April 8, 2012

Hoboken's Abe Groomes tossed a complete game and struck out 10 to defeat Weehawken. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

Hoboken at Weehawken Baseball Photo Gallery

WEEHAWKEN – Hoboken's Abe Groomes was without his control and on the brink of disaster. Four-straight hitters had reached base in the second inning and with the bases loaded, one out and the heart of Weehawken's lineup looming, a big inning seemed imminent.

Instead, the Hoboken lefty regained enough of composure and control to turn what was destined to be a short outing into a 3-2 complete game victory at Ferullo Stadium.

"(Former head coach Buddy) Matthews said that sometimes he gets a little erratic at times, but (Abe) always finds a way to bear down and get through those tough innings," said first-year head Jack Baker. "He's just that bulldog. I say it all the time about. He's got that heart of a lion out there."

"(Baker) was just telling me to settle down, get the ball over the plate. And that's what I did," Groomes said. "I came back, I battled and I just got through it. I got the W."

Groomes escaped the jam with a strikeout of Dante Cieri in an eight-pitch at-bat and a Kenny Minier deep fly out to Kenny Roder in center. The two critical outs were the start of nine consecutive batters Groomes retired until a bunt single from Cieri in the fifth.

Holding a 3-1 lead, Groomes would maneuver his way out of trouble in each of the final three innings. Minier doubled to right, but Cieri was tagged out at third after over-sliding the bag in a contested call. Opposing pitcher Sal Mendez launched a pitch deep halfway up the centerfield bleachers to cut the Red Wings' lead in half. With a runner on second and no outs, Groomes made it through the sixth with a pair of strikeouts and a grounder to second.

"After I gave up the home run my arm was starting to feel tired," Groomes said. "But I fought through it and got the win.

"I just told myself to keep fighting, keep fighting, I can get through this. I had to get my team the win."

Cieri hit a long single with one in the seventh and advanced to second on a wild pitch to put the potential tying run in scoring position. With Groomes' tank nearly at empty, shortstop Danny Grossi made a diving catch behind second base to rob Minier of a hit. Groomes then induced the Indians' Roberto Moran into a comebacker for the game's final out.

"Danny Grossi was actually out of position on that play and he made a great grab. I don't know how to congratulate somebody for being out of position," Baker said. "But I'll take that out any day of the week to get us out of a big inning."

Groomes struck out 10, allowing eight hits and three walks to out-duel Mendez. The Weehawken (2-2) lefty was dominant at times, striking out 14 batters and allowing seven hits and one walk in defeat.

"He's a tough pitcher. It's scary that he's only a junior," said Baker about Mendez. "I give him a lot of credit. He goes right at hitters, he doesn't walk too many hitters and he works fast."

Mendez had retired 10 of the previous 11 batters when Hoboken rallied with two out in the fourth. Grossi singled and Connor Milne followed with a double to right field. No. 7 hitter Fabian Quinones then fought off a Mendez fastball for bloop hit into right field, scoring Grossi and Milne to break a 1-1 tie.

"His fastball just tailed away," said Quinones, who was looking for a fastball. "I just had to place it somewhere in the outfield."

Quinones and Grossi had two hits apiece in the victory. Groomes put the Red Wings on top 1-0 in the first with a sacrifice fly to right which scored Danny Barron.

Jimmy McCall evened the score for Weehawken in the second inning with an RBI single to score David Strandberg.

Cesar Valero's grand slam gave St. Peter's Prep an early 5-0 lead. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

Hoboken at Weehawken Baseball Photo Gallery