Hopewell Post 339 starts MAR with win
PURCELLVILLE, VA. » No one would blame the Hopewell American Legion Post 339 baseball players for having big eyes after an inning and a half Wednesday in the Mid-Atlantic Regional.
Manager Mike Coryell’s team found itself leading Rockland (N.Y.) Post 130 by nine runs before the game even reached the bottom of the second in the first game of the national regional at Fireman’s Field.
But instead of coasting to a 10-run rule victory, Post 339 had to go the distance, settling for a nine-inning, 10-3 win over Post 130.
With the first regional win in club history, Hopewell (35-8) advances to play at 4 p.m. Thursday against Delaware Post 1, which beat Albemarle (Va.) Post 74, 5-2, Wednesday.
“I was a little disappointed that we didn’t stay with the intensity we started with, but it’s a little tough to think we’ll always hit this way,” said Coryell, whose team pounded out 11 hits, led by three hits apiece from Cameron Cane and Chris DeClerico.
“With this being our first time in regionals, we didn’t know what to expect, then we put up an eight-spot in the second inning,” said Cane, who went 3-for-4 in his return to the lineup after nearly three weeks away because of an illness.
Post 339, serving as the visitors, found itself in the lead three batters into the game. Leadoff hitter Will Karp reached base on an error, then stole second and third base. After Sam Margulis grounded back to the mound, Karp came home on a passed ball as Rockland starter Mike Dunne was pitching to Luke Blair.
After Hopewell pitcher Zack Bregenzer retired the Pirates in order on eight pitches in the bottom of the first, things got much worse for the two-time New York state champs.
Andy Blake and Cane opened the second inning with singles, then Jeff Bartlett beat out a bunt to load the bases.
But a throwing error on a fielder’s choice ball off the bat of No. 9 hitter Chase Fleming was the first of four errors Rockland would commit that inning to make all nine runs that Dunne allowed unearned.
“The bottom of our lineup has been doing a great job all year,” Coryell said. “When we’re able to roll the lineup over with men on base, like we did there, is exactly when good things have happened.”
A fielder’s choice by Karp and another error, followed by RBI singles by Margulis and Blair, each with an error attached, pushed the lead to 7-0. Nick Psomaras then singled in Blair, and DeClerico, who had doubled, scored on a balk to cap the scoring.
Post 130 showed a little resilience when John Freeman singled off Bregenzer with two outs in the bottom of the second to score Ryan Weiss and Ivan Rodriguez and make the score, 9-2.
That was where it stayed until Post 339 added a run in the top of the seventh when Cane doubled in Blake with two outs.
“I’ve been feeling pretty good,” said Cane, who started in left field. “I relaxed during my time off and got myself out of my own head.”
Cane has been hot since returning (pinch-hitting against Bordentown Post 26 and serving as designated hitter against Hamilton Post 31 in the state final) with seven hits and five RBIs in three games back.
The Pirates scored once more when Stephen Greeley doubled in Chris Cooney off reliever Josh deDufour with two outs in the bottom of the eighth before Blake closed the door on the mound to keep the New Jersey champions alive in the winners’ bracket.