Wharton American Legion Junior Roster - 2011
Players: Michael
Avallone, Dennis Bullock, Nick DeLuccia, Nick Gelinas, Tyler Gribbons,
Bryan Healy, Daniel Heeren, Mark Kepler, Brendan McCormick, Shawn
Meador, Tyler Moran, Evan O'Brien, Steven O'Connor, Jonathan Rivas,
Robert Sihlanick, Andrew Southward, Alex Valerio and Brian Walls.
Manager: Dave Coleman. Coaches: Jonathan Coleman, Joe O'Connor, Nick Pfeifer and Scott Ptaszynski.
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DISTRICT 3 TOURNAMENT
DeLuccia bases-loaded HR
only highlight in 10-4 loss
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WHARTON - Nick DeLuccia's bases-loaded home run with two outs in the first inning accounted for Wharton's only runs in a 10-4 loss to Piscataway on Wednesday, July 27, a game that eliminated Wharton from further play in the American Legion Junior Baseball Division 3 eight-team double-elimination tournament at Community Park in New Brunswick.
The game marked the second loss of the tournament for Wharton and puts Piscataway against Gloucester Township in a game on Thursday, July 28, at 6 p.m. with the winner going into the Final 8 State Tournament as the runnerup from District 3.
Brooklawn defeated Gloucester Township, 10-9, on Wednesday to win the District 3 championship and earn a berth into the state tournament that starts Saturday, July 30, at Teener Field in Union.
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Walls' two-run double beats Flemington, 2-1
WHARTON - Brian Walls hit a two-run double and Tyler Moran pitched 6.1 innings to get the win when Wharton beat Flemington, 2-1, in the American Legion Junior Baseball District 3 game at Community Park in North Brunswick on Tuesday, July 26, 2011.
Walls got seventh-inning relief help from Steve O'Connor when Flemington threatened and O'Connor needed just three pitches to get the two outs he needed to get out of the jam and end the game.
Wharton plays Piscataway - which beat Nutley Tuesday - on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Community Park with the loser being eliminated from the tournament and the winner staying in contention for the district runnerup spot. Gloucester and Brooklawn - both 2-0 - will also play Wednesday with the winner being declared the district champ and advancing to the American Legion Final 8 State Tournament.
The Wharton-Piscataway winner and the Gloucester-Brooklawn loser will then meet on Thursday, July 28, with the winner being declared the District 3 runnerup and qualifying for a berth in the state tournament.
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Rain wipes out Monday games
WHARTON - Wharton's game against Flemington and the Nutley-Piscataway game in the American Legion Junior Baseball District 3 Tournament scheduled for Monday, July 25, at Community Park in New Brunswick were rained out and will be played on Tuesday, July 26, at the same field.
Wharton and Flemington play at 4 p.m. and Nutley and Piscatway play at 7 p.m. with the losers being eliminated from the double elimination tournament and the winners gacing each other on Wednesday, July 27, in a 4 p.m. game.
Glouchester Township and Brooklawn - both 2-0 - will then play at 7 p.m. to determine the District 3 champion and first entry into the Final 8 state tournament from District 3. The winner of Wednesday's 4 p.m. game will then face the loser of Wednesday's 7 p.m. game on Thursday, July 28, at 6 p.m. to determine the district runnerup and second entry into the state tournament.
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After loss, Wharton need two wins to make states
WHARTON - Bryan Healy pitched a complete game, but it wasn't enough as Wharton lost a 2-1 decision to Gloucester in a second-round game in the American Legion Senior Baseball District 3 Tournament played at Community Park in North Brunswick on Sunday, July 24, 2011.
The loss drops Wharton into the losers' bracket of the eight-team double-elimination tournament where it will face Flemington in a 4 p.m. game on Monday, July 25, at Community Park. Nutley and Piscataway face off at 7 p.m. with Monday's winners meeting on Tuesday, July 26, in a 4 p.m. game.
Gloucester and Brooklawn - the only two 2-0 teams left in the tourney - meet in a 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 26, with the winner qualifying for the state finals.
The loser of the Gloucester-Brooklawn game will then face the winner of Tuesday's early game to determine which team qualifies for the state tournament as the district runnerup.
Wharton can qualify for the state tournament only as the runnerup, meaning it must win its next two games.
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Walls' HR, 3 RBIs lead to 17-1 victory
WHARTON - Brian Walls homered and drove in three runs and Steve O'Connor and Mike Avallone combined on a three-hitter when Wharton beat Nutley, 17-1, in the first-round of the American Legion Junior Baseball District 3 Tournament at Community Park in New Brunswick on Saturday, July 23, 2011.
Wharton will play its next game at 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 24, against an opponent that was determined in a game played later on Saturday.
O'Connor worked the first 3.1 innings and allowed one run (earned) on two hits, three walks and a hit batter while striking out two. He left in the top of the fourth when he felt a twinge in his hamstring. Avallone finished up, throwing 1.2 innings of scoreless, one-hit ball while striking out one and walking none in the game shortened to five innings by the tournament's mercy rule.
Wharton, now 11-11-1 for the season, jumped out to a 6-0 lead in its first at-bat with Evan O'Brien and Bryan Healy drawing walks and pulling off a double steal to start the rally. Walls got his first RBI of the game when he singled in O'Brien; Healy scored when Nick DeLuccia reached on an error; and Alex Valerio drew a walk to load the bases.
Walls made it 3-0 when he scored on a wild pitch and DeLuccia scored on a balk for a 4-0 Wharton lead. Rob Sihlanick walks but is forced at second by Scott Bullock and, after Bullock steals second, Mark Kepler singled to drive in Valerio and Bullock for Wharton's fifth and sixth runs of the inning.
Nutley loaded the bases with two outs on a single and two walks in the bottom of the first inning and scored when O'Connor hit the next batter, forcing in Nutley's only run of the game.
