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5/21/10, 10:55 pm
Well, our standout season has come to an end with an 8-2 loss to No. 13 Kean. In the end, it was a great run to get to this point with the number three seed and a fourth-place finish in the regional.
Tonight was not so much about the game, but a celebration of the season. The outcome was decided in the first inning, but it was great to see a number of seniors still in the lineup as the game ended.
It’s getting late so it’s time for shoutouts. Congrats to conference Player of the Year Tom DeAngelis as well as fellow first teamers Alex Oliver, Sean Saverio and Rick Kazigian. Congrats to second teamers Jason Ferrie, Tom Mahoney and Bill Hollingsworth as well as Coach of the Year Steve Carcarey.
Thanks to all the supporters who made their way to Trenton the last three days and helped us break the school record for most victories. Thanks to all the players and coaches who have been so helpful the entire season. Thanks to Kean University for a well-run regional and for its hospitality.
Finally, thanks to all who e-mailed or expressed in person their thanks for this blog and our coverage of the season. It is greatly appreciated.
See everyone in the fall. I’m heading to the shore.
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5/21/10, 9:55 pm
Give credit to Mike Pappas, who came in relief for Widener and has shut the door. He has retired seven straight going into the seventh to keep the Pride in the game.
Unfortunately, we have left the bases loaded twice and trail 6-1 after six. Sean Saverio in the fifth hit a deep drive that appeared to leave the yard over a white sign. But the umpire ruled the ball hit the sign and stayed in play, during an inning which we didn’t score. I’m unsure if it was the right call, but a white sign and a white ball made it a tough call.
Three innings to go.
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5/21/10, 9:05 pm
No good news to report from Trenton. We are down 6-0 after three innings in which both teams have had opportunities to score big. Kean took advantage with five runs in the top of the first and we didn’t by leaving the bases loaded the bottom of the frame.
Both team’s starting pitchers, Dan Gross for Widener and Greg Baruka for Kean, have not had their better games. Both have not shown great control and it has slowed this game to a crawl. Mike Pappas came on in relief for Widener in the third inning and has righted the ship, but we need our bats with the season on the line.
Middle of the order due up for the Pride in the fourth.
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5/21/10, 7:20 pm
Dan Gross will be handed the ball by Commonwealth Conference Coach of the Year Steve Carcarey. Game time for Widener vs. Kean is 8:10 pm.
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5/21/10, 6:45 pm
Let’s do the math. Widener played in the third game of Wednesday’s quadrupleheader, the second game of Thursday’s as well as the first and fourth of Friday’s.
Nobody circles the wagons like the Widener Pride.
Make that six straight elimination victories. This includes four in the Commonwealth Conference Tournament, Thursday’s 9-2 triumph over Manhattanville and this morning’s 7-3 win over Keystone.
The bounty chips are adding up as the Pride have eliminated two teams (Manhattanville and Keystone) from the tournament. Alvernia and Kean have bounced one team apiece.
It’s true Widener has played better as the wounded bear, so keep your fingers crossed our strong play will continue. We just have to get the same starting pitching like we have the last two games from Rick Kazigian and Kevin Culbert.
I have not heard whether it is Dan Gross or Joe Sessa on the bump tonight when Widener faces No. 13 Kean. Just like Kaz and Culbert, whoever it is must take control early.
Tonight marks the seventh NCAA Tournament game in Widener’s last eight it will face a school from New Jersey. The Pride also are looking for three straight NCAA Tournament wins for the first time since 1977.
Let’s guesstimate our game will not begin before 8:15 pm. Johns Hopkins just scored three times in the bottom of the sixth, courtesy of two catcher’s interference calls, to take an 8-4 on Rowan after six innings.
The winner of our game faces the loser of the Johns Hopkins-Rowan contest on Saturday at 1:00 pm.
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5/21/10, 11:50 am
I said we needed the bats to stay hot and that is what happened. But who would have thought our 6-9 nine hitters would be 7-for-12 through six innings and are 1-3 would be 0-for-10. That is the case with Dennis Hocker at 3-for-3 and Colin Keelan at 2-for-3.
The two aforementioned each had back-to-back RBI singles in the sixth and Kevin Culbert has three strikeouts through six. Culbert since the first inning has permitted just two hits and is showing the form from his freshman campaign.
Two-out rallies are key and we have scored 17 of our 20 runs in the tournament with two outs. This has our confidence building each inning and Keystone seems deflated out there. The Giants are on their third pitcher and we need just nine more defensive outs for another win.
