The game that wouldn't end..does
By TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER
TOMS RIVER - It eventually had to end. Didn't it?
""I never thought we'd be playing this long,'' said sophomore Billy Hoermann of Toms River North.
His bases loaded single with one out in the last of the 12th inning Monday night ended a marathon pitcher's duel and gave the Mariners a pulsating 1-0 victory over Toms River South in an Ocean County Tournament semifinal game at Toms River East.
Toms River North (20-3) will meet two-time defending champion Toms River East in the 7 p.m. final Wednesday night at FirstEnergy park.
For a while Monday night it looked as if the TR North vs. TR South semifinal might spill into Wednesday.
""This was a long game, 12 innings, never (played this long),''said Hoermann, who appeared a little weary as he stepped from his team's dugout to meet reporters.
With one out in the last of the 12th catcher C.J. Alonso lined a single off the glove of a diving TR South rightfielder.
Courtesy runner Matt Mancini scooted to third as Mike Lacava made it to second when his ground ball was misplayed and rolled into rightcenter.
Then another error on a little infield bouncer loaded the bases.
Hoermann, 0-for-4 with two strikeouts to that point, lashed a pitch from South's Tyler Gebler past shortstop setting off a roar from the Mariner faithful on the hillside at Raider Ravine.
""It was a fastball and I was looking to drive something the opposite way,'' said Hoermann. "'He left one over the plate and I turned on it.""
And then never took his eyes off it. ""I saw it,'' he said. ""I was watching.''
The crowd watched brilliant pitching all night. Marc Potter started for TR South (17-6) and lasted into the ninth inning. The junior right-hander allowed six hits, struck out nine, and walked none.
Gebler, a sophomore right-hander, did not yield a hit until the 12th.
Junior right-hander Zach Brebner of TR North was dazzling over nine innings fanning eight and walking none.
Junior left-hander Anthony Scorsone took over after that striking out five and issued the game's only walk.
""They had the home field (last at bat), that didn't help us,'' said Ken Frank, TR South coach.
""We didn't get the clutch hit when we needed it. They played good defense.
""We just let down the one inning. Somebody had to lose. It's a tough one to lose.'' Alonso had three hits for TR North. Chase Gray doubled and singled for the Indians.
""Credit to Toms River North,'' said Frank. ""They're a good ball club. We're a good ball club for hanging in there.''
STAFF WRITER
TOMS RIVER - It eventually had to end. Didn't it?
""I never thought we'd be playing this long,'' said sophomore Billy Hoermann of Toms River North.
His bases loaded single with one out in the last of the 12th inning Monday night ended a marathon pitcher's duel and gave the Mariners a pulsating 1-0 victory over Toms River South in an Ocean County Tournament semifinal game at Toms River East.
Toms River North (20-3) will meet two-time defending champion Toms River East in the 7 p.m. final Wednesday night at FirstEnergy park.
For a while Monday night it looked as if the TR North vs. TR South semifinal might spill into Wednesday.
""This was a long game, 12 innings, never (played this long),''said Hoermann, who appeared a little weary as he stepped from his team's dugout to meet reporters.
With one out in the last of the 12th catcher C.J. Alonso lined a single off the glove of a diving TR South rightfielder.
Courtesy runner Matt Mancini scooted to third as Mike Lacava made it to second when his ground ball was misplayed and rolled into rightcenter.
Then another error on a little infield bouncer loaded the bases.
Hoermann, 0-for-4 with two strikeouts to that point, lashed a pitch from South's Tyler Gebler past shortstop setting off a roar from the Mariner faithful on the hillside at Raider Ravine.
""It was a fastball and I was looking to drive something the opposite way,'' said Hoermann. "'He left one over the plate and I turned on it.""
And then never took his eyes off it. ""I saw it,'' he said. ""I was watching.''
The crowd watched brilliant pitching all night. Marc Potter started for TR South (17-6) and lasted into the ninth inning. The junior right-hander allowed six hits, struck out nine, and walked none.
Gebler, a sophomore right-hander, did not yield a hit until the 12th.
Junior right-hander Zach Brebner of TR North was dazzling over nine innings fanning eight and walking none.
Junior left-hander Anthony Scorsone took over after that striking out five and issued the game's only walk.
""They had the home field (last at bat), that didn't help us,'' said Ken Frank, TR South coach.
""We didn't get the clutch hit when we needed it. They played good defense.
""We just let down the one inning. Somebody had to lose. It's a tough one to lose.'' Alonso had three hits for TR North. Chase Gray doubled and singled for the Indians.
""Credit to Toms River North,'' said Frank. ""They're a good ball club. We're a good ball club for hanging in there.''
posted by Tony Graham at 8:26 PM
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