Wharton added five more runs in the second inning with Healy leading off with a double of the left field fence and Walls following with a 350-foot line drive home run over the fence in left center. DeLuccia and Valerio follow with walks and, after both runners moved up on a wild pitch, Sihlanick hit a two-run double. Sihlanick was driven home by O'Brien's single to give Wharton an 11-1 lead.
Wharton added two more runs in the third when Walls and DeLuccia each single and advance on a wild pitch, putting runners on second and third. Sihlanick reached on an error as Walls scored and Bullock followed with a single to drive in DeLuccia.
In the fifth, John Rivas reached on an error, Valerio drew his third walk of the game, and Tyler Moran singled to load the bases. Avallone worked a walk to force in Rivas with a run; Kepler reached on an error as Velerio scored; O'Brien singles home Moran; and Avallone scored when Haley drew another bases-loaded walk to create the final 17-1 score.
Walls finished the game 3-for-5 with his home run, 3 RBIs and three runs scored to pace Wharton's 13-hit attack. O'Brien also had three hits, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored and DeLuccia was 2-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored.
Healy was 1-for-3 with a doub le, two walks, one RBI and two runs scored; Sihlanick went 1-for-2 with a double, walk, two RBIs and a run scored; Bullock was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored; Kepler was 1-for-4 with two RBIs; Moran finished 1-for-1 with a run scored; Valerio walked three times and scored three runs; and Avallano walked and scored a run. LEGION PLAYOFFS
Wharton loss to Pequannock
ends 1st Morris-Sussex season
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WHARTON - Wharton's first season in the Morris-Sussex American Legion Junior Baseball League ended when Pequannock scored three times in the bottom of the sixth inning en route to a 10-8 victory over Wharton in a losers' bracket game in the league's post-season double-elimination Final Eight Tournament played at Pequannock on Saturday, July 16, 2011.
The loss put Wharton's final league season record at 10-11-1, a record the team will be out to improve upon on Saturday, July 23, in the state tournament against a team and at a place and time yet to be determined.
Wharton, the No. 7 seed in the Morris-Sussex eight-team tournament, had just rallied for four runs in the top of the fifth to take an 8-7 lead when No. 4 seed Pequannock scored the last three runs of the game on a hit batsman, a triple, double and single to advance to eliminate Wharton from the tournament.
Kyle Healy (2-2) took the loss, pitching a gutty six-inning complete game and allowing 10 runs (8 earned) on 12 hits while striking out seven, walking three and hitting two batters.
Wharton took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Evan O'Brien walked, stole second, took third on an infield single by Mark Kepler, and then scored on the front end of a double steal.
Pequannock came back with two runs in its half of the first and then added four more in the second to take a 6-1 lead.
Wharton scored twice in the top of the third when Brian Healy walked and NIck DeLuccia was hit with a pitch to put runners on first and second. Healy took third on a wild pitch and DeLuccia stole second and, with courtesy runner Dan Herran replacing Healy on third, Alex Valerio bounced out to second as Herran scored. Andrew Southward followed with a two-out single to score DeLuccia and Wharton trailed, 6-3.
Each team scored in the fourth with Wharton loading the bases with two outs on a double by Healy, an error that allowed DeLuccia to reach, and a walk to Brian Walls. Healy then scored when Valerio drew a walk.
Trailing 7-4 going into the top of the fifth, Wharton scored four times to take its 8-4 lead.
Shawn Meador led off with a single and stole second; O'Brien walked but was forced at second by Kepler with Meador taking third. Healy singled in Meador with Kepler taking third, from where he scored on a wild pitch. DeLuccia followed with a double to score Healy and tie the game at 7-7; Walls followed with a single and Valerio followed with another single to drive in DeLuccia with the run that put Wharton up 8-7.
Neither team scored in its next at-bat, but Pequannock came up with its three-run sixth and then kept Wharton off the board in the top of the seventh to clinch the victory.
Wharton finished with 10 hits with Healy leading the attack by going 3-for-4 with a double, one RBI and two runs scored.
Valerio was 1-for-2 with three RBIs; DeLuccia was 1-for-2 with a double, one walk, was hit twice and scorfed two runs; Southward finished 1-for-4 with an RBI; Meador was 1-for-2 with a run scored; Kepler was 1-for-5 with a run scored; Steve O'Connor and Walls each finished 1-for-4; and O'Brien walked twice and scored a run.
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Wharton winning streaks ends with 14-2 loss to Mo'town
WHARTON - Wharton's five-game winning streak came to a sudden and jarring halt in a 14-2 loss to Morristown in a Morris-Sussex American Legion Junior Baseball League post-season playoff game played at Harry Shatel Field off Harter Road in Morristown on Thursday, July, 14, 2011.
The loss knocked Wharton, 10-10-1 overall and the No. 7 seed in the eight-team double-elimination tournament, into the loser's bracket where it will face No. 4, Pequannock on Saturday, July 16, in a 10 a.m. game at Pequannock. Pequannock beat No. 8 Randolph in a first-round losers' bracket game on Friday, July 15.
The winner of the Wharton-Pequannock game will then meet the winner of Saturday morning's Montville-Sparta game in a 2 p.m. game at Veterans Memorial Stadium off Zeek Road in Denville.
Against Morristown, Wharton took a 2-0 lead in its first at-bat when Evan O'Brien led off with a triple and scored on a passed ball. Nick DeLuccia hit a one-out double and scored on a single by Alex Valerio for the second run.
From then on, it was all Morristown, however, as the home team answered with six runs in its half of the first and then scored four runs in each of the second and third innings
Wharton finished with six hits with DeLuccia going 2-for-2 with a double and a run scored. O'Brien was 1-for-3 with a triple and a run scored; Valerio was 1-for-3 with an RBI; John Rivas was 1-for-1; and Brian Walls finished 1-for-3.