If we hold on, this will be the last blog until tonight. (I need a nap!) We would play at 7:45 pm (approximately) and I’ll catch everyone then.
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5/21/10, 11:15 am
The never-say-die Pride are off to a 4-1 lead after four innings. Three runs courtesy of back-to-back RBI singles from Tom Mahoney and Mike Villari as well as a wild pitch in the second inning have us in good shape.
Kevin Culbert settled down after a rough first inning in which we are fortunate Keystone plated just one run. He threw about 20 pitches in the frame, but has kept the Giants at bay by allowing no hits after that.
We turned double plays to close the third and fourth innings and are clicking once again. I don’t think four runs will hold up, so it is time for the bat to stay hot.
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5/21/10, 9:05 am
It is HOT out here. Been at the stadium about a 1/2 hour and I’m already on my third glass of Coke. The sun is at the wrong angle for a morning game, but so is life in the elimination bracket.
T-minus five more games to win for Widener to get to Appleton. Friday’s 10:00 am start is against Keystone, which had top-ranked Johns Hopkins down 4-2 after five innings Thursday before succumbing 9-4. They hit well, but so do we and we need to establish momentum early.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Joe Torre is quoted saying momentum is the next game’s starting pitcher. It is so true. Kevin Culbert, a first team All-Commonwealth Conference closer in 2008, needs to come up big today. He has won three straight decisions that includes a huge six-inning effort May 7 vs. Messiah in the conference tournament.
If we win, we play either Kean or Alvernia at 7:45 pm. Johns Hopkins and Rowan are undefeated and play at 4:30 pm Friday with the victor advancing to the championship round. Moravian and Manhattanville have been bounced.
We are the home team this morning in our blue shirts (same as Thursday) with white hats and blue caps. We will be in the third base dugout. Keystone is in orange tops with grey pants and blue hats.
Both teams are finishing their light tossing and we’ll be taking infield in a matter of moments.
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5/20/10, 4:30 pm
Simply spectacular. That is all you can say in describing the effort by Rick Kazigian on the mound. He came through in an elimination game during the Commonwealth Conference Tournament against Alvernia and again today in another knockout contest vs. Manhattanville.
He yielded just two runs and five hits over nine innings for his fifth straight win and once again kept the Pride’s season alive. He hasn’t lost in almost two months and certainly showed why he was tabbed first team all-league.
Kaz’ lone mistake was a two-run blast in the fourth inning, but that didn’t even seem to faze him. He was the boss out there and the Freedom Conference champs could do nothing about it.
The offense wasn’t bad. All we got were 14 hits that included three each from Sean Saverio and Tom Connelly. In tournament games, your best players have to be your best players and that was the case for us.
(Interesting side note. There is no national anthem played before the afternoon or evening games and Johns Hopkins took the liberty of singing it in the dugout before their game right now vs. Keystone.)
The players now are taking in the game as we will face the loser on Friday at 10:00 am. We are waiting for pizza to be delivered (where is Marsala’s when you need them) and will head to Applebee’s tonight. Hopefully, it is a quick meal and TVs with the Flyers-Canadiens game are in close proximity before an early wake-up call.
A win Friday morning puts us against either Alvernia, Rowan or Kean that night at approximately 7:45 pm. Temps will be in the 70s or 80s all day with clear skies.
We’ll see everyone bright and early tomorrow.
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5/20/10, 2:40 pm
What another strong effort by Rick Kazigian, his fifth straight one. He has notched five 1-2-3 innings through six and Widener owns a 5-2 lead. Kaz has had complete control and his only mistake was a long two-run homer in the fourth.
He has gotten plenty of help with Dennis Hocker adding a two-run double and six different players getting one hit to this point. Would like to see Kaz go the distance, but we shall see. We have to win five more games after this to reach Appleton.
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5/20/10, 1:55 pm
Well this is more like it. Widener owns a 3-0 lead after three innings thanks to great pitching, timely hitting and a little luck.
Rick Kazigian has not allowed a baserunner in three effortless innings. He has shown great control with three strikeouts, two groundouts and four fly outs.
The timely hitting started with Sean Saverio, who cracked one to right that bounced just short of the warning track and over the fence for a ground-rule double. Dan Sieracki, who is 4-for-5 to date in this regional, then lined an RBI double down the left-field line and Tom Connelly ripped an RBI single up the middle.
The little luck began in the third when Tom DeAngelis reached on a one-out error by the third baseman that led to three unearned runs. This game is all about taking advantage of situations and we did just that. Now it is up to us to continue that.
