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Sports

Three-Run Sixth Pushes Watchung Hills Into Semis

Warriors hold off Montgomery in the Somerset County Tournament.

Richard Hunt went the distance for Watchung Hills baseball team as the Warriors defeated Montgomery 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the Somerset County Tournament Saturday afternoon.  With the score tied at three, Watchung Hills manufactured three runs in the bottom of the sixth with only one hit.  The Warriors advance to the semifinals at TD Bank Ballpark next Saturday.

 

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Final

Montgomery (6-7)

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Watchung Hills (10-3)

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IN SHORT

The Warriors managed two runs in the bottom of the second when Cody Hinds hit a triple to right-center that plated Hunt and Kyle Taylor.  In the bottom of the sixth, Watchung Hills took advantage of some sloppy fielding by visiting Montgomery and took a 6-3 lead into the seventh.  In the seventh, Montgomery had the winning run at the plate, but Hunt managed to strike out the final hitter on a devastating curveball in the dirt.

WARRIOR OF THE GAME

Richard Hunt pitched a complete game, giving up four earned runs on five hits, with eight strikeouts and five walks.  He also scored a run and drove in another with a sacrifice fly in the third inning.

“Richard battled today. There were a few times he fell behind some batters and battled every pitch.  That’s a sign of a champion and you win championships with performances like his today. He’s really getting better every outing."—Head Coach Mario Diez

OTHER KEY PERFORMANCES

Cody Hinds went 1-for-3 with a triple and two RBIs that tied the game in the second inning.

Joey Rocchietti went 1-for-3 with an RBI single that gave the Warriors the lead in the sixth.

COACH’S TAKE

“Today was just a well played game from two of the top teams in Somerset County.  They are a very good team, but we were just a couple of runs better than them today.  It was a good game to coach in and I think it was a great game to play in.”—Diez

THEY SAID IT

“I started off slow today, but got it together as the game went on.  Montgomery is a very good hitting team and we knew that coming in.  It’s exciting to move on to TD Bank Ballpark for the semis.  I grew up watching our team play there in previous county tournaments and I can’t wait.”—Richard Hunt

UP NEXT—Arthur L. Johnson Monday at home at 4 p.m.

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