The Record from Hackensack, New Jersey • 243

yr o-i Hign bcnooi, THfc HtWHU, bUNUAT, JUNt 8, 1 Passaic's title drive is cut short By Ron Fox Stafl Writer TEANECK The rain had ended, but so had Passaic High School's baseball season. Coach Len Domino's angry voice rang through the tunnel leading from the Fairleigh Dickinson University field Friday as home plate umpire Dick Champion hurried to the parking lot. The Indians' quest for the school's first sectional baseball championship ended suddenly when, with Passaic trailing Bayonne 1-0 in the I'D 8 Jm I tit A V' (I AVI bottom of the sixth, the game was stopped by Champion, who cited dangerous playing conditions. Bayonne, which was batting with the bases loaded and one out when the game was called, was declared the winner of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association's Group 4 Section 1 title. Group 4 baseball Domino's complaints couldn't overturn the decision, but that didn't stop him.

"Baloney," Domino yelled. "It rained really hard, but it stopped, and the field was no worse than it was when they let us play. It's not fair to end our season like this, after the kids worked so hard." Passaic right-hander Marcos Ortiz gave up only one hit, a line single to center by Bayonne pitcher Steve Lombardi with two out in the first inning. The only run scored in the second inning without a hit. A walk, a wild pitch, another walk, and another wild pitch put runners on second and third, and Ortiz's pickoff attempt to second base struck runner Chris Barry in the helmet and caromed into center field, allowing John Budinick to score from third.

Passaic had runners in scoring position twice. Peter Diaz was safe on an error with one out in the first inning, but was cut down at third base on an odd double play. Jose Lopez grounded out, third base to first, with Diaz breaking for third as third baseman Brian Cotter released the ball. First baseman Barry fired to third to erase Diaz. "The kid made a perfect throw," Domino said as he returned from his vantage point, the third base coach's box.

"It was perfect." Passaic's biggest chance came in the top of the fourth inning, one inning after Lombardi struck out the side. Ortiz lined a single to left to open the fourth and, after a strikeout, stole second base. Lopez walked, and both advanced a base as Terrence McKinney bounced to first base. But Lombardi struck out Troy Giles on a 1-2 pitch to end the inning. Champion gave Passaic a break when he chose not to halt the game after the fifth inning.

Ortiz opened the top of the sixth with a single, but Diaz's sharp liner was caught in left field, and the next two batters hit into force plays. Then, in a heavy rain, Bayonne loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning on two walks and a throwing error. Ortiz, who walked seven, made Chris Barry his fifth strikeout victim before Champion stopped the game. After an 11-minute delay, the umpires checked the field and then called the game official. "We might have pulled off a double play and got out of the inning.

And then we had our best hitter Giles coming up," Domino said. "Who knows? Maybe they would have broken Xr rV Staff photo by Robert S. Townsend Passaic's Peter Diaz looks for the call after being tagged by Bayonne' Brian Cotter at third base. Diaz was out trying to steal in Bayonne's 1-0 sectional final win. the game wide open with a hit, but either way, we should have been allowed to keep playing.

When it's raining cats and dogs, they don't hold play up. But they call it when there's not a raindrop falling." "I know how he feels," Bayonne coach Tom Bujnowski said as he looked toward the raging Domino. "He's bitter and he has a right to after his kids got this far. When it's raining so hard and there's no tarpaulin to cover the field, you have to expect this. It was puddling around home plate." Bujnowski appeared relieved to be moving on to Tuesday's state semifinals at Montclair State against Elizabeth.

He has a young team and an erratic pitching staff. "This has got to be Lombardi's best game," he said. "He had very bad control troubles early in the year. Against Hudson Catholic, he couldn't get the ball over the plate, and I had to take him out. But he had it today." Passaic which had hammered out 68 extra-base hits in 28 previous games had only two hits, both by Ortiz.

The Indians stayed in the game because of strong defense. Bayonne had a runner at second with two out in the first, but first baseman Vinny Capuana's diving stab of a line drive saved a run and ended the inning. Right fielder Willie Santiago ran a long way to make a catch in foul territory down the line in the second inning, and third baseman Carlos Alicea backhanded a hot shot and threw out Stan Gut in the third inning. And, finally, shortstop Diaz made a slick pivot to pull off a 1-6-3 double play in the fourth. "We didn't hit the ball; that's the bottom line," Domino added.