Shawn Meader (0-2), the first of three Wharton pitchers, took the loss. Mike Avallone and Dan Herran relieved with Herran working 1.2 shutout innings in his first American Legion pitching appearance.
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Wharton nips No. 2 Mount Morris for 5th win in a row
WHARTON - Wharton is picking a good time to get hot again.
After opening 3-0-1 and then suffering through an eight-game losing streak while going 5-9 to finish the Morris-Sussex American Legion Junior Baseball League regular season with an 8-9-1 record, Wharton is now riding a five-game winning streak after stunning No. 2 seed Mount Morris, 3-2, in a first-round post-season playoff championship game held at Rock Spring Park in Long Valley on Wednesday, July 13, 2011.
Wharton, the No. 7 seed in the eight-team double-elimination competition, moves on to face No. 6 seed Morristown in a 5:30 p.m. game at Harry Shatel Field off Harter Road in Morristown on Thursday, July 14. Mount Morris drops into the losers' bracket and faces Sparta next.
Wharton (10-9-1) scored twice in the second and once in the third to take a 3-0 lead and then had to hold off Mount Morris in the final inning to nail down its one-run victory.
Wharton, behind starting pitcher Tyler Moran (2-3), took a 3-1 lead into the final inning when Moran allowed his sixth hit of the game - a single to the leadoff hitter. Bryan Healy came on in relief at this point and walked the next batter before getting the first out on a force at second.
After getting the second out, Healy hit the next batter to load the bases and then hit the next batter for force in a run and cut Wharton's lead to 3-2. The next batter flied out to John Rias in right - Rivas' sixth putout of the game - to end the game and send Mount Morris into the losers' bracket.
Wharton took at 2-0 lead in the second inning when Nick DeLuccia hit a one-out single and was brought around by a long double off the bat of Andrew Southward. Southward took third on a groundout and scored when Mike Avallone followed with a suicide squeeze bunt.
Wharton made it 3-0 in the top of the third when Healy walked, Brian Walls reached on an error, and Alex Valerio singled to load the bases. Healy scored when Southward hit into a fielders' choice.
Mount Morris scored it first run in the third on a walk and a double and had a potential fourth-inning rally halted when center fielder Evan O'Brien threw a strike to DeLuccia at third to nail a Mount Morris baserunner trying to go from first to third on a single.
Moran worked six-plus inning for the win, giving up two runs (earned) on seven hits and three walks while walking three. Healy, who got his second save of the season, struck out one, walked one and hit two in his hitless inning.
Southward, Deluccia, Walls and Valerio each had one of Wharton's four hits for the game.
Southward was 1-for-2 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored; DeLuccia was 1-for-3 with a run scored; Walls was 1-for-4 with a double; and Valerio finished 1-for-4. Avallone finished 0-for-1 with an RBI on his suicide squeeze and Healy drew a walk and scored a run.
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Wharton wins play-in game for tourney berth
WHARTON - Tyler Moran's fourth-inning suicide squeeze brought home Brian Walls with what proved to be the winning run when Wharton beat Musconnectong, 4-3, at Robert Lewis field her on Tuesday, July 12, 2011, in a play-in game that put Wharton into the Morris-Sussex American Legion Junior Baseball League eight-team, double-elimination, post-season tournament field.
The six teams with the best regular-season records qualified for the tourney and the other two berths came from the results of the play-in game between the No. 7 and No. 10 teams and the No. 8 and No. 9 teams. Wharton, with a late-season spurt that saw it win its last three games, had the seventh-best regular-season record.
Steve O'Connor (4-2) got the win, working six innings where he allowed three runs (earned) on six hits while striking out five and walking two. Bryan Healy finished up, getting his first save of the season by working the last inning where he gave up a hit, struck out one and walked none.
Musconnectong took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning and had runners on first and third when right fielder John Rivas caught a flyball in deep right field for the second out and got the ball into first baseman cutoff man Bryan Healy, who then threw a strike to catcher Alex Valerio who got the final out of the inning by tagging out the Musconnectong runner trying to advance after the catch.
Wharton answered with a pair of runs in its half of the inning when Evan O'Brien walked, stole second and third, and scored when Mark Kepler's infield dribbler was thrown away for a two-base error. Kepler took third on a groundout by Healy and scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Valerio.
Wharton made it 3-1 in the third when O'Brien walked, stole second and scored on a single by Kepler and then added another run in the fourth inning when Walls singled, stole second and third, and scored on a Moran's suicide squeeze - which became the winning run when Musconnectong scored twice in the fifth inning with a walk, double and two-run single - all with two outs.
Wharton finished with six hits with Walls going 2-for-3 with three stolen bases and a run scored; Kepler finishing 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored; Moran going 1-for-2 with an RBI on his squeeze bunt; Healy going 1-for-3; and Andrew Southward also finishing 1-for-3. Valerio drove in a run with his sac fly; and O'Brien was 0-for-0 but reached on all four at-bats on two walks and two hit batsman, stole four bases and scored twice.
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Wharton's 25 runs, 28 hits sweep Kinnelon doubleheader
WHARTON - Steve O'Connor and Mike Avallone combined on a five-hitter to win the first game and Avallone pitched 2.2 scoreless innings of one-hit relief to win the second game on a day when Wharton scored 25 runs on 28 hits to sweep Kinnelon in a Morris-Sussex American Legion Junior Baseball League doubleheader played at Donatoni Park in Rockaway Borough on Wednesday, July 6, 2011.
O'Connor (3-2) pitched the first five innings to get the win when Wharton won the first game, 10-0. He struck out six and walked four before giving way to Avallone, who struck out one and walked one in a hitless sixth inning.
Wharton won the second game, 15-6, coming back from a 6-4 deficit after four innings with a four-run fifth inning before breaking open the game with a seven-run outburst in the top of the seventh.
