The Courier-News from Bridgewater, New Jersey • Page 43

THE COURIER-NEWS HIGH SCHOOLS SUNDAY. JUNE 8. 1997 E-5 Immiaculata beaten in Parochial A final Late comeback attempt falls 2 runs short, 9-7 pifinu nt ii-i ii- i 1 1 nam mewm h-mi-m-ip-m i. 1 two runs and lasted just l' innings. "I just couldn't find my flow today, my timing was off.

It was just one of those days," said Martin, who'll play football at Princeton in the fall. Four Spartan pitchers gave up nine walks and 11 hits. Senior Matt Dawes, who relieved Martin in the second, walked in another run in the third. The Spartans also were stunned when Eustace freshman Brett Stambolian, a pinch runner, stole home in the third on Dawes' second pitch. A two-run single by Mike Appalucci made it 8-1 going into the bottom of the third inning.

"It was a total team effort up and down the lineup and Drew Chiesa did a great job, an MVP job. He did it all with his heart," said Eustace coach Sam Tropiano, referring to his starting left-handed pitcher. After falling behind 2-0, Immaculata manufactured one in its half of the first. Martin walked and raced to second when Chiesa overthrew first base on a pickoff attempt. Cust then ripped a long flyout to center that allowed Martin to tag and go to third.

Allan drove in Martin with another long fly out to right. Immaculata began to pull itself together in the third. Martin had a one-out single and after Scott Westrick struck out looking, Cust followed with his first home run to make it 8-3. "I hit it a little bit off my fists, but I was able to get it high enough in the air that the wind got a hold of it," Cust said. Chiesa settled in, retiring nine in a row before walking Cust on a 3-2 count with one out in the sixth.

Allan then followed with a two-run homer that curved just fair inside the right field foul pole that made it 8-5. Junior Tim Lemke next hit a sharp single and Dawes reached on an infield error. At that point, Tropiano replaced Chiesa with junior Mike Maley, who got Anthony Rotola to ground out to second on his first pitch. "I was a little over-anxious and I got jammed," Rotola said. He also got pinch hitter Kevin Cust Jack Cust's freshman brother on a groundout to third to end the inning.

Immaculata was able to stay close By HARRY FREZZA JR. Courier-News Staff Writer TOMS RIVER The Immaculata baseball team left the Parochial A championship game without a title Saturday, falling 9-7 when a homer-fueled comeback fell two runs short. The Spartans, trailing Bishop Eustace of Pennsauken 8-1 after two and a half innings, rallied with two home runs from Jack Cust and solo homers from Scott Allan and Mickey Martin, but couldn't quite catch the Crusaders. The Somerset County, North Parochial A and Mountain Valley, Mountain Division champs finished one of the school's most memorable seasons with a 27-3 record. "Coach was saying that this was going to be one of the greatest comebacks in state tournament history, he had all of us believing it," said Cust, referring to Immaculata skipper Tom Gambino.

Cust's homers were his 14th and 15th of the season. "But it turned out to be too little, too late." The Spartans fell behind 2-0 in the first inning for the third straight game, then saw the Eustace lead balloon to 8-1 before scratching back to get the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Spartans had six hits four of them home runs. Cust, selected 30th in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft earlier in the week by the Arizona Diamondbacks, hit a windblown shot and a mammoth solo job, both over the right field fence. Martin, who took the loss on the mound, slammed a solo home run over the left center field fence.

Cust was realistic about the Spartans' day. "We were usually the team that scored all the runs and got all the hits, but it was a matter of time before somebody came out and did the same thing to us give them credit," he said. The Spartans hurt themselves on several fronts. Martin, starting because state rules prohibited No. 1 starter Allan from pitching on two days rest, had trouble with his control.

He walked in Courier-News photo by J.T. Greilick Immaculata teammates congratulate Scott Allan (No. 10) after he hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning of Saturday's game vs. Bishop Eustace. because of an outstanding relief job Nick Italiano.

