-2 with a three-run flurry in the top of the fourth inning when John Lucas-Duffy doubled and scored on Tommy Bright's single and then walks to Joe Kaufmann, Hyer, Blue and Tiefenbacher forced in two more runs.
But Mount Morris rallied for a single run in the bottom of the fourth and continued to score one run an inning for the next three innings to escape with the 6-5 victory.
Denville (3-1) was held to four hits - the double by Duffy and singles by Bright, Hyer and Alex Bubak.
Bubak started on the mound for Denville and went the first six innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits while striking out three and walking three. Joey DeRose came on to start the seventh inning and got the first two batters on a groundout and a strikeout but was tagged for the loss when he gave up a two-out single and the next batter delivered a walk-off double to give Mount Morris its come-from-behind victory.
Denville's next game is a 1 p.m. contest against Roxbury on Sunday, June 13, at Veterans Memorial Field off Zeek Road here.
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Grady 3-hits Mendham, fans 12 in 7-1 victory
DENVILLE - John O'Dell noticed right away that Connor Grady's fastball was overpowering and, once he convinced Grady to stay with his heat, things went well for O'Dell's Denville Post 390 American Legion sophomore baseball team - and Grady.
Grady (1-0) pitched a seven-inning complete-game three-hitter with 12 strikeouts and only two walks as Denville beat Mendham, 7-1, in a Morris-Sussex American Legion Sophomore Baseball League game at Veterans Memorial Field off Zeek Road here on Thursday, June 10.
And all it took was a little early-game advice from O'Dell to practically silence Mendham's bats.
"He started off the game throwing hard and hitting his spots ... he was just blowing away their big hitters," said O'Dell, the manager of the first-year team. "But he'd get two strikes on a guy and then try to finish them with his offspeed stuff ... I told him to stay with the gas because they couldn't keep up with it and, if and when they did, then he should start mixing up his pitches more.
"But he was cracking the glove and his control was just about perfect for all seven innings ... he was lights out the whole game. He actually seemed to get stronger as the game went on.
"Grady is off to a good start and he's going to get only better ... he's a big part of this team and has proven to be a good leader."
Sean Green provided Grady with all the runs he needed when he went 2-for-4 with four RBIs to lead Denville's seven-hit attack. Grady drove had a two-run double to highlight Denville's five-run second inning and drove in another pair of runs with a single in the sixth.
Alex Bubak and John Lucas-Duffy singled and Grady drew a walk to start off Denville's second inning. Rocco Aliotta walked to force in the first run; Ryan Tiefenbacher hit into a forceout as the second run scored; an error brought in the third run; and Green followed with his double to make it 5-0.
In the sixth inning, Tiefenbacher singled, took third on Zack Blume's single and, after Blume stole second to put runners on second and third, Green followed with a single to drive in both runners.
Denville is back in action with a road game at Mount Morris on Friday, June 11. Game time is 6 p.m.
Notes: Denville's opening-day 14-1 loss to Randolph has been wiped off the record books ... Randolph team officials mis-read the age requirements of the 15U league and, when team rosters were examined by league officials, it was discovered that Randolph had inadvertently put a number of over-age players on its roster ... without sufficient players to field a team, Randolph opted to drop out of the league this season.
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Hyer, Grady HRs; Chegwidden 5-hitter spark Denville
DENVILLE - Andrew Chegwidden scattered five hits and Jon Hyer and Connor Grady each hit two-run homers to pace a 14-hit attack when the Denville American Legion Post 390 sophomore team defeated Flor-Mad, 16-5, in a five-inning Morris-Sussex American Legion Sophomore Baseball League played at Madison High School on Monday, June 7.
Chegwidden (1-0) allowed five runs (three earned), struck out four and walked one in his five innings of work in the game cut short by the league's 10-run mercy rule.
Hyer hit his home run with Tommy Bright on base in Denville's two-run second inning and Grady homered in Denville's two-run third inning.
Denville opened the game with a four-run first-inning flurry with Sean Green's run-scoring triple that drove in Zack Blume the big hit of the inning.
Denville put the game out of reach with a six-run outburst in the top of the fourth. The big hits of the inning included Anthony Trillo's RBI double; Alex Bubak's two-run single; and RBI singles by Ryan Tiefenbacher and John Lucas-Duffy.
Denville added two more runs in the top of the fifth and final inning when Mike Carmiche singled and scored on a triple by Chris Brindle and Brindle scored on Tanner Ackerman's RBI groundout.
Hyer finished 2-for-2 with a homer, double and two RBIs; Grady was 1-for-3 with a homer; Blume was 2-for-3 with an RBI; Green was 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI; Trillo was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs; Bubak was 2-for-3 with two RBIs; and Duffy was 1-for-3 with two RBI.