Shaun Meador went the first 3.1 innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on four hits and five walks while striking out two. Avallone (1-1) worked the final 2.2 innings to get the win, keeping Kinnelon off the board while giving up just one hit, striking out one and walking three.
The sweep gives Wharton a final regular-season 8-9-1 record that includes a forfeit win over Mount Olive that was awarded late this past week. Post-season league and state playoff schedules will be announced on Sunday, July 10.
Wharton finished with 11 hits in the first game with Bryan Healy leading the way by going 3-for-3 with two doubles, two walks and two runs scored. Tyler Gribbons also had a multi-hit game, finishing 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Brian Walls was 1-for-3 with three RBIs on a two-run single and a bases-loaded walk; Rob Sihlanick was 1-for-3 with a two-run double and a walk; Alex Valerio was 1-for-3 with an RBI double; Nick Deluccia was 1-for-2 with an RBI double; Scott Bullock was 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored; and Nick Gelinas was 1-for-2.
In the second game, Wharton pounded out 17 hits with Gribbons going 3-for-5 with a run scored and six players finishing with two hits.s
Sihlanick was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored; Brendan McCormick was 2-for-3, with a double, triple, two RBIs and three runs scored; Bullock was 2-for-2 with a double, two walks and a runs scored; Healy finished 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and a run scored; Walls was 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored; and Evan O'Brien was 2-for-4.
Also, DeLuccia was 1-for-3 with a double, one RBI and three runs scored; Gelinas was 1-for-2 with double, RBI and a run scored; and Andrew Southward added a sacrifice fly to the attack.
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Mendham's four-run 6th-inning rally nips Wharton, 9-8
WHARTON - Three sixth-inning errors led to four runs when Mendham rallied to beat Wharton, 9-8, in a Morris-Sussex American Legion Junior Baseball League game played at Bill Lewis Field in Wharton on Tuesday, July 5, 2011.
Wharton held a 6-5 until Mendham scored four runs (three earned) on only one hit in the top of the sixth to take a 9-6 lead and, even thought Wharton battled back with a run in each of the final two innings, Mendham was able to hold on for the victory.
Wharton (5-9-1) made it 9-7 in the bottom of the sixth when Brendan McCormick was hit with a pitch, took third when Andrew Southward singled, and scored on a wild pitch. Wharton then closed to within a run in the bottom of the seventh and final inning when Bryan Healy walked, stole second and scored on Brian Walls second double of the game.
Earlier, Wharton overcame Mendham's three-run first-inning outburst with a four-run burst in its half of the inning.
Evan O'Brien drew a leadoff walk, went to third on an error on a pickoff attempt, and scored on a single by Healy. Nick DeLuccia followed with a single and Healy scored the second run of the inning when Brian Walls reached on an error. Rob Sihlanick followed with a triple and Wharton had its 4-3 lead.
Mendham came back with a two-run triple of its own in the top of the second to regain the lead and Wharton tied it with a single run in the bottom of the third and took a one-run lead with another run in the fourth.
In the third inning, DeLuccia singled, stole second and scored on a double by Walls. In the fourth inning, Evan O'Brian hit a triple high off the left field fence and scored when Tyler Gribbons put down a perfect suicide squeeze bunt.
After a scoreless fifth inning, Mendham came up with its big four-run sixth inning and Wharton spent its next two at-bats trying to claw its way back into the game only to fall a run short.
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Healy's 3-hit shutout give Wharton 2nd win in a row
WHARTON - Brian Healy pitched a three-hit shutout when Wharton won its second straight game by beating Roxbury, 6-0, in a Morris-Sussex American Legion Junior Baseball League game played at Bill Lewis Field here on Saturday, July 2, 2011.
Healy (2-1) struck out three and walked but one as Wharton improved to 5-8-1 on the season.
Wharton got all the runs Healy needed in the first inning when Tyler Gribbons and Healy singled and, after Healy was replaced on the bases by courtesy runner Shaun Meador, both Gribbons and Meador moved up a base on a groundout.
Nick DeLuccia followed with a two-out, two-run single and, after DeLuccia took second on a passed ball, Brian Walls followed with a single to drive in DeLuccia for the third run of the inning.
Wharton didn't score again until the bottom of the sixth inning when Nick Gelinas led off with a pinchhit single, went to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a double by Gribbons. Gribbons scored when Alex Valerio followed with a single and, with Steve O'Connor running for Valerio, DeLuccia followed with a single to put runners on first and third and Walls followed with a double to score O'Connor with the third run of the inning.
DeLuccia led Wharton's 10-hit attack by going 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored; Walls finished 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs; Gribbons was also 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and two runs scored; Healy was 1-for-3 with a run scored; and Gelinas was 1-for-1 with a run scored.
Wharton's next game is scheduled for Tuesday, July 5, against Mendham at Bill Lewis Field at 6 p.m. On Wednesday, July 6, Wharton plays Kinnelon in a doubleheader at Donatoni Park in Rockaway with the first game scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m.
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Wharton breaks eight-game losing streak with 17-3 win
WHARTON - It took 17 runs and 17 hits but Wharton broke its eight-game losing streak with a 17-3 victory over Mountain Lakes in a Morris-Sussex American Legion Junior Baseball League game played at Mountain Lakes High School on Friday, July 1, 2011.
Wharton (4-8-1), which opened the season 3-0-1 before losing its next eight games, scored in every inning through the fifth when the game was stopped because of the league's five-inning, 10-run mercy rule.
Steve O'Connor (2-2) got the win, throwing three innings of one-hit, scoreless ball with two strikeouts and two walks. Mike Avallone finished up, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits and no walks while striking out three in two innings.
