The Record from Hackensack, New Jersey • 169

NORTH JERSEY SPORTS THE SUNDAY RECORD S-15 JUNE 10, 2001 1 i i riff Hi 4). Gaels a little short in final By JEFF CUMMINS Staff Writer EAST BRUNSWICK Justin Soccol wasn't worried. He went to the final last year, and he was poised to return with another season of experience under his belt "I really wasn't that nervous," he said. "I don't think many guys on our team were." But the Gaels needed more than experience to overcome Gloucester Catholic, which downed St. Mary's, 6-0, to win the State Parochial baseball title.

St. Mary's also appeared in the Parochial final last year, falling to Sacred Heart of Vine-land. St. Mary's entered the game hoping to use its speed to steal a lot of bases, but the Gaels never got enough baserunners to make the plan if l- JL i i i i Or fL- m4 R. WEXLERSPECIAL TO THE RECORD Chrissy Hulme (23) and her Pompton Lakes teammates fight back tears after their 2-0 loss to Haddon Heights in the State Group 2 title game.

Pompton Lakes9 dream ends By GREGORY SCHUTTA Staff Writer TOMS RIVER Chrissy Hulme stood just outside the Pompton Lakes dugout watching a jubilant Haddon Heights team line up for a team picture following Saturday's State Group 2 Softball championship. This has been the Cardinals' year, rattling off 21 straight wins going into Saturday on the way to Passaic County and league championships. And it has been a dream season for Hulme, who was batting .506 going into the game. But all of that was lost on her at that moment as coach Colleen Moyle had to lead her by the arm back into the dugout after the Cardinals' 2-0 loss. "We wanted it so bad," said Hulme, one of four seniors who saw their high school careers end just one game short of a Triple Crown.

"We thought we had it from the opening pitch, but that just didn't happen." "It stinks," said pitcher Danielle Avenoso, barely holding back her tears. This was the piece of hardware the Cardinals wanted. It was just under a BASEBALL Group 1 EMERSON 2. KEYPORT 1 (28-8-0) tmmon 000 020 0 8 4 4 (16-11-1) Kypofl 001 000 0 1 i 0 2B: E-Phil Maao, Craig Parkins; K-Qreo Lam- brecht. WP: Justin Delia Volpe (13-1).

LP: Brian Langan (8- Group 3 RAMAPO 8, TOMS RIVER SOUTH 4 (27-4) Ramapo 011 401 1 111 0 (23-4) Toms Rlvtr South 001 030 0 4 2 2B: R-Chrls Scarpelll, Jeff Cooperman, Ryan Plsarrl: TRS-Jelt Frazler, Brett Hardle. HR: TRS-Frazler WP: Sean Sosonko (11-0). LP: Frazler (13-3). Group 4 TOMS RIVER EAST 4. N.

BERGEN 3 (29-2) Toms River East 310 000 0 4 0 (22-) Worth Bergen 201 000 0 3 0 2 2B: TRE-Chrls Venuto 2, Chris Cerullo, Colin Gaynor. Andy Diaz; NB-8HI Petsch. WP: Brian Doherly (10-0). LP: Petsch (6-2). Parochial A SETON HALL PREP 4.

CBA 3 (29-3) Solon Hall Prep 200 200 0 4 2 (20-3) Christian Brothere 020 010 0 3 6 3 2B: SH-Joe Martinez. WP: Tim Dugan (7-1). LP: Mike Mellsslnos (9-2). Parochlal GLOUCESTER C. 6, ST.

MARY'S 0 (26-4) Gloucester Catholic 302 100 0 6 12 1 (22-8) St. Mary's-Rutherlord 000 000 0 0 2 2 2B: GC-Anthony Mattranga. 3B: GC-MIke Ruccl. HR: GC-MIke Falasca. WP: Jell Mazzola.

LP: Justin Soccol (10-5). SOFTBALL Groups GLOUCESTER CITY 11, EMERSON 4 (21-4) Gloucester City 004 600 2 11 13 2 (29-4) gmerson 300 100 0 4 7 8 2B: G-Rhonda Bennett 2, Casey Mason. Maddy Boulden. E-Michele Rossi. WP: Boulden.

LP: Leah Mondadorl (19-4). Group 2 HADDON HTS. 2. POMPTON LKS. 0 (27-4) Pompton Lakes 000 000 0 0 8 1 (28-6) Haddon Heights 000 002 2 4 1 2B: HH-Shannon Don.