Appalucci then tripled field fence. Allan then grounded to stolen base and the run in the seventh by sophomore Eric Hilgenberg. to right to give the Crusaders a 9-5 Maley, ending the game. hurt a lot." Hilgenberg held Eustace scoreless for lead. "We didn't want to just come here three innings before Jack Cust came But the Spartans weren't done, and be happy with that, but you can't Bish0D Eustace (30.3) 233000 1-911 2 in for the seventh.

After Mike Sanders grounded out to expect to come down here and walk immaculata (27-3) -J-ZZZl'102 002 2-7 6 0 Cust walked Zach Fazio to start the short, leading off the seventh, Martin nine people and win," Immaculata's inning. Tom Cuneo pinch ran for slugged his solo shot and Cust also Gambino said. "The confidence was Fazio and was sacrificed to second by crushed a Maley pitch over the right definitely there to come back, but that Drew chiesa (7-0), lp: Mickey Martin (4-1 CRUSADERS: Finish perfect year Del Val drops Group 2 final Central Jersey Group 2 titles. "I couldn't have asked for a better season. The team was wonderful and I love them all.

They all worked hard all year," said senior pitcher Jenn Berghoff. "To go 28-0 is pretty commendable." The Seton Hall-bound Berghoff had a solid effort on the mound and at the plate. She went 2-for-3 with a walk and run scored and recorded ten strikeouts with two walks. Delaware Valley led 1-0 going into the fifth, but a series of infield errors allowed Morris Hills (29-2) to tie the game. Berghoff then settled down, retiring nine of her last 11 batters, before the eighth.

Leading off the final inning for Morris Hills, designated hitter Angie Hawkins smacked a single to left. After a wild pitch and a passed ball put her on third, Berghoff walked the next two batters to load the bases. Catcher Lisa Stewart grounded a shot to second baseman Meghan Wohltman, who bobbled the ball and threw home. Hawkings beat the throw to end the game. What had to hurt Delaware Valley By TODD COHEN Courier-News Staff Writer TOMS RIVER The Delaware Valley Softball team certainly had a memorable 1997 season, but the Terriers would like to forget the way it ended.

Playing in Saturday's state Group 2 final, the Terriers squandered several opportunities before Morris Hills converted one in the eighth to drop Del Val, 2-1. The loss was the first for the Terriers, who concluded the season with a 28-1 record. Despite the disappointing loss, Delaware Valley head coach Asa Whi-taker called this the most satisfying season he's seen in his 10-year tenure. "Of course there's this little blemish at the end, but I'm very, very proud of our team. I thought they were great all year," Whitaker said.

"We had our chances, they had their chances, and it was two great teams locking up." During their 28-game winning streak, the Terriers captured the Sky-land Conference-Raritan Divison crown and HunterdonWarren and 1ST 7 Continued from Page E-1 The Bucknell-bound Calderone served as the catalyst in the fourth, too, when the Crusaders put the game away with two runs. She lead off the inning with a double to left, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Jaime Micklos' infield hit. Yarashas's RBI single plated Jan-nuzzi, who walked, stole second and moved to third on Micklos' single. "We've had a lot of close games lately, bottom of seventh tying run on third, that type of thing," Yarashas said, referring to the 2-1 win over Florence Wednesday. "We wanted to hit it's our last game nothing close." Yarahsas' golden right arm made sure it wouldn't be close.

She struck out four straight Panthers and five of six in a stretch bridging the third and fourth innings. Only Wallington senior shortstop Julie Vierzchalek who twice singled sharply to center could touch Yarashas. After allowing a leadoff double to Dawn Zanetti in the fifth, Yarashas retired the final nine Panther batters. When Theresa Rozek grounded out to second to end the game, it gave Bound Brook another title to cap its splendid season. But amidst the joy there was also a twinge of sadness knowing the careers of seven seniors who have given so much will never wear the Crusader colors again.

"As a senior I never wanted that inning to end," Yarashas said. "I wish it could have gone and on and on. Jaime, Eleana and I have played on this team for four years and it's a little emotional to leave." Micklos expressed similar sentiments. "As a senior I just can't ask for anything more," she said. "We've done all we possibly could.