O'Connor got all the runs he needed in the first inning when Wharton scored six times. Evan O'Brien opened the inning with a walk, stole second, took third on a passed ball, and scored on a wild pitch. Bryan Healy singled, stole second and scored on Alex Valerio's single. Nick DeLuccia's single drove in the third run of the inning and DeLuccia later scored on the front end of a double steal. Brendan McCormick's RBI triple and a bases-loaded walk to Tyler Gribbons accounted for the final two runs of the big inning.
Mountain Lakes' infield errors gave Wharton a 7-0 lead after two innings and an 8-0 lead after three.
Wharton used a double by DeLuccia, singles by Rob Sihlanick, Gribbons, Healy and Walls, a sac fly by Avallone and two Mountain Lakes errors to scored four fourth-inning runs and then Healy's two-run triple, an RBI single by Healy, a fielder's choice RBI by Walls, and a bases-loaded walk to Avallone gave Wharton a 17-0 lead.
Wharton lost its shutout when Mountain Lakes scored three times in the bottom of the sixth before the game was halted.
Healy, DeLuccia and Sihlanick each had three hits to spark Wharton's 17-hit attack. Healy was 3-for-5 with a triple, four RBIs and two runs scored; DeLuccia was 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored; and Sihlanick was also 3-for-5 with an RBI and three runs scored.
Brendan McCormick was 2-for-2 with a triple, RBI and three runs scored; John Rivas was 2-for-2 with an RBI and Valerio was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Also, Walls finished 1-for-3 with two runs scored; Gribbons was 1-for-4 with an RBI; O'Brien walked one, was hit twice and scored three rujns; Avallone finished with two RBIs; and Shaun Meader scored two runs.
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Wharton loses, 4-3, on Mount Morris walk-off single in 8th
WHARTON - Mount Morris got two of its four hits from the last two batters of the game to send Wharton's losing streak to eight games in an eight-inning, 4-3 victory in a Morris-Sussex American Legion Junior Baseball League game played at Mount Morris on Thursday, June 30, 2011.
With the scored tied, 3-3, the first Mount Morris in the bottom of the eighth greeted Steve O'Connor, the third Wharton pitcher, with a double and the second Mount Morris batter of the inning followed with an RBI single to end the game.
Wharton had sent the game into extra innings with a run in the top of the seventh on Nick DeLuccia's leadoff triple and Rob Sihlanick's RBI single.
Wharton had a good chance to go ahead in the top of the eighth when Andrew Southward singled and Brian Healy walked only to see Mount Morris (11-3) get out of the jam with a doubleplay.
Earlier, Wharton opened the game with a two-run flurry when leadoff hitter Evan O'Brien was hit with a pitch, took third on a single by Healy, and both runners scored when Alex Valerion followed with a double.
Mount Morris tied the score in the bottom of the second without benefit of a basehit. Two walks and an error loaded the bases and two more walks forced across two runs.
Mount Morris took a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning - again without a basehit - on two walks and, after both runners moved up on a long flyball out, the run scored on a wild pitch.
Shaun Meador started and pitched through the sixth for Wharton, allowing three runs (two earned) on only one hit. He walked 10, however, and struck out three. Mike Avallone pitched a scoreless seventh, allowing only one hit, and O'Connor finished up.
Wharton outhit Mount Morris, 10-4, with Brian Walls finishing 3-for-3 to lead the way. Healy was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored and Sihlanick was also 2-for-3 with an RBI. Valerio was 1-for-4 with his two-run double; DeLuccia was 1-for-3 with a triple and a run scored; Southward was 1-for-1; and O'Brien scored a run.
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Wharton falls to Mo'town for 7th straight loss
WHARTON - The losing streak is now seven after Wharton lost a two-run lead enroute to a 5-3 loss to Morristown in a Morris-Sussex American Legion Junior Baseball League game played at Harry Shatel Field off Harter Road in Morristown on Tuesday, June 28, 2011.
Wharton (3-7-1) took a 2-0 lead before Morristown (9-2) had a chance to bat, but the home club came back with a single run in the second, two in the third, scored what proved to be the winning run in the fourth and added an insurance run in the sixth before Wharton scored the final run of the game in the top of the seventh.
In Wharton's first inning, Tyler Gribbons singled and Bryan Healy doubled to put runners on second and third and Alex Valerio followed with a single to drive home both runners for Wharton's early 2-0 lead.
After Morristown scored its five runs over the next five innings, Wharton got on the board again in the seventh inning when Mark Kepler led off with a single, Evan O'Brien drew his third walk of the game and, after Morristown turned a doubleplay, Healy singled to bring in Kepler with the game's final run.
Both teams finished with nine hits with Rob Sihlanick going 3-for-3 and Healy finishing 2-for-3 with a double, one RBI and a run scored to lead the way.
Also, John Rivas was 1-for-3, Gribbons finished 1-for-4 with a walk; Valerio was 1-for-4 with two RBIs; and Kepler was 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Nick DeLuccia (0-1) took the loss, allowing five runs (three earned) on nine hits and four walks while striking out two.
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Wharton held to a run each game in twinbill loss
WHARTON - Scoring only one run in each game, Wharton saw its losing streak hit six games as it dropped both ends of a doubleheader against Randolph - losing the first game, 2-1, and losing the second, 4-1 - in Morris-Sussex American Legion Junior Baseball League play at Freedom Park in Randolph on Sunday, June 26, 2011.
Wharton (3-6-1) had runners on first and second with one out in its last at-bat in the first game, but could not get score as Randolph pitching got out of the jam with a groundout and a fly to center to end the game.
The first game was scoreless until the top of the sixth when Wharton pushed across its only run of the game when Shaun Meador drew a leadoff walk and stole second, Mark Kepler's single put runners on first and third and Brendon McCormick then hit a sacrifice fly to center to bring home Meador.
But Randolph came right back with the two runs it needed to win the game on a two-out RBI single and a bases-loaded walk.
Wharton was held to four hits in the game - singles by Bryan Healy, Nick DeLuccia, Dan Herran and Kepler.