3B: HH-Mellssa Mitchell. WP: Michelle Schlichtig (20-4). LP: Danielle Avenso (13-3). Parochial A ST. JOHN 2.

PARAMUS C. 1 (10) (23-7) Peremus Catholic 001 000 000 0 1 8 3 (20-6) 81. John-Vlanney 000 100 000 1 2 6 4 2B: SJV-Lauren Taub. WP: Jackie Adelflo. LP.

Diane Meade (19-6). NJSIAA BASEBALL FINALS Group 1 Emerson 2 Keyport 1 Newton 1 Group 2 Audubon 2 Group 3 Ramapo 8 Group 4 Toms River South 4 North Bergen 3 Toms River East 4 Parochial A Seton Hall Prep 4 Parochial Gloucester Cath. 6 NJSIAA SOFTBALL FINALS Group 1 Gloucester 11 Group 2 Haddon Heights 2 Group 3 Cumberland 4 Group 4 Cherokee 5 Christian Brothers 3 St. Mary's 0 Emerson 4 -Pompton Lakes 0 Morris Hills 0 Belleville 1 Parochial A St. John-Vlanney 2 Paramus Cath.

1 (10) Parochial Gloucester Cath. 10 Montclair-Klmberly 0 Immaculate Heart Academy Is seeking oppo nents for freshmen volleyball, soccer, and basketball. Contact athletic director Jeff Horohonich at (201) 445-6810. Indian Hills High School is seeking a girls bas- keball opponent for Its holiday tournament for Dec. 26-30.

Contact athletic director Bob Van Saders at (201) 337-0100, ext. 3350. Paramus Catholic High School is seeking a football scrimmage. Contact athletic director Steve Gregorio at (201) 445-4466, ext. 124.

Weatwood High School is seeking a wrestling opponent for a dual meet on Dec. 15. Contact athletic director Jim Gallione at (201) 664-0880, ext. 226. St.

Joseph Regional High School is seeking wrestling opponents for dual meets for the 2001-02 season. Contact athletic director Tony Karcich at (201) 391-3300. Clilton High School seeking eight wrestling teams lor a dual-meet tournament tor Dec. 28. Contact David Niglio at (973) 720-0219.

Kennedy High School is seeking a varsity football scrimmage on Aug. 27 or 28 and a game scrimmage on either Aug. 31 or Sept. 1. Contact head coach Shelton Pres-cott at (973) 684-5770 or (973) 519-8741.

Fort Lee High School is seeking a boys basketball team for Its Jack Riley Christmas Tournament for Dec. 27 and 29. Contact athletic director Todd Meyer at (201) 585-4695. events in his centers, which included Bowla-Bowla in Bergenfield, Interstate Lanes in Ramsey, and Leisure Lanes in Fairfield. They ranged from junior events to pro competition and he worked closely with all groups in bowling.

Mishkin has been the treasurer of the association for 20 years, edited and wrote the newsletter, served as auditor for dozens of local and state tournaments, and served as a league secretary for more than 30 years. The four will be inducted officially June 22 at the Excelsior in Saddle Brook. For tickets and additional information, call dinner chairman Rich Choinacki or secretary John Petrides at the association office, (201) 265-3365. William Hargrove of Clermont. Ga.

is the oldest sanctioned league bowler in the nation. He is 100 and averages 129. 1 1 i i tin a two-out double by Shannon Don in the third inning. Then in the fourth, she made what was to that point the play of the game, when she chased down an errant throw behind third on Melissa Mitchell's two-out triple to right field and threw a strike to Hulme at home to cut down that potential run. But her biggest mistake came back to haunt her when she walked number nine hitter Elisa Gallara to lead off the sixth inning.

Don followed with a high single that fell in the Bermuda Triangle behind first base to put runners on first and second. Sarah Dagrosa moved the runners up with a sacrifice bunt, and then Alicia Grear ripped a ground single up the middle to score Gallara with the eventual winning run. "I hoped that we would be able to get out of that inning with nobody scoring, but it just wasn't the case," said Avenoso, who struck out eight while scattering four hits. "They were able to get their bats on the ball today and we weren't" The Bruins got a solid effort from sophomore Alex Cubelo, who tossed two-hit shutout ball over the final four innings. "He's going to be one of the best in the state next season," Boyce said.

