The Philadelphia Inquirer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 6

MONDAY June 12, 1989 7-C SOUTH JERSEY SPORTS A Ho West captures Gronp 4 crowii Murphy, DiGrazio star in 11-3 victor k. Poat, who had struck out 128 walked 38 in 77 innings enteringTUIe game, was named the starter 'Jwt before the game. He walked Wu2s first two hitters Shawn Senior Sffd Nein. After both runners advanmi on a wild pitch, Poat served a twe-run triple to the hghthanded-hittSg DiGrazio, who slammed a 21 breaking ball over the rightfieldcr's "He was hitting the outside cQf-ner," said DiGrazio, a senior firet baseman, "and I went with trie pitch." DiGrazio scored on a wild pitoh, knotting the score at 3-3. In the second, Poat began the inning by issuing a five-pitch walk to Jason Sunken.

After the walk, Poit exchanged positions with first baseman Schunke, a junior righthander with a 7-2 record. The pitching change didn't change West Milford's fortunes. Josh Weinstein walked. Paul Najo-li then advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. After Senior grounded out, Nein was hit by a pitch, loading the bases.

J1( DiGrazio, who raised his average to .485, then bounced a two-run single to right, giving the Lions a 5-3 lead. And another run scored on trie play as first baseman Poat's relay throw sailed wildly past home plate. West used three singles including a run-scoring infield hit by and a balk to score two fourth-inning runs and build an 8-3 lead. The Lions then put the game reach by bunching three walks, Picollo's single, Lou Tortual's sacrifice fly and two wild pitches to produce three sixth-inning runs. Two of the runs scored on wild pitches.

The ghosts of the last two yegrs were dead. Cherry Hill West was a state champion. At last, i C.H. WEST 11, W. MILFORD 3 W.

Milford ab bi C.H. Watt ab hoi Reilly.ss 4 110 Senior.cf 2 2 0 0 i ff Hi Cherry Hill West players carry I J. Bulldogs breeze to MM Itate title irit -T Carpenter stops Wallington, 7-1 McKee Jmjuirrr Muff Writer PRINCETON Haddonfield used bitting, pitching, defense and timing "TO'win a state championship yester-day. been telling this team all year that they hadn't played their best 1 baseball game," said coach Dick Eastwick. "I think today they did." timing was perfect.

The Bull- dogs crushed Wellington. 7-1, to win the NJSIAA Group 1 championship in a game that was never in doubt. They got timely hitting, nearly air-tight -defense enlivened by several plays, and excellent pitching by junior staff ace Casey Carpen-zttir. raised its record to 17-5 and won its third state championship since the advent of statewide playoffs in 1971. The Bulldogs had Group 2 titles in both that inau- 2 gural tournament and again the next year.

They had not won even a South Jersey title in the intervening 17 years. But the 'Dogs flogged three differ-1 cnt Wallington pitchers for 10 hits I yesterday, including triples by Alex Creighton and Darin Domenico, plus a double by Frank Moran. Shortstop Riley Thorndike drove in a pair of runs and centerfielder Mike Robin-wSoji scored three while also contributing a fine running catch in deep left center. Wallington finished 24-4. Overshadowing everything was the strong pitching job turned in by Carpenter, who had a no-hitter into Ihe fifth inning and did not permit a hhi until the seventh.

The junior righthander struck out seven five in the first four innings and raised his record to 9 0. He won the South Jersey championship, the state semifinal and the state championship in a span of nine days. "The team loves playing behind jCarpenter," said Eastwick, "because 'they know we're gonna get a solid 6fTort every time out." Carpenter attributes his command to his "sinker curve." like a curve, but it drops a bit," he said. "I picked it up playing wiffle "ball in my backyard." Wiffle ball? '1 was playing around with differ-ert ways to throw the ball," he said, I came up with this sinker -curve. I tried it was a baseball and it worked, so I began using it in jayvee "games last year." Carpenter did not permit a hit until Haddonfield had established a 4-0 lead, and didn't give trre Panthers a run until his team safely ahead, 7-0, in the last in- "Losing the no-hitter didn't bother me," he said.

"That stuff's nice, but I want to win the game first." The Bulldogs actually won the game with their first two batters, both of whom walked. Sophomore teftfielder Rob Naticchia drove in -one with a single and the second 'scored on a passed ball. Haddonfield expanded its lead to 4-0 in the third, when Creighton drove "i triple to the center-field wall and scored on a perfect suicide-squeeze bunt by Thorndike. Moran doubled Hn a run later in the inning and the Bulldogs were coasting. Domenico's triple started the two- fourth, with Robinson driving him in.