Steve O'Connor started for Wharton and pitched the first three innings, allowing no runs on one hit while striking out three and walking only one. Mike Avallone (0-1) pitched the next 2.2 innings and Tyler Moran was called in to get the final out in Randolph's sixth.
In the second game, both teams scored early with Randolph (5-5) opening the game by taking a 2-0 first-inning lead on a walk, double, groundout and sacrifice fly.
Wharton answered with a run in its half of the inning when Evan O'Brien struck out but reached first on a strike-three wild pitch, took second when Gyler Gribbons followed with a single, and scored on a single by Brian Healy.
Wharton was held scoreless on three hits the rest of the way, however, while Randolph scored single runs in the second and fifth innings.
Gribbons finished 2-for-4 with a double to lead Wharton's five-hit attack. Healy was 1-for-2 with two walks and an RBI; McCormick was 1-for-2 with a double and a walk; John Rivas finished 1-for-1; and O'Brien scored a run.
Moran (1-2) started for Wharton and gave up the first two runs before giving way to Healy. Healy finished with six strong innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and four walks while striking out eight.
Wharton's next game is scheduled for Tuesday, June 28, a 6 p.m. contest against Morristown at Harry Shatel Field off Harter Road in Morristown.
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Wharton loses 4th straight on Pequannock 3-run rally
WHARTON - Pequannock's three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning completed a 10-8 come-from-behind victory over Wharton and handed Wharton its fourth straight loss in a Morris-Sussex American Legion Junior Baseball League game played at Municipal Field in Pequannock on Saturday, June 18, 2011.
Wharton (3-4-1) had an 8-4 lead after three innings of play before Pequannock (8-2) rallied with three runs in the bottom of the fourth and sixth innings to claim the win.
After Pequannock took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, Wharton scored five times in the top of the second inning.
Alex Valerio was hit with a pitch to open the inning; Brian Walls walked; Brendan McCormick forced Valerio at third; and Rob Sihlanick walked to load the bases. Scott Bullock followed with a two-run double; Mark Kepler singled in Sihlanick for the third run of the inning; and Evan O'Brien followed with a two-run double to drive in Bullock and Kepler with the fourth and fifth runs.
Pequannock got two runs back in its half of the second inning and Wharton answered by scoring three times in the top of the third to take an 8-4 lead.
Valerio walked and Nick DeLuccia and Walls singled to load the bases. Pequannock pulled of a 6-4-3 doubleplay as Valerio scored; Sihlanick follows with a single to drive in DeLuccia; and Bullock drills a triple to deep left-center to drive in Sihlanick with the third run of the inning.
That ended the scoring for Wharton, which was blanked for the final four innings.
Mike Avallone was the starter and losing pitcher for Wharton, working the first four innings; Shaun Meador finishing up, pitching the last two innings.
Wharton will try to break its four-game skid on Thursday, June 23, with a 6 p.m. game against Mount Olive at Mount Olive High School. Wharton is also on the road for the weekend, playing Kinnelon in a doubleheader at Kinnelon High School starting at 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 25, and facing Randolph at Freedom Park in Randolph in a 3 p.m. game on Sunday, June 26.
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Wharton swept by Sparta, 3-2 and 13-9
WHARTON - Sparta won games on the front end and the back end as it swept a doubleheader from Wharton in the Morris-Sussex American Legion Junior Baseball League at Wharton's Bill Lewis Field on Saturday, June 18, 2011.
Sparta scored three runs in the first inning and made them hold up for a 3-2 victory in the first game and then came from behind to win the second game, 13-9, scoring 10 times in the bottom of the sixth.
Wharton, which opened the season with three wins and a tie, has now lost three straight and is 3-3-1 for the young season.
Sparta scored its three first-ininng runs in the first game on three singles, one walk and two run-scoring groundouts.
Wharton came back with a run in the bottom of the first when Evan O'Brien walked, went to second on a wild pitch, and scored all the way from second when the Sparta pitcher tried to pick him off and threw the ball into the outfield.
Wharton was held scoreless until the bottom of the sixth when Mark Kepler singled, O'Brien was hit with a pitch and, after both runners were moved up a base by Tyler Gribbons' sacrifice bunt, Bryan Healy lifted a sacrifice fly to center to bring in Kepler.
Tyler Moran (1-1) pitched a complete game in taking he loss, allowing three runs (earned) on eight hits while striking out four and walking five.
In the second game, Wharton took a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the sixth when Sparta erupted for 10 runs on seven hits and six walks.
Wharton took a 1-0 lead in the first when O'Brien singled, took third when Gribbons reached on an error, and scored on a wild pitch.
Sparta got two runs in the bottom of the second, but Wharton answered with two of its own in the tgop of the third when O'Brien walked and scored on a double by Gribbons and, after Gribbons took third on a passed ball, he scored on a Nick DeLuccia's sacrifice fly to left.
Sparta tied the score at 3-3 with a singleton in the bottom of the third only to have Wharton retake the lead at 4-3 with a run in the top of the fifth when Bryan Healy singled, took second on DeLuccia's groundout to short, and scored on a single by Alex Valerio.
Wharton took a 5-3 lead with a run in the top of the sixth on back-to-back two-out singles by Scott Bullock, MIke Avallone and O'Brien.
After Sparta had its 10-run uprising, Wharton came back with a four-run flurry in the top of the seventh.
Wharton loaded the bases when Healy walked, DeLuccia reached on an error, and Valerio singled. Brian Walls singled in Healy for the first run and Shaun Meador drew a walk to force in DeLuccia with the second run. Scott Bullock doubled to bring in Valerio and Walls but, after Avallone drew a one-out walk to reload the bases and bring the tying run to the plate, Sparta got out of the inning with a force at the plate and a unassisted bouncer to first.