As I’m writing, we have a one-out baserunner in Tom Mahoney in the top of the fourth. Still great to see a lot of parents, girlfriends and friends here showing their support.
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5/20/10, 12:15 pm
And then there were seven. Alvernia eliminates Moravian with a 7-3 victory. Widener vs. Manhattanville to start on time at 1:15 pm.
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5/20/10, 11:00 am
Good morning from Waterfront Park. It is a beautiful sunny day with not a cloud in the sky and temperatures expected to hit the high 70s. All eight teams are back in action as play resumes on what should be another great day of baseball.
For four teams, they face elimination status the rest of the way and unfortunately Widener is one of those schools. These teams would have to win six straight games the rest of the way to reach the World Series. For the Pride, our journey continues at 1:15 pm against Manhattanville.
The 11-5 loss against Rowan on Wednesday was not one of our better efforts. We were in a 7-1 hole early and stranded 12 runners. We brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the sixth in an 8-5 game, but could not do further damage.
But the panic button will not be pushed. After all, this is the team which won four elimination games at the Commonwealth Conference Tournament. It started with Rick Kazigian against Alvernia and it will have to continue with him today versus Manhattanville.
Kaz is 4-2 with a 3.14 ERA and will have to live up to his first team all-conference status today. The bats also will have to come alive and not leave so many ducks in the pond.
We are the second game Thursday, so hopefully we’ll start as close to 1:15 pm as possible. Alvernia and Moravian are tied, 3-3, in the bottom of the fifth inning of the day’s first elimination contest. Tonight, the winners bracket takes the stage with top-ranked Johns Hopkins playing Keystone at 4:30 pm and Rowan battling No. 13 Kean at 7:45 pm.
Oh, can’t forget to tell our fans we are the road team Thursday and will occupy the first base dugout. Hope we get the same great turnout as Wednesday.
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5/19/10, 7:25 pm
Well, we have started to climb back as the deficit is now 8-5 at the end of the sixth. Tom DeAngelis got an RBI groundout and Dan Sieracki added an RBI single. But Tom Connelly grounded out after Ryan Peterson of Rowan came in to shut the door.
Runners on base are killing Widener, leaving on two each of the last four innings and nine total through six. We got 6, 7 and 8 coming up in the bottom of the seventh and need offense… quick.
Last blog of the night. Check the recap afterward and see what time we are playing Thursday.
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5/19/10, 6:40 pm
Things have not gotten off to a smooth start as we are trailing 7-3 at the end of the third inning. Widener forged a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the first inning when Dan Sieracki hit a long double that just missed clearing the fence to score Tom DeAngelis.
But the second inning was a long one as Rowan struck for five runs and a 6-1 lead. Four straight singles after a lead-off walk did us in as the Profs batted around.
We did get two back in the bottom of the third for a 7-3 deficit. Sieracki was hit by a pitch with the sacks full and Tom Connelly lifted a sacrifice fly.
We have a number of parents, siblings and friends who made the trip north. Let’s see if we can improve our play out there.
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5/19/10, 4:40 pm
Johns Hopkins wins 13-4. Game time for Widener vs. Rowan is 5:30 pm.
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5/19/10, 3:10 pm
We just finished batting practice and the team is assembled in the right-field bleachers watching Johns Hopkins battle Moravian. Unfortunately, this is not much of a game as the top-ranked Blue Jays are cruising with a 9-1 lead over the Greyhounds in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Some parents have made their way up so far and the weather has gotten slightly warmer. But as I said earlier, dress warmly. There won’t be any sun today.
My best guess now is that we are looking at a 5:30 pm start. We are past the midway point of game two, which has taken 90 minutes so far.
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5/19/10, 1:35 pm
The NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional is underway with mostly cloudy skies and temperature hovering in the low 60s. Still playable weather as we plug on in today's quadrupleheader.
Keystone rolled to a 13-3 victory over Alvernia in game one and the second game between Johns Hopkins and Moravian will begin 30 minutes late at 1:45 pm. Our game time versus Rowan still is slated for 4:30 pm, but common sense says it will be at least 4:45 pm. Probably closer to 5:00 pm.
Widener is slated to leave the hotel at 1:45 pm and take batting practice in the indoor cages at 2:30 pm. I just went down to the cages and there are two of them flanked by Yankees logos (Blech! Die-hard Mets fan.). We'll take the bad with the good.
I'll keep you posted if anything changes. Just a reminder to all coming up that we are the home team and will occupy the third base dugout. Dress warmly as we probably won't see the sun today.
