May 17, 2012

The St. Peter's Prep team pile up on Anthony Pilovsky after he scored the winning run. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

Weehawken at St. Peter's Prep Baseball Photo Gallery

JERSEY CITY –With their St. Peter’s Prep team one out away from elimination, Anthony Pilovsky and Jack McNulty were just hoping for one last chance at redemption.

Both had endured regrettable afternoons up to that point: Pilovsky had three strike outs, McNulty, a critical fifth inning error at third base and strikeout.

But the feelings pain and anguish of missed opportunities were instantly replaced with ones of joy and jubilation as St. Peter’s Prep got three-straight hits to stun Weehawken 5-4 in the semifinals of the Ed Ford Memorial Baseball Tournament at Caven Point.

“I just wanted to get up there. I wanted a chance to redeem myself,” McNulty said. “I felt like I had let the team down a little bit earlier in the game. I’m just glad I could come through in the end.”

First, the second-seeded Marauders (17-9), needed D.J. Wilson to keep the game alive against Weehawken’s David Strandberg, who had retired the previous eight batters. The Prep catcher worked out a walk, giving Pilovsky a fourth crack at the Indians’ hurler who had struck him out the prior three times.

This time the senior shortstop took a 2-2 fastball the other way for a single with the ball being mishandled in right field, enabling courtesy runner Sean Falzon to score the tying run and Pilovsky to advance to third.

“I knew (Strandberg) was getting me with the curve all game so I was looking for that curveball again,” said Pilovsky. “He gave it to me and I fouled it off. He threw another ball and I was looking for that curveball again, but he left a fastball a little up and I drove it to right-center.”

Eleventh-seeded Weehawken (14-10) handed the ball off to ace hurler Sal Mendez. McNulty took the second pitch he saw to right field for the game-winning hit as he was mobbed by teammates at first base moments after Pilovsky scored and was greeted at the plate.

“I knew I was going to take a pitch because I wanted to see what (Mendez) had. But I told myself anything in the zone I’m going to hack at and try to go the other way. It was belt high. I was pretty happy they gave me another one because the first one I took was a pretty good pitch to hit. I was hoping I’d get another one.”

“Those two kids had nothing to really hang their hats on and go up there with except good old-fashioned guts,” St. Peter’s Prep coach Pat Laguerre said. “They hung in there. Jack’s a very mentally-tough kid. I knew he would fight back and I knew he just wanted an opportunity. Anthony the same, I knew they wanted an opportunity to help the team and they did that.”

St. Peter’s Prep had scored three times in the bottom of the third to take the lead with Matt Halchak scoring on a wild pitch and a two-run triple by Wilson.

Weehawken would rally after a Strandberg grounder went between McNulty’s legs with two outs in the fifth. Another Marauder error allowed Rafael Totesault to score the Indians’ first run and J.J. Pineda followed with a two-run single to tie the game.

Prep loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom half of the inning, but Strandberg escaped the threat with strikeouts of Pilovsky and McNulty followed by a comebacker to the mound from Jason Uliano.

Standberg doubled with one out in the top of the seventh and came around to score two batters later when Pineda hit a single just beyond the reach of a diving T. J. Ward at first base.

Standberg allowed five runs (four earned) on four hits, six walks and three hit batters over 6.2 innings in a gutty performance. He also scored two runs. Pineda was 2-for-4 with three RBI and Dante Cieri was 2-for-4 for Weehawken.

Wilson was 1-for-2 with two walks and two RBI for the Marauders. Ryan OConnor was 1-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base. Ward was hit twice, walked and stole two bases and McNulty was 1-for-2 with a walk and hit by pitch.

Starting pitcher Anthony Pacillo struck out nine over five innings, allowed no earned runs on four hits. Winning pitcher Mike Doran  pitched the final two innings, striking out two while allowing two hits.

With the victory, St. Peter’s Prep will face fourth-seeded Marist in the championship game on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at Caven Point.

Weehawken catcher J.J. Pineda had three RBI, including the go-ahead run in the seventh. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

Weehawken at St. Peter's Prep Baseball Photo Gallery