Healy (1-1) started for Wharton and took the loss, working the first 5.1 innings. Meador and Bullock finished up.
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Denville beats Wharton with two-run rally in bottom of 7th
WHARTON - Three errors on the first two batters in the bottom of the seventh inning sent Wharton to its first loss of the season, a 5-4 decision to Denville in a Morris-Sussex American Legion Junior Baseball game played at Veterans Memorial Field in Denville on Thursday, June 16, 2011.
Denville trailed 4-3 going into the bottom of the seventh when a double, double-error, passed ball and a throwing error enabled the first two batters of the inning to score and end the game.
Wharton took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Evan O'Brien was hit with a pitch, took second on an error, stole third, and then scored on Bryan Healy's sacrifice fly to center.
Denville came back with two in its half of the first, but Wharton tied the score at 2-2 in the top of the second when Brian Walls doubled off the 364-foot sign in left-center and scored on a single by Rob Sihlanick.
Denville regained the lead with a run in the bottom of the fourth, but Wharton went ahead with a two-run rally in the top of the sixth when Mark Kepler walked, Healy singled and, after both runners moved up on a wild pitch, Nick DeLuccia followed with a two-run single to left field.
Steve O'Connor (1-1) started an took the loss for Wharton, working the first six-plus innings. Tyler Moran faced one batter in the seventh.
Healy finished 2-for-2 with one RBI and a run scored; Brendan McCormick was 2-for-2 with a double and a walk; Walls was 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored; DeLuccia was 1-for-2 with two RBIs; and Sihlanik was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
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Healy's 2-out, 2-run single in 7th ties Montville, 5-5
WHARTON - Bryan Healy's two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the seventh inning enabled the Wharton to gain a 5-5 tie with Montville in a Morris-Sussex Junior American Legion Baseball game played at Bill Lewis Field here on Thursday, June 7, 2011.
The umpires called the game at the end of the inning due to darkness, giving each team a tie and 2.5 points in the standings. Wharton is 3-0-1 and in second place in the Blue Division of the league, trailing Kinnelon, which is 4-0. Montville is 1-2-1.
Montville scored twice in the top of the first and added a single run in the top of the second for a 3-0 lead before Wharton got on the board with a run in the bottom of the second when Nick DeLuccia singled, went to third on a single by Rob Sihlanick, and scored on Mike Avalone's sacrifice fly to deep center field.
Wharton tied the game at 3-3 in the fifth inning when Sihlanick singled, stole second and scored on a single by Brendan McCormick and, after Avallone walked and Evan O'Brien forced McCormick at third, Tyler Gribbons doubled to drive in Avallone.
After a scoreless sixth, Montville took a 5-3 lead on a double, an error, a walk and a squeeze bunt.
McCormick leads off the Wharton seventh with a single and pinchitter Scott Bullock drew a walk. O'Brien's grounder to third force McCormick and, after Gribbons walked to load the bases, Healy came through with his game-tying single to bring in Bullock and O'Brien.
McCormick was 2-for-3 and drove in a run and Sihlanick was 2-for-3 and scored a run to lead Wharton's seven-hit attack. Gribbons was 1-for-3 with his RBI double; DeLuccia was 1-for-3 with a run scored; Healy was 1-for-4 with his two-run single; Avallone was 0-for-1 but had a sac fly and scored a run; and O'Brien scored a run.
Tyler Moran was Wharton's starting pitcher and he worked six innings and gave up five runs (three earned) on seven hits and four walks while striking out one. Shaun Meador pitched the seventh inning, allowing one hit while striking out two and walking none.
Next up for Wharton is a doublehader against Randolph on Saturday, June 11, at Freedom Park in Randolph with the first game starting at noon. Wharton then faces Pequannock in a 6 p.m. game on Tuesday, June 14, at Hillsive Field in Pequannock.
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Healy, O'Connor pitch Wharton to a sweep
WHARTON - The Wharton American Legion junior baseball team got strong pitching performances from starters Bryan Healy and Steve O'Connor as the first-year team swept a doubleheader from Parsippany in the Morris-Sussex Junior American Legion Baseball League at Bill Lewis Field here on Saturday, June 4, 2011.
Wharton (3-0) scored all its runs in the first three innings in the first game. Wharton took a 2-0 first-inning lead when Evan O'Brien singled, Tyler Gribbons followed with a triple, and Gribbons scored on an error.
In the second inning, Scott Bullock walked, stole second and scored on O'Brien's double. In the third, Brian Walls walked, stole second, took third on a wild pitch, and scored on a passed ball.
Parsippany (1-2) reached Healy for three singles for a run in the second inning and scored in the fifth on a single and a triple.
Healy (1-0) gave up both runs (earned) while striking out four and walking three.
Shaun Meador pitched 1.2 innings in relief and Tyler Moran came on with two on and two out in the top of the seventh and, after walking the first batter he faced to load the bases, got the final out on a foul pop fly on which first baseman Rob Sihlanick made a running catch.
Both teams got five hits with O'Brien leading Wharton's attack by going 2-for-2 with a double, walk, RBI and run scored. Gribbons was 1-for-03 with an RBI triple and a run scored; Brendan McCormick was 1-for-2 with a double; and Alex Valerio was 1-for-1 and walked twice.
In the second game, Wharton had to score four times in the top of the sixth inning to erase a 3-2 deficit.
Healy opened the inning with a triple and, after Walls walked and stole second, Valerio doubled both runners home to give Wharton the lead. Nick DeLuccia followed with a single to drive in Nick Gelinas, who ran for Valerio, and, after DeLuccia stole second, he scored Wharton's final run on a two-base error.
Earlier, Wharton scored a first-inning run when O'Brien reached on an error, took second on a wild pitch, and scored on a double by Gribbons. In the third, O'Brien walked and scored on Healy's first of two triples for the day.
