Freehold Township Jrs. are Section III champions

CHRIS KELLY Freehold Township’s Ryan Cuneo completes a putout at first base during his squad’s win over West Deptford on Friday at the Howell Central Little League fields.

All-stars to play

for state championship

By tim morris

Staff Writer

To reach the Little League Junior League state championships, teams can’t rely on one overpowering pitcher or a couple of sure-hit batters.

"You have to be a complete team," said Freehold Township Junior League (13-14-year-old) manager Charles Wilmot. "You have to have pitching, defense, hitting and speed."

That just about sums up the 2003 Freehold Township team, which won the District 19 and Section III pennants this summer, and advanced to the state final at Howell Central Little League Complex last weekend. Freehold Township was scheduled to play Roberto Clemente, Newark, for the state championship on Monday.