Raibley's Pinch Hit Caps Warriors' Dramatic Comeback

The Watchung Hills Regional High School baseball team took down rival Ridge High School at home on Monday afternoon, winning 8-7 in eight innings.

In Short

Senior Zach Raibley’s infield hit with the bases loaded brought home the game-winning run in the eighth inning, giving the Warriors their first win of the year.  With two on and two out, an error by Ridge on a ball put in play by senior first baseman Richard Hunt loaded the bases, before Raibley delivered.  This coming after the Warriors rallied from 7-4 down in the seventh inning.  With two on and one out, senior catcher Chris Berry grounded into a fielder’s choice which made it 7-5.  Down to their last out, Nick Rivera ripped a home run to tie the game. 

Warrior of the Game

Nick Rivera—The senior third baseman reached base all four times.  Along with a walk and a single, Rivera pounded two home runs. He put the Warriors out in front in the second inning 2-1 with a high towering two-run blast to left-center field. With the Warriors down to their last out, Rivera went deep again to deep left center field as a Ridge center fielder crashed through the wall trying to catch it.  That two-run homer tied the game at 7.  Rivera scored three runs and drove in four.

Other key performances—Senior Zach Raibley came on in the eighth as a pinch-hitter and delivered the game-winning hit with the bases loaded and two outs.  Seniors Richard Hunt and Matt Meyers, along with juniors JC Rizzi each reached base three times.  Myers and Hunt each scored a run.

They said it

"I was just trying to keep the inning going.  I caught it pretty good."—Nick Rivera on his game-tying home run

"It was tremendous. Our seniors were great.  They're leading the young pups."—Head Coach Mario Diez on the come back

Up Next—At Montgomery Tuesday at 3:45 p.m.

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