May 26, 2010
Strandberg, Lasercats hold on
Derek Strandberg overcame a leadoff triple to pick up the save for High Tech.
Click Here for photos from Dayton at High Tech Baseball.
By Jason Bernstein
Editorial Director
SECAUCUS – Fearlessness and a short memory – two vital attributes required of a late-inning reliever. Yesterday, High Tech’s Derek Strandberg showed that he has both.
With the tying run on standing on third and nobody out in the seventh, Strandberg would retire the next three batters as the Lasercats defeated Dayton 4-3 in the NJSIAA North 2, Group I semifinals at Laurel Hill Park.
“He threw some great pitches in that last inning,” High Tech manager Jimmy Comprelli said. “He bared down and was tough. Even when he got a little behind, he still focused in and had two big strikeouts.”
“I try not to even think about it and just go in there,” Strandberg said. “Just sling the ball in. Here’s my stuff, see if you can hit it.”
It didn’t take long for Strandberg, who was brought in from third base to protect the one-run lead for second-seeded High Tech (19-4), to find himself in trouble. Chaz Bohannon launched Strandberg’s third pitch over the left fielder’s head for a standup triple.
Strandberg’s confidence never wavered, even with the game-tying run standing just 90 feet away.
“After the leadoff triple, I just told my teammate Jose (Arismendi) we’re going to keep them right there, don’t worry about it,” Strandberg said. “I felt real comfortable. I knew I had the stuff to get through it and just keep him on third.”
The senior transfer from Weehawken would quickly ease any worries as he fanned D.J. DiProfio with a 3-2 fastball for the first out. Strandberg followed that up by striking out Tommy Clark on three pitches.
Strandberg completed the escape act when Tyler Bujnowski lifted a fly ball to center fielder Dwight Mathis for the game’s final out.
It was the second big relief outing in as many games for Strandberg. On Friday, he pitched two scoreless innings in an extra-innings win over Secaucus.
“All year he’s been throwing strikes and he’s a bulldog on the mound, 100 percent,” Comprelli said. “It’s good to have a guy you can bring in and know that you’re going to get strikes late in the game, especially close games.”
Early in the game it was the Lasercats’ speed which set the tone, stealing three bases in a two-run first inning.
After a RBI single by Eric Mozeika for the first run, he and Kari Williams pulled off a double steal. The attempt to throw out Williams at third base sailed into the outfield, allowing him to cruise home.
Williams’ legs would be responsible for another run the next inning as he legged out an infield hit with two outs allowing Jorge Gonzalez to score and make it 3-0. The one-two combo of Mathis and Williams at the top of the order reached base five times and combined for two runs and a pair of stolen bases.
“(Dwight) makes me go,” Williams said. “When he gets on, I know I have to get on. We challenge each other. That’s what gives me the confidence.”
“That’s all part of our game,” Comprelli said. “We have a couple of guys who can really fly out there. When they get on base we can be pretty dangerous.”
In the fourth, Gonzalez drew a leadoff walk and then proceeded to steal second and third base. Gonzalez would score the winning run two batters later when Nick Czander singled past the drawn-in infield to snap a 3-all tie.
Dayton had tied it up the previous half inning, scoring three times off of Arismendi, despite getting just one hit. Arismendi hit the first batter of the fourth and then walked the second hitter. Alex Popalani drove in the first run with a RBI single. Matt Roland and Bohannon added run-scoring outs in the frame to tie the game.
Arismendi picked up the win for the Lasercats as he allowed three runs on one hit, three walks and two hit batsmen. The senior struck out three in six innings.
Ross Goldfarb took the loss for 11th-seeded Dayton. In six innings he allowed six hits, five walks and a hit batter to go with five strikeouts.
With the victory, High Tech will face top-seeded Whippany Park for a sectional title on Friday.
High Tech's Kari Williams legs out an infield hit in the second inning.
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| Dayton Bulldogs | 0 |
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| High Tech Lasercats (19-4) | 2 |
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| Hits: Dayton 2; High Tech 6. | |||||||||||
| RBI: Dayton: Chaz Bohannon, Alex Popalani, Matt Roland. High Tech: Nick Czander, Eric Mozeika, Kari Williams. | |||||||||||
| W: Jose Arismendi | |||||||||||
| L: Ross Goldfarb | |||||||||||
| S: Derek Strandberg | |||||||||||