"We couldn't get the key hit, but I can't believe he Champion called it. I'm shocked. The season shouldn't end like this." Mistakes sink Pompton Lakes Staff file photo by Al Pagllone Wyckoff Max Middendorf hopes to be play right wing on an all-rookie line for the Quebec Nordiques next fall. Nordiques sign St Joseph star to pro contract By Tom Capezzuto Correspondent The transition from high school hockey stardom to highly competitive play in the Ontario Hockey League has brought a myriad of changes in Max Middendorf 's lifestyle. On the ice, the Wyckoff teen-ager now plays for a paycheck, not only for pride and expense money.

Hockey Middendorf, who turns 19 in August, had 44 goals and 45 assists in his second season with the Sudbury Wolves; he had 16 goals and 28 assists as a rookie in 1984-85. His aggressive style of play has earned him not only respect from his competitors in the OHL, but last month it also earned him his first professional contract with the Quebec Nordiques, who had selected him in the third round of last June's National Hockey League entry draft. "I signed a two-year contract with an option year after my agent negotiated with the Nordiques for most of the season," said Middendorf. "The Nordiques told my agent, Gus Badali, that their fourth line will consist of rookies next season. I figure that at least eight right wingers will be in camp in September, and the team will select four.

I'm intending to give it my best shot." Middendorf, who stands 6-foot-4, 197 pounds, got off to a fast start last year, ranking among the OHL's top 10 scorers before tailing off the second half of the season. "I had 28 goals before Christmas and I should have finished the season with more goals," he said. "But I had a bad hand from fighting, so I had to stop scrapping so much. I've got a couple of disfigured knuckles." The Wolves finished fifth in the eight-team Emms Division after teetering between second and third place for most of the season. Middendorf attributes trades and injuries to the team's poor finish, which included a first-round playoff loss to Guelph, the eventual Memorial Cup champion.

Middendorf also played for Team USA in the World Junior Tournament in Hamilton, Ontario, last December. He had two goals and a pair of assists in seven games as the team won a bronze medal. The long season finally caught up with Middendorf, and he contracted the flu in the closing weeks of the season. "There are a lot of guys in this league under contract to professional teams," said Middendorf, who is spending part of his summer working out with weights and serving as a restaurant host near his Wyckoff home. "I have found it to be a lot of hard work, but I know that the rewards are there." Sudbury, in northern Ontario, is a long way from St.

Joseph Regional High School in Montvale, but Middendorf sees the road to Quebec getting shorter all the time. "I'm looking forward to one day playing right wing for the Nordiques," said Middendorf, who has one year of junior eligibility remaining. "I'll be working hard to get there as soon as possible." By Ron Fox Staff Writer EWING There is no simple or logical reason why Pompton Lakes did not win a New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Group 1 softball championship yesterday. The Cardinals' 10-2 loss to Hoffman of South Am-boy will remain a puzzle for some time. On paper, the reasons for the loss Group 1 softball appear clear.

An unbeaten pitcher, Hoffman's Dawn Kaiser (19-0), gave up only one hit, a sharp single into left field by Lucy McMurtry with one out in the fifth inning. But Kaiser was far from overpowering. She was not fast, and she did not have outstanding control. In fact, many of her pitches arrived as ground balls. Pompton Lakes coach Eileen Stamler told her girls before the game to step up to the front of the batter's box against Kaiser.

"I had heard she threw low and that she was slow," Stamler said. "But I didn't realize she'd be that slow. We just didn't make contact." Actually, the Cardinals did hit the ball, but Kaiser was backed by solid defense. The Pompton Lakes defense, however, made enough mistakes to give Hoffman the title. A nightmarish sixth inning cost the Cardinals the game.

The inning included six consecutive hits, but that doesn't begin to tell the story. The Governors started things Stan Musial Oumont 12, Lodi 0 (51) Dumoirt 100 OtO 3 12 10 0 (34) Ledl 000 000 0 0 2 4 28: D-Dubv. MR: D-Hrenenko. WP: Minor (1-0). LP: Bacco (0-2).

Creaaklll Oradell 1 (7-2) Creiskill 100 001 000 2 5 2 (3-4) Onddl 000 010 OOx 1 7 1 C-Romeo, Ferrara. lantrltr. C-Mugoeo, FuHs (I), and Zalkov; 0-Stanson and Dellarosa. WP: Muggeo (3-0). LP: Stanton (1-2).

with a walk, an error, and an infield hit. Two bloop singles into right field caused some damage, each driving in a run. Mickey Mantle RIVER VALE River Vale scored three runs without a hit in the bottom of the sixth yesterday to defeat Mahwah, 5-3, in a Mickey Mantle League baseball game. Mahwah led 3-2 going into the inning but two walks forced in runs and an error scored the third. Darren Rizzi went the distance for the win.

