May 2, 2012

Harrison's Justin Agosoto is tagged out at the plate by Shawn Waldron. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

Hasbrouck Heights at Harrison Baseball Photo Gallery

HARRISON – In the aftermath of a 7-3 defeat and the loss of two starters to injury, it would have been easy for the confidence within the Harrison roster to be shaken.

Instead, when Harrison coach Sean Dolaghan looked at his squad, he saw a group with its confidence in tact, even after a trying afternoon.

“They’re not too down. They’re keeping it positive actually,” Dolaghan said. “We have a game (Wednesday) so we can’t afford to be down. We’re still 9-7. We try to keep them up. It’s sad to lose some teammates like that, but I’m pretty happy with the way they play,”

Visiting Hasbrouck Heights (8-8) had taken a 3-0 lead in the fifth on a four-base error in the outfield and a bloop RBI single from Chris Albramo. Harrison (9-7) center fielder Adam Huseinovic and second baseman Moises Roque were involved in a violent collision as both dove for the ball in shallow centerfield.

Both players were down for several minutes as Huseinovic suffered a gash to his forehead and Roque appeared to suffer head and wrist injuries.

Bruised, but not beaten, the Blue Tide responded with three in the bottom half of the inning. Justin Agosto, who came in to replace Huseinovic in center, led off with an infield single and Christian Otero reached on a hit by pitch. Sean Byrne followed two batters later with a two-run single to make it 3-2.

Anthony Ferriero would tie it when he roped a single to score Byrne as Harrison sent nine men to the plate in the inning. The Blue Tide would leave the bases loaded after a strikeout.

“I just told them they had to fight back for your pitcher (Felipe Flores),” said Dolaghan about if there was any message before the rally. “You have to support your pitcher. At the time he’s pitching a great game. He had only given up three runs, just one of them earned. You got to fight for your pitcher, you got to support your team and get some runs for him.”

The Harrison momentum would be short lived as Mike Matteis led off with a walk off a tiring Flores and Ken Partyka reached on an error. Winning pitcher Shawn Waldron then launched a two-run double to break the tie.

Gabe Toledo and Abramo would add RBI singles in the four-run sixth to break it open.

Waldron struck out six, allowing three runs on five hits, two walks and two hit batters over five innings to pick up the victory. Matteis pitched two scoreless innings to close out the game. Joe Crabbe tripled, walked and was hit by a pitch to lead the offense and Toledo scored two runs.

Flores allowed seven runs (three earned) in six innings with six hits, four walks, a hit by pitch and four strikeouts. Ferriero struck out two in a perfect seventh inning.

With four losses in their last five games, the Blue Tide are limping into Saturday’s Hudson County Tournament opener against No. 5 seed and defending champion Hoboken. Last year, Harrison delivered a stunning upset of St. Peter’s Prep.

“We’re ready for the tournament,” Dolaghan said. “We’re geared up for the tournament.

“We just got to play perfect baseball, we haven’t done that yet. We got to get a couple more guys on base, play a little small ball, tighten things up at a couple of places. We’ll be alright.”

Harrison's Felipe Flores struck out four batters over six innings yesterday. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

Hasbrouck Heights at Harrison Baseball Photo Gallery