Robinson later scored on a ball. doubled to start the sixth, with Thorndike singling him HADDONFIELD 7, WALLINGTON 1 Wellington ab bi Haddonfield ab rhbi Abboud cf 1 uomen o. I i. 1 10 11 Robinson, cf 3 3 2 1 3 0 0 0 Naticchia. If 3 0 11 3 0 10 Craight'n.

3b 3 12 0 3 0 0 0 Thorn ke, ss 3 0 12 2 00 0 Wiedm lb 3 100 3 0 10 Moran. 2 0 2 1 3 12 0 Granite, rf 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Stewart, dh 3 0 10 Kruk. 3b fdHn'ski. ss Kudalacik. ff Maflrini.

2b p. 1b 3b, cl Raabe. Monaco, dh laute hn. If Total 26 Wallington Haddonfield 2B: Moran. 2 00 0 3 00 0 1 1 Total 25 710 5 000 000 1 1 207 201 7 3B: Creighton, Domenico.

Zauncrtowski: Domenico 2. ''Thorndike. SB Robinson 2, Wiedeman, Creighton, Granite. Lautechahn, Zaunczkowski, Raabe; Robinson. PB Raabe 2.

LOB. 10 Wallington IP 3 5 2 3 1 2 IP BB SO 3 1 2 1 2 0 BB SO Poltarak (I, 6-3I Velhs Haddonfield IW. 9-0) 7 3 7 i Umpires: Rich Giovinaiii. i Harvey Hoovis. Time: Gorden Bocher, Baseball schedule Today COLONIAL CONFERENCE Colfingswood at Haddonfield, 2 30 Tomorrow 'BURLCO LIBERTY LEAGUE Itloly Cross at Pemberton, 3 45 Softball schedule rjOday THI COUNTY CONFERENCE at Pennsville, 3 Special to The Inquirer ELIZABETH VOBHAUEB coach Tom Trotman off the field after win over West Milford.

By Sam Carchidi leeuirtr Staff Writer PRINCETON Chris Murphy's first pitch was lined to left by Kevin Reilly. Single. Murphy, a Cherry Hill West senior righthander, then fell off the mound and was unable to field Tom Taw-pash's bunted popup. Single. Before the Inning was over, West Milford had used Andy Glueck's two-run single, a walk and Brian Schunke's run-scoring infield single drilled off Murphy's right arm to build a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

For Murphy the losing pitcher during the 1987 and 1988 state finals it was not a perfect beginning to yesterday's Group 4 state championship game. Just a perfect ending. Murphy allowed only one hit over the final six innings and teammate Dean DiGrazio who missed the first seven games this season because of a broken right hand went 3 for 3 with four RBIs, steering Cherry Hill West to an 11-3 win over West Milford (22-3). With about 800 fans watching at sunny Princeton University, West won its first state title since the NJSIAA initiated the state-wide tournament in 1971. West was the Group 3 runner-up during each of the previous two seasons.

"They were hitting my fastball in the first inning," said Murphy, now 8-0 this season. "After that, I just went with my off-speed pitches and was able to keep them off-balance." West (24-1-1) managed only seven hits but was aided by nine walks and a hit batsman. The Lions did not strike out. Eight of West's 1 1 runs were scored by players who walked or were hit by a pitch. West had three three-run innings and had only one hit in each of those frames.

In other words, walks killed West Mil ford's title hopes. In addition to DiGrazio, third base- -man Pat Neln, the No. 2 hitter In the order, triggered the offense for West, reaching base in all four of his at-bats (two walks, single, hit by a pitch) and scoring three runs. Steve Cohen, who pinch-ran for Nein in the sixth, also scored. Trailing 3-0, it didn't take West long to make a comeback against senior righthander Cory Poat (11-1).

Poat, who made 145 pitches in Thursday's state semifinals, labored through one-plus inning as he walked four, yielded four runs and suffered his first loss. one more hit. Maybe Dean DiGrazio's two-run triple in the bottom of the first helped calm down Murphy. Or maybe DiGrazio's words before he slammed the triple had a settling effect. "1 told him not to worry about it; that we're a high-scoring club, and that if he'd keep them down, we'd score a lot of runs," DiGrazio said.

The Lions did just that. DiGrazio who is 5 for 6 with five RBIs in the last two state finals led the way with three hits and four RBIs. And, so, the Lions, who are ranked No. 1 in The Inquirer's South Jersey ratings and No. 5 in USA Today's national ratings, climbed to the top of the Group 4 mountain.

They did it against a starting pitcher Cory Poat who brought an 11-0 record into the game. Poat was pitching with only two days' rest. And it showed. "When I saw how he was throwing," Trotman said, "I knew we'd score runs." Poat lasted only until early in the second inning. Then West, showing the bases with one out, a double play started by Stowell went from pitcher to catcher to first.