Denville, which improved to 2-1 with the win, is back in action on Thursday, June 10, with a 6 p.m. home game against Mendham at Veterans Memorial Stadium off Zeek Road.
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Denville bounces back with 7-5 win over Sparta
DENVILLE - The first-year Denville American Legion sophomore baseball team came back from its opening-day no-hit loss of the previous day by scoring six first-inning runs to beat Sparta, 7-5, in a Morris-Sussex American Legion Sophomore Baseball League game played at Veterans Memorial Field off Zeek Road here on Sunday, June 6.
Zack Blume got Denville's first-inning outburst started when he reached second on an outfield error and scored on Sean Green's single. Anthony Trillo followed with a two-run homer over the fence in left field for a 3-0 Denville lead.
Tommy Boehm singled, stole second and came home on a double by Alex Bubak and, after John Lucas-Duffy sacrificed Bubak to third, Bubak scored when Connor Grady bounced out to second to make it 5-0.
Denville's final run of the inning was scored by Joe Kaufmann, who was hit by a pitch, stole second and came around to score when Ryan Tiefenbacher followed with a single.
Denville (1-1) scored its seventh and final run in the third inning on back-to-back doubles by Boehm and Duffy.
Duffy (1-0) started the game for Denville and worked 5.2 inning with four strikeouts while walking four. He was relieved by Joey DeRose in the top of the sixth when Sparta rallied for three runs to pull to within two runs at 7-5. DeRose got out of that inning with a strikeout and then struck out two more in a scoreless seventh to pick up the save.
Denville is back in action on Monday, June 7, when it travels to Madison for a 6 p.m. game against Flor-Mad.
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Denville sophs no-hit by Randolph in opener
DENVILLE - The Denville Post 390 American Legion sophomore baseball team played its first game in program history on Friday, June 4, and became a no-hit victim in a 14-1 loss to Randolph in a five-inning game played at Randolph.
Randolph took advantage of 11 hits, three walks and five Denville errors and had seven-run first and third innings.
Denville scored its only run of the game in the fifth inning when John-Lucas Duffy drew a one-out walk, took second when an attempted pickoff was mishandled, and scored when Tommy Bright's hard infield grounder was played into an error, allowing Duffy to score from second.
Denville is back in action on Sunday, June 6, with a 1 p.m. game against Sparta at Veterans Memorial Field off Zeek Road here in the township.
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Denville's new soph team
opens June 4 vs. Randolph
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DENVILLE - The first thing that John O'Dell did when he was named manager of the new Denville Post 390 Sophomore American Legion 15U baseball team was dedicate the 2010 season to the memory of his late father, John "Jack" O'Dell, who passed away at the age of 68 on Feb. 2, 2010.
"He was my baseball guru, a fountain of knowledge to which I can no longer go," O'Dell explained. "He would have loved watching this team ... he was much too young and full of life for this to have happened.
"This season is for him."
Denville opens the 2010 season in the seven-team first-year Morris-Sussex Sophomore American Legion Baseball on Friday, June 4, with a 6 p.m. game at Randolph. The team's first home game will be played two days later - on Sunday, June 6 - at 1 p.m. - against Sparta at Veteran's Memorial Field off Zeek Road here in the township.
O'Dell was a three-year closer at Morris Knolls High School and also pitched for the Denville American Legion. He also pitched one season at the County College of Morris; three seasons with the Verona A's of the Met League; and two seasons with the MontvilleShamrocks of the Morris County Majors Baseball League.
He coached the junior varsity coach at Morris Catholic High School for two years and was the varsity associate head coach for another two seasons, all under then head coach Bill Tonero, who has run the Denville American Legion baseball program the last 12 years. O'Dell also managed and coached in the Denville Little League where he coached the 9-,10-, 11- and 12-year-old All-Stars. He also served on the township's LL board of directors for five years.
"When Billy asked me to manage the sophomore team, I was very excited about it," O'Dell said. "We always seem to be on the same page when it came to coaching kids.
"My goals are the same goals of the other teams in the program ... we want to be fundamentally sound and work on avoiding mistakes. The junior and senior teams have tried to do this and have been strong through the years and I want our team to follow their example. If we do that, I'm sure the winning part will take care of itself.
"Coaching in a program that I came up through and having my son on the team is special, too. I'm looking forward to the season and passing on to my players some of my knowledge and passion I have for the game of baseball.
"Hopefully, just the way my father did for me."
Notes: O'Dell will be assisted by coaches Joe Aquino, Chris Brindle and Mike Carmiche ... the team consists of players aged 15-under from the freshman classes of Morris Knolls, Morris Catholic and Morris Vo-Tech High Schools and the 7th and 8th-graders from Denville ... the seven teams in the new league include Denville, Sparta, Randolph, Flor-Mad, Mendham, Roxbury and Mount Morris ... the league will have a post-season playoff tournament the format of which has yet to be determined.
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