Stan Musial ORADELL Vic Ferarra drove in both runs and Bob Muggeo (3-0) scattered seven singles yesterday as Cresskill edged Oradell, 2-1 in the Stan Musial League. Ferrara doubled in a run in the top of the first and in the sixth singled in Jeff Pappas with the winning run. Oradell scored in the fifth on Paul Dunn's RBI base hit. DUMONT 12, LODI 0 Brian Hrenenko blasted a grand slam to trigger an eight-run fifth inning as Dumont raised its record to 5-3. Billy Duby drove in two runs and had a double and two singles in four at-bats for the winners.

Tom Minor allowed only two hits and struck out nine in going the distance for the win. Tournament schedule NJSIAA baseball STATE SEMIFINAL ROUND CROUP 4 Tatidav Beyome vv Elizabeth at Montclair, 3 JO p.m. CROUP 3 Tender Indian Hies are Cranford-Ml. CXtvt at Emerson, 4 am CROUP 1 i I1' IIM7. Cm) Mickey Mantle River Vale 5, Mahwah 3 (01) Mahwih 210 000 (1-2) Rlvtr V4M 0)0 013 I RV-Lati.

WP: Rlzii (1-0). LP: Merllno (0-1). 3 4 5 4 2 Bob Feller Rimeor 4, Waldwick 2 (2-1) Rtmwv 000 001 2 4 i 2 (01) Waktwldi Oil 000 1 2 4 2 It: R-Oey, Ortiz, Ohneglan; W-Wegner. WP: Pruirl (1-0); LP: Llcarl (0-1). Baseball line scores Scores NJSIAA Group 4 Bayonne 1, Peeaaic 0 (11-11) Passaic MMt I 1 1 (14-4) bVMM IH SOX 1 1 I WP: Lombard! (3-2).

LP: Ortiz (7-4). NJSIAA Group 1 New Milford 2. Emereon 0 (8-4) Nt Miner 11) 1 I (2-4) Entreat I 1 5 NM-McSherry; E-Gui. MR: NM-Clancy. WP: Eagtnton (9-5).

LP: Gun (10-2). Parochial 81. Anthony 6, Dot barton 2 115-13) DtttnrtM HI tM I I 1 (W-4) St. AlrtMoV'l 000 303 I 12 1 D-Mertine, Bafearotti; SA-ZakWamar. WP: Snopp (4-0).

LP: Murphy (4-3). Passaic 0 NJSIAA Group 2 River Ml 1, Rutherford 1 (JM-I) Rlvtr Ml fW I I (8-7) Rvtktrfent tOt IM I 1 WP: Hide (7-4). LP: Bens (7-3). BASEBALL NJSIAA TwmamMt NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 1 FINAL ROUND GROUP 4 Bevome 1 SttOUP 2 Rlvtr Del 3 CROUP I New Milford 2 SEMIFINAL ROUND PAROCHIAL St. Anlrioov't A SOFTBALL I A j.

I i Softball line scores Oebarton 2 NJSIAA River Del vs. Jefferson, TBA CROUP I 4 4 I 2 2 7 2 I I I idea wood 1 New AUford vs. Roseei Park. TBA PAROCHIAL A NJSIAA Group 2 Hammonton 4, Jefferson 1 IN-) MWMMrtM OW ON (23-1) Jttttrste a) WP: SOarra (24-3). LP: Cut (11-2).

NJSIAA Group 1 Hoffman 10, Pompton Lekee 2 (14-) Mttfmae 111 1 (JMI Pimam Lean ml STATE FINAL GROUP 4 Easier 2 CROUP I Penieoenv CROUP 2 NJSIAA Group 4 Eeefem 2, Ridgewood 1 (8-4) EtUtn en on i (21-1) titmmt WP: Grattam (17-4). LP: Bourn NJSIAA Group 3 Pereipoeny Central Regional 0 (7) COTtrX Rtewael NWI-(37-1) Ptrstaetnv WP: FroeScn 27-20. LP: Duffy (15-4). Cantral Regional I Don Bosco vs. SL Joseph at Union, 240 am PAROCHIAL 1 12 2 I Staff photo by Jeffery A.

Salter Chris Nicastro squeezes home a run for Pompton Lakes in the Group 1 softball final against Hoffman of South Amboy. I 2 4 I CROUP I Hoffmen N) St. Anthony (X) vs. PnlMpsburi Ceftioec at Verona. 3 JO em Pompton Lakes 2 3B: H-UH, Pooowski.

MR: H-Pooowski. WP: Kaiser (rf-fl). LP: Vender Horn (24-4). inMtatneTiiiei iidri "ii ii.jit r--- i it i ri iLiiTfl- rfi-iiif maTl jrtl igiiijijeir1 ji r1irtjiit.