Paramus stranded six runners in the first four innings, and eight for the game. "We left runners on base and they didn't," Cervino said. Edgewood scored for the last time in the fifth inning on consecutive singles by Bruce and Allen Stowell, and Middleman. Paramus got its only run in the sixth inning when pinch: hitter Steve Franco drove, home pinch-runner Eric McNamara. McNa-mara had come into the game for catcher Brian Hay, who led off the inning with a single.

McNamara got into scoring position when Joe Cola-meo walked. "After they scored, there was no more pressure to get the shutout," Bruce Stowell said. "I just went for the win. With us getting the lead, I was able to challenge them and get the outs in the field." Stowell gave up a leadoff single when Paramus came to bat for the final time, but a force-out, strikeout and a fly to center caught by Jamal Victory is sweet with Cherry Hill West on to By SAM CARCHIDI whipped cream. Then applying the toppings.

Victory was sweet. Sweeter, in fact, than any of the other 320 wins in Trotman's 20-year career. "Yes. This is it," Trotman said. "You reach for goals.

And this this is the ultimate." Especially after West's two other appearances in the state final. In 1987, West lost to Pascack Hills, 6-4, in the Group 3 final. "We were just happy to get there that year," said Chris Murphy, who was the starting pitcher (but not the loser) and allowed three runs in two innings. Tawpash.cf '3 02 0- Nem.rf 1 4 10 0 Cohen.pr Glueck.lf 4 112 0K3rJio.1p 0-1-f0 3J24 4 0 10 200J 3 aw 2-1 0 2'0 1 000 Poat.p-1b. 2 00 0 Picpllo.c Pierro.rf "'3 00 0 Torlual.dh Schunke.

Ib-p 2 011 Lewin.as Sedlack.2b 2 00 0 Sunken. 2b DeRobertis.ph 1 00 0 Weinstein, 3b Freeland.dh 2 00 0 Napoli.lf Peterson.c 0 0 0 McArdle.oh 1 00 0 Total 23 3 5 3 Total 2011 7 6 W. Milford 300 000 0 3 C.H. Wast 330 203 11 Picollo, Weinstein, Murphy, Peterson. 2B Lewm.

3B DiGraiio. SB SunSett. Senior, Post. SF DP WM 1. 1J3B CHW 4.

WM 6. W. Milford IP Poat (L. 11-1) 1 1 Schunke 5 6 C.H. West IP Murphy (W.

8-0 7 5 ER BB 0 4 4 40 7 7 "0 ER BB'SO 3 2 3JB Time: 2:15. Umpires: Joa Oranchak. fitaw Gavigan and John Lynam. mihm ri great discipline at the plate -the Lions drew nine walks and difnot strike out continued to pil.e,yp runs against reliever Brian Schunke. "It's a great feeling, because when you're declared No.

1 early in tjie season, it puts a lot of pressurcon you," Trotman said. "And when you stay there, it shows the type of kids you have the type of character." "We stayed in a hotel up here Tast night," said West catcher Picoljo, who will talk with Cincinnati Reds officials this week and then decide whether to sign with the team which drafted him last week or to attend North Carolina State, "and all we talked about was this game. Ami I think that helped." "It was the first time we stayedtip here overnight," Trotman said, "and I think it relaxed them. It tooluthe edge off a long bus ride." "We've all grown up together, we're the best friends," Picbllo added, and we wanted to have a game we could remember together." Consider it done, J.J. covered Herrin sealed the victory.

"I had a dream that we'd have'an offensive barrage today, and that we'd win big," Lee said. "It came true." EDGEWOOD 11, PARAMUS 1 Edgewood ab bi Paramus D.B 2 2 10 ab hbi 4 000 4 OVO 3 040 2 Ot-O 0 100 m0 3 02 1, 0 000 0 000 2 OTJO 1 000 Wood, 3b 5 12 1 Conte.3b Cooey, 1b Stowell, Rucci.pr A Stowell, 4 02 2 4 0 2 2 Hay.c 0 10 0 McN mara.pr' 5 12 1 Colameo.sB 0 0 0 0 Fiol.cf 5 13 1 Amerio.rf Middleman.rf A.Bart 4 2 3 1 Franco.pr Oehler.lf 2 2 0 0 Sabino.p Gambone.ph Herrin, cf Masters, ph 1 00 0 3 112 Moffatt.p 100 0 Lopata.p 0 000 1. 0 10 2 O00 26 11 bklar.lt Bloom.lf Total 3611 1610 Total Edgewood 223 320 011 Paramus 000 001 Oi- 1 Hernn, Conte 2. SB Rurtninmon 9 28 Middleman. 3B A.