"I knew when I went in I had to throw strikes, and if I did I felt my team would come back," said Cubelo. "I was a little nervous going in but I kept them off balance with my change and curve. "Give credit to Doherty, who we hit. But when he had to he got the outs." The Raiders found Petsch's hanging fastball and straight curve to their liking as they pounded out three long doubles in the opening inning with Colin Gaynor knocking in the first run. Petsch was wild in the second in all over particularly well when scoring is on the difficult side.

Senior lane conditions have been demanding of late, giving him an edge. A look at Roth's long career shows that he was well in the mix even when lefties were dominating. As much as Roth was looking forward to the senior tour, his presence is welcomed even more by host sites and officials. He adds an exciting big name to the senior list, and that generates more publicity, more pro-am participation by amateur bowlers, and many more fans who want to see him. Roth loves it He's back in center stage, is a threat to win every tournament he enters, and is more than happy to have $10,000 paydays for four days' work.

This is only the start. Look for Roth, Dorin, and Kulick to win more KEVIN it, year ago when they saw their hopes for a State championship dashed by a sun-drenched fly ball in the eighth inning against South Plainfield on the same Toms River North field, and nothing short of a State championship was going to erase that memory. The had their chances Saturday, banging out five hits against Garnets pitcher Michelle Schlichtig, who had not allowed five hits in her four previous State games combined, and loading the bases with just one out in the fifth inning. But Schlichtig made a tremendous play on Danielle Gaveglio's bunt, picking it up and stepping on home herself to force Hulme at the plate, and then notching the sixth of her eight strikeouts to keep the game scoreless. "Gavegs laid down a great bunt," Moyle said.

"I thought we might be able to sneak a run across there, but Schlichtig made a great play." Avenoso did her best to keep the Garnets off the board. She shook off ez's long single to left "It was important for us to come back in the first inning," said Urena, who singled home a run in the bottom of the third. "But we've been doing that all season." The Bruins kept pace with TRE in the hit department with nine apiece. Bill Petsch (6-2), who lasted only three innings, gave North Bergen one last chance when he delivered his second hit of the game with one out in the bottom of the seventh. However, Doherty struck out the next two batters to wrap up the championship.

"I was getting a little tired," he said. "But when you're three outs away the adrenalin takes over and you throw hard." Doherty (10-0) had 10 strikeouts. begins plus, and leads in the performance point rankings. Kelly Kulick of Union, the reigning Met Bowling Writer Bowler of the Year, gave up her spot on Team USA to give the pro tour a try, and it's working just fine. The rookie is second in earnings with $24,100 and seventh in the averages with 208-plus.

Kulick has had vast experience as a collegian and amateur and has rolled against the best bowlers in the world the past four years. Marianne Di Rupo of Succasunna, a solid pro for the past decade, is off to a slow start, but has won $5,480. "It's been sort of a rebirth for me," Roth said of life as a senior. "When I get things going my way, it seems like all the pins fall." Roth's aggressive bowling style helps. He is adept at scoring well on all type lane conditions, and does "I told our kids that we have speed, and we wanted to use that to our advantage," St.

Mary's coach John Farley said. "We wanted to make Gloucester Catholic throw the ball around the field a lot, but it's hard to do that when you fall behind and you don't get a lot of runners on base." St Mary's finished the day with two steals in three attempts. But St. Mary's did have opportunities. The Gaels got the leadoff runner on base in each of the first four innings, only to see Gloucester Catholic pitcher Jeff Mazzola shut the door.

Mark Paiotti led off the game for St. Mary's with a single and stole second base, but he was stranded when Mazzola struck out th next two hitters and got Jonathan Fay-Hamilton to fly out to right field. Nonetheless, St. Mary's seemed unfazed, despite the fact that Gloucester Catholic (26-4) scored three runs in the top of the first. "I knew thev were going to hit a home run," Soccol said, referring to Mike Falasca's two-run smash in the first inning.

"They were capable of hitting a lot more than that. There's a reason why they're ranked second in the state." Mazzola admitted he enjoyed the fact that he had a lead even before he took the mound. "Falasca's home run really sparked our team," he said. "I knew we'd hit well today because we've been hitting well in practice and in the last couple of games. I thought we'd put more runs on the board than we did." It was Gloucester Catholic's third consecutive State baseball title.

The Rams captured the Parochial A title the last two years. Soccol and Farley didn't bemoan their fate following the loss. "I can't complain, said Soccol (10-5), the team's lone senior, who has played for three sectional championship teams in his career. "I would have liked one more title, but that's how things happen." "I've got some juniors, some sophomores, and a freshman coming back," said an optimistic Farley, who pointed out how important Soccol was to the team. "Justin did a great job for us, providing leadership and keeping the team loose," he said.