I'm just going to miss everyone so much next ll I I .4 4 Courier-News photo by J.T. Greilick Delaware Valley's Kelly Milo, left, catches a pop fly despite nearly crashing into teammate Kerry McGovern during Saturday's game. was that they wasted several opportunities, leaving six runners on base. "We had our chances," said Whitaker. "This was a game where one hit was going to do it, but we just couldn't get that one base hit to get that second run in." Berghoffsaid it wasn't her endurance that was a problem but Morris Hills' persistence at the plate.

"They were timing me, and they were hitting me. It doesn't take a lot," she said. "A team that doesn't come "up with every play in the bottom of the eighth inning in the state final is not going to win." Delaware Valley's only run came in the first inning. Berghoff started the game by hitting a shallow dribbler to left that put her on first. She advanced to second on a Kelly McGovern single up the middle.

Kelly Koehler followed with a line drive single that tipped off the third baseman's glove to score Berghoff and put McGovern on second. A mixup in signals between Whitaker and McGovern may have cost the Terriers another run, as McGovern was picked off third on a botched double steal. "We had a little miscommunica-tion," Whitaker said. "I had a hunch we might get our second run on that. We seemed like we had them on their heels, but it just didn't work out." "We wanted this so bad," said junior designated hitter Niccole Wyd-ner, who had a double in the fifth for the Terriers.

"We have worked together and been so strong, and we've come back from this type of deficit all the time, but this time it didn't work," she said. "To lose it in the bottom of the eighth is just absolutely devastating." (Mawar Valley (28-1) 100 000 00-1 I 4 Morrla HIM (29-2) 000 010 01-2 0 DoublM: DV: Nkxola Wydnar; MH: Kim Jackson (2). WP Chnsty Vuono (26-2). LP Jenn Berghotl (28-1). 1 sj if Looking for that perfect gift for Father's Day? Courier-News photo by J.T.

Greilick Bound Brook's Jen Zappulla, right, hit the dirt on this play after falling over first base in front of Wallington's Dawn Zanetti. year. It's a little sad knowing it was ooo 3 my last game and knowing it sine last time I'm EOine tO DlaV With this twuWe Davm Zanetti; BB Eleana Calderone (2) ume im 10 jiwy wnu mis WP Heather Yarashas (29-0). LP Tara Pietiowiti (20- team. 5), I intra -'irinr -ii EWA has the most unique gift ideas for the Dad in your life dozens of British automotive magazines, hundreds of videos and auto book titles, and thousands of car models.

Mt. St. Mary 11-1 Dayton 15-0 Bernards 10-1 Immaculata 5-0 Middlesex 10-0 Edison 3-2 Immaculata 5-1 St. Mary's 32-1 Oak Knoll 10-0 Bernards 4-0 Roselle Park 10-2 Manville 2-1 Metuchen 6-2 Manville 3-2 Florence 2-1 Wallington 3-0 20 runs allowed May 1 May 8 May 10 May 12 May 13 May 15 May 17 May 19 May 20 May 21 May 22 May 24 May 27 May 29 June 4 June 7 240 runs for A game-by-game look at Bound Brook's 1997 undefeated campaign. Date Opponent Score April 3 Manville 3-0 April 5 Mt.

St. Dominic 9-1 April 7 Immaculata 5-0 April 9 Mt. St. Mary 13-0 April 10 St. Mary's 5-1 April 11 Dayton 13-0 April 14 New Provdence 2-0 April 15 Middlesex 5-1 April 16 Johnson Regional 5-3 April 22 Roselle Park 6-0 April 23 Gov.

Livingston 1-0 April 24 New Providence 14-0 April 25 Oak Knoll 16-0 April 29 Manville 6-0 April 30 Somerville 6-0 20 OFF WEEKEND SALE JUNE 6-8 and JUNE 13-15 All in stock items (except magazines) with this coupon. Cannot be combined. The EWA Model Car Center 205 Route 22 Eastbound (across from Crystal Motors) Green Brook 424-0200 Open 7 Days! Website: www.ewacars.com -Somerset County Tournament -State tournament i.