Bartolomeo. HRJ-A. Stowell (51. DP Edgewood 2, lud cogewooa raramus 8 Edoewood BB SO 4 6 BB SO 2 0 u-i 1 2-2 1 0 B. Stowell (W, 7-0) Paramus Sabino (L, 3-5) Stern D'Addetta Moffatt Lopata 0 1 Time: 2:33.

Umpires: Joa MrDvre Al Man- cini and Paul Collins. i In that game, West blew a 3-0 first-inning lead. West again lost to Pascack Hills, 10-1, in last year's Group 3 final as Murphy yielded eight runs (six earned) in 4 innings. "Murph wasn't himself," Trotman said. Murphy had a reason: He had been injured in a car accident two days before the state final, and had 30 stitches in his face.

Yesterday, Murphy wasn't himself, either. At least not in the top of the first inning, when he allowed four hits and three runs. "I said, 'Here we go he said. "If they scored one more run," Trotman said, "ILoul Tortual was coming in." He paused. "But after the first batter, they really didn't hit the ball that hard.

And that's usually the criterion I use before I pull a pitcher out." After the first inning, Murphy, using primarily breaking balls, pitched six shutout innings and allowed only inning, and a fourth-inning home run by Allen Stowcll. Third baseman Briton Wood, first baseman Brian Cooey, and the Stowell twins (Bruce and Allen) had two-hit days for Edgewood. And Middleman and Bartolomeo each came through with three. "We knew their first five hitters were really good, and every time they got up there, they seemed to get a hit," said Paramus coach Joe Cer-vino. "They hit every pitcher we threw at them." Edgewood added to its 2-0 lead with a two-run second inning, and three more Eagles scored in the third and fourth innings to make the score 10-0.

Paramus, which got seven hits off Stowell, put two runners on base in each of the first three innings, but Edgewood's tight defense kept the Spartans from crossing the plate. A third-to-second-to-first double play in the first inning ended one threat. Stowell got a strikeout and a fly out after giving up back-to-back singles in the second. And in the third inning, when Paramus loaded Edgewood kept the bases PRINCETON Ten minutes after it was over, Cherry Hill West High baseball coach Tom Trotman looked like a walking ice-cream sundae. Whipped cream covered Trotman's face, hair and back.

So did jimmies. And cherries. Victory was sweet. Especially this victory. After losing in the state final in its two previous seasons, Cherry Hill West overcame an early 3-0 deficit and trounced West Milford, 11-3, to win the NJSIAA Group 4 state championship yesterday.

It was the Lions' first state baseball championship, and it triggered some memorable moments There was catcher J.J. Picollo and his mom hugging joyously behind home plate, tears in their eyes. There was Trotman's wife, Mi-chele, racing into the dugout and leaping into her husband's arms, planting a long-awaited victory kiss. There were the West players, coming from all angles, and spraying Trotman with can after can of Prolific By Kevin Tatum ltuurvt Muff Wrrfer PRINCETON It didn't matter who was on the mound for Paramus yesterday in the state Group 3 championship game. Edgewood greeted them all the same way with base hits.

With all but one player in its starting lineup getting at least one hit, Edgewood (17-5) mounted a 16-hit attack that buried Paramus early, en route to an 11-1 win at Princeton Universiiy. The triumph marked the first time since 1979 that Edgewood had claimed a state championship. The Eagles also took the crown in 1978 for coach Bob Lee. Edgewood has now won all three of its appearances in a state final. "It felt great the first time, it was great the second time and this is just as great," Lee said.

"This is a confident bunch, and they like to go after people. We try to win every inning, and we lost only one today." Paramus (23-8) sent five pitchers out to face Edgewood, and only the last of those escaped without giving Baseball results NJSIAA state finals GROUP i Haddonfield 7. Wallington 1 GJ10UP 2 Bridgewater-Raritan W. 7, Rutherford 2 GROUP 3 Edgewood 11, Paramus 1 GROUP 4 Cherry Hill West 11, W. Milford 3 PAROCHIAL A Don Bosco 3, St.

Joseph's (M) 1 PAROCHIAL Manst 4, Bishop Eustace 1, 8 inns. up a run. The Spartans' starter, junior Justin Sabino (3-5), was replaced after the first three Eagle batters of the game reached base on a pair of walks sandwiched around a single. Winning pitcher Bruce Stowcll (7-0), the next batter, welcomed reliever Ken Stern to the game with a two-run single, and the rout was on. Edgewood had three hits in each of the first five innings, and only in the sixth inning did it fail to get at least one.

Of the Eagles' final hit total, three went for extra bases a double by Steve Middleman and a triple by Anthony Bartolomeo in the third.