St Mary's finished the season with a 22-8 record. All-County photos set Photographs for first-team All-Bergen and All-Passaic baseball, soft-ball, track and field, golf, tennis, and volleyball athletes will be taken Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Sessions are scheduled in The Record's Hackensack office, 150 River St, from 4-6 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. This was the fourth State championship loss for Pompton, which also fell in the Group 1 final in 1986 and 1994.

It was the first State championship for Haddon Heights, which won its first sectional last year but lost in the State semifinals to South Plainfield. "It's Hisnnnointing to eet down here two years in a row and not win it." Movie said. "TVipv nre a in-eat team." Heights conch Ted Dailv said. "I thought that was a gutsy play trying to squeeze in that run in the tilth inning, i hey de serve their record. And given a couple of days, the Cardinals might realize that too.

They will be hit hard by graduation with the loss of Hulme, shortstop Cherilyn Earl, second baseman Danielle Macagney, and outfielder Megan Wagner, but they return seven start ers and two of the top pitchers in the County for a third try at the title. "We got down here twice and played well," said Hulme, bound for Monmouth next season. "Hopefully they can come back down here and finish the job. ning, issuing three walks, with the last to Andy Diaz bringing in the fourth run. The pitcher helped get back the run in the third inning when he doubled and scored on Urena's single to right.

North Bergen threatened in the fifth when with two outs. Franco De- lucia and Tavarez singled, but Do herty struck out Cubelo. In the sixth, Jeff Gonzalez walked and took off on Jon Barrera's rising liner to right. Diaz lost the ball in the sun then went back to make a one-handed catch. The runner was near second and the throw to first easily beat him.

"Give them a lot of credit," said TRE coach William Frank, who will go after his 300th win tonight when the Raiders faces Toms River South for the Ocean County championship. "They were scrappy and swung the bats. It was frustrating that we left 10 men on but Brian did the job he's done all season." Tall order eludes No. Bergen For Roth, life again at 50 By BOB KURLAND Stsff Wrjtgr TOMS RIVER The coach went around giving his North Bergen players hugs as their miracle season fell just short Saturday. The State Group 4 baseball championship eluded them, but they had shown plenty of heart.

"They left everything they had on the field," said coach Brian Boyce following a 4-3 loss to Toms River East. The Bruins could have rolled over and played dead when the prohibitive-favored Raiders (29-2) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. And when 7-foot-l Brian Doherty struck out the leadoff hitter, the fans started to celebrate at Toms River North. North Bergen shook it off and clawed back when the Felix Urena singled in a run and eventually came in on Omar Tavar- named the ninth-best bowler of the century, and came up with such side feats as being the first bowler to convert the almost impossible 7-10 split on national TV. Roth won CHUCK PEZZAN0 BOWLING in his fourth start as a senior, picking up $10,000, not as much as the $25,000 and up checks he used to win, but not bad, either.

Other local area pros continue to do well After four events on the women's pro tour, Linden's Carolyn Dorin-Ballard continues to shine. She tops the money-winning list with $39,770, has the best average at 213- than their share of titles the next six months. PIN PATTER: Nick Andriola, Ro-selle Park; Jim Hosier, Wayne; Bob Lubertazzo, Lyndhurst; and Harold Mishkin, Ridgewood, have been elected to the Bergen County Men's Bowling Association Hall of Fame. Andriola won a regional pro tourney in 1963, posted high 200 averages in all the best leagues for more than 30 years, and represented the state in the U.S. Open and numerous other events.

Hosier's record includes 37 perfect games, 17 800 series, 11 county titles in various counties, and high averages in Bergen with a mark of 234-plus for the season. Lubertazzo, cited for meritorious service in addition to being a fine amateur and pro bowler, has been acclaimed as one of the most innovative proprietors. He hosted 27 major ark Roth captured his first senior pro title last week in Seattle, and not a person was surprised. For the past year or so, Roth, of Wall Township, rolled well in regional pro events and in his occasional appearances on the national tour. But he didn't hide the fact that the calendar could not get to April 20, 2001 fast enough, the date he would turn 50 and become eligible for senior tour competition.

Why not? He was the terror of the tour in his younger days, he had met and defeated the current stars of the senior tour, and he would be joining them as the youngest and one of the strongest. Roth won 34 national titles, second only to Earl Anthony's 41, was named Player of the Year four times, posted the highest average six times, was elected to the PBA Hall of Fame,.