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5/18/10, 10:18 pm
The NCAA Tournament. Widener is finally back after 11 seasons, coming off its first Commonwealth Conference title and first league crown of any kind since taking the Middle Atlantic Conference in 1999. We just got back from dinner at TGI Friday’s and now are settled in the hotel at an undisclosed location (Hey, I can’t mention everything).
Before I get back to just baseball, I have to mention this is one of five Widener teams to win a conference title in 2009-10 and one of three in the spring. Make that five straight years we have captured at least three league titles and 17 consecutive years we have at least one. What a thrill to have three teams (baseball, men’s lacrosse and men’s outdoor track) win their league on the same day and see the camaraderie that is shared among our squads.
Did someone mention camaraderie? Yeah, we got it. Our men’s lacrosse team last Wednesday competed in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Springfield, MA. What also made it great was that we had several members of our track team root us on before excelling at the ECAC Championships. I know many of our student-athletes share the same excitement for our baseball team and will be up here this week.
I’m not done with patting our student-athletes on the back. Men’s lacrosse is one of four teams which had its full squad compete in postseason this season, joining baseball here and both women’s basketball and volleyball at ECACs.
All right. I know it is a baseball blog. Back to the diamond.
A dreary day outside could not keep the Pride from getting their hacks in the field house before rolling north to the Garden State capital. The players got in a little after 3:00 pm and got their rest before heading to dinner.
The excitement they will experience playing at a minor league ball park is something one can’t fully describe. A stadium that can seat 6,500, the lush grass and meticulously raked infield that is watched over by a full-time crew, the jumbotron scoreboard, bigger dugouts, indoor batting cages… Is it game time yet?
The AA home of the New York Yankees, the Trenton Thunder, call Waterfront Park home and you are reminded of this at every turn on the concourse. Greats like Derek Jeter and Bernie Williams played here and even Roger Clemens had a re-hab assignment here before a standing-only crowd.
Yes, it is quite a scene and eight teams have earned the right to take part in the double-elimination regional with the winner heading to next week’s Division III World Series in Appleton, WI. Six conference champions and two at-large teams will make the next five days something to remember.
Hopefully, it will be Widener which earns the right to play all five days. This is the team which won four straight elimination games at the conference championship to get to this point and has won eight of its last 10 contests. This is the team so far which has posted 25 wins, one shy of the school record set in 2007 and 2008.
This is the team which saw seven of its players named all-league. Tom DeAngelis was tabbed conference player of the year, sitting in the top five in four major categories. His all-around hustle and determination helped him earn this honor. A 17-game hitting streak certainly helped, and it is only his second-best run as he hit in 25 consecutive games two years ago.
Alex Oliver, Sean Saverio and Rick Kazigian join Tommy D on the first team. AO is leading the league in hitting and provided consistency at second base, Sean has hit the tar out of the ball most of the year and Kaz has been one of our top starters with a 4-2 record.
Jason Ferrie, Tom Mahoney and Bill Hollingsworth being named second team certainly is an honor. Jason has beaten every team in the league this season on the mound, Tom brings nothing but fluid play day in and day out at shortstop and Bill secured the role at first base will his timely hitting and 1.000 fielding percentage.
We can't forget head coach Steve Carcarey, who was named conference Coach of the Year. His 159 wins are second most in the program's history and he has he crew ready to go in his biggest games to date.
This week will be fun, but winning will not be easy. Only the top ranked team (Johns Hopkins) and No. 13 team (Kean) join us and they have earned the top two seeds. Our number three seed is well-deserved and it is up to us to live up to it.
Did we have to play another New Jersey school? We open Wednesday against Rowan at 4:30 pm, making this the seventh straight NCAA Tournament game we will play against a team from the third state. And who was the last against?… Rowan, of course. And who could we potentially see on Thursday?… Kean.
We should have just scheduled Rowan and Kean during the season. Wait a moment, we did. Widener notched a 4-1 triumph over Rowan on April 21 behind two RBI from Dennis Hocker and our contest March 30 vs. Kean was rained out.
Wednesday will be all about adjusting to the environment. Getting used to the ball park and everything that comes with it will be a challenge, but something we definitely are looking forward to.
So enough hearing me type. It is almost game time. We are the home team Wednesday, which means we will occupy the third base dugout. If you can’t make it to Trenton, click on WidenerPride.com to hear the monotones of Adam Balk describe the play-by-play or follow on live stats provided by Kean University.
Big shout out to all our conference champions, got to mention men’s swimming and men’s indoor track also won their league, and those who will make their way up here. The weather will be a lot nicer Wednesday and even better Thursday and Friday. Play ball.