Parsippany scored on an error, sacrifice bunt, wild pitch and an RBI groundout in the second inning and added two runs in the fourth on two errors, two passed balls and its only hit of the game, an RBI single to left by John Iuso. A second baserunner also tried to score on the hit but he was thrown out on a nice throw and tag play that went from DeLuccia in left field to catcher John Rivas, who did a nice job of blocking the plate when the ball and runner arrived at the same time.
Healy, DeLuccia and Sihlanick each got two hits to pace Wharton's nine-hit attack. Healy was 2-for-3 with two triples, a walk, an RBI and a run scored; DeLuccia was 2-for-2 with a walk, RBI and run scored; and Sihlanick was also 2-for-2.
Valerio was 1-for-4 with a double and two RBIs; Gribbons was 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI; Walls was 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI; and O'Brien was 0-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored.
O'Connor (1-0) gave up three runs (all unearned) on one hit and two walks while striking out six in six innings of work. Mike Avallone finished up with a hitless seventh, walking one batter.
Wharton's next game is scheduled for Tuesday, June 7, against Montville at Bill Lewis Field at 6 p.m. On Thursday, June 9, the team plays host to Roxbury in another 6 p.m. game at Bill Lewis Field and Wharton faces Randolph at Randolph's Freedom Park in a Saturday, June 11, doubleheader that is scheduled to start at noon.
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Wharton opens Junior play with 10-1 victory
WHARTON - Tyler Moran and Shaun Meador combined on a four-hitter and eight different batters contributed to a nine-hit attack when the first-year Wharton American Legion junior baseball team opened its Morris-Sussex Junior American Legion Baseball League season with a 10-1 victory over Musconetcong at Bill Lewis Field here on Tuesday, May 31, 2011.
Wharton's application into the league was accepted this past winter, putting the Morris-Sussex league at xx teams for the 2011 season.
Moran started and worked the first six innings for the victory, allowing one run on four hits and a walk while striking out three. Meador finished up with a hitless inning, striking out one and walking one.
Musconetcong scored its only run of the game in its first at-bat when its leadoff batter opened the game with a double, advanced to third on a groundout to second and scored on a bouncer to short.
Wharton scored three runs in its half of the inning when Evan O'Brien walked, Tyler Gribbons singled and, after both runners moved up on a passed ball, Brian Walls doubled them home. Alex Valerio followed with a triple to drive in Walls and Wharton had a 3-1 lead after one inning of play.
In the second, Brendan McCormick singled, Mark Kepler walked, O'Brien singled to load the bases and McCormick scored on a wild pitch.
Wharton added four runs in the third inning as Walls and Nick DeLuccia scored on passed balls, Kepler drove in a run on a single, and O'Brien was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Wharton added a run in the fifth when John Rivas walked and stole second and, after being sacrificed to third by McCormick, scored on a single by Gribbons. In the sixth, Wharton scored the last run of the game when Walls reached on an error, stole second and scored on DeLuccia's single.
Gribbons had the only multiple-hit game for Wharton, finishing 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Walls was 1-for-3 with a two-run double, stole two bases and scored three runs; O'Brien was 1-for-1, walked once, was hit by a pitch, drove in a run and scored a run; Valerio was 1-for-3 with an RBI triple; DeLuccia was 1-for-3 with one RBI and a run scored.
McCormick was 1-for-1 with walk, sac bunt and run scored; Rob Sihanick was 1-for-2; Kepley was 1-for-2 with a walk and an RBI; and Rivas walked once, stole two bases and scored two runs.
The Wharton-Denville game scheduled for Thursday, June 2, has been postponed and will be rescheduled because Denville has many Morris Knolls players and Knolls is still alive in the NJSIAA state tournament.
Wharton plays Parsippany in a doubleheader on Saturday, June 4, at Wharton with the first game starting at noon.
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Wharton adds junior team
to Morris-Sussex Legion
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WHARTON - The Wharton American Legion Post #91 will sponsor a team in the Morris-Sussex Junior American Legion Baseball League this summer.
Wharton, which also has a team in the senior league, had its application for admission formally approved on Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011, at a league meeting at Veterans Memorial Field in Denville.
Dave Coleman, as assistant coach on the senior (19-under) team, is the manager of the team and will soon begin adding assistant coaches and putting together a roster. The team will build its roster with players aged 17-under who live in Rockaway Borough, Wharton, Dover and some areas of Rockaway Township.
"This is quite an honor and I'm looking forward to working with the boys," Coleman said. "Hopefully, we'll be able to be a small part in preparing them for the next step whether it's varsity ball or senior American Legion ball - hopefully, both.
"I've worked with Neal Healy and John Mirabella on the Wharton senior team the past few years and I'm hoping this new team will be able to follow in the footsteps of their team and enjoy the same success."
Bill Tonero, the junior league's founder and president, said he had "... been looking for Wharton to add a junior team to their program for the past few years.
"They contacted me last fall and asked if there would be room for them and I assured them there would be," Tonero said. "I feel great about them joining ... they have good people there ... this is good for their program and it's good for the league.
"Wharton's senior teams have always been very competitive and challenging ... I would expect the same from the junior team."
The addition of Wharton gives the league a total of 16 teams that have been divided into four four-team divisions.
Wharton is in the White Division with Randolph, Kinnelon and Parsippany; Denville, Roxbury, Mount Olive and Mountain Lakes form the Red Division; Montville, Musconetcong, Mendham and Morristown are the Blue Division; and Mount Morris, Pequannock, Flor-Mad and Sparta make up the Gold Division.
Each team plays the other teams in its division three times and the teams in the other division once for a 21-game regular-season schedule.
Ten of the top 16 teams (by record) will be eligible for the playoffs. Division winners and the two teams with the next best records will draw a bye; a preliminary round (7 vs. 10 and 8 vs. 9) will determine the eight-team field that will compete in a double-elimination tournament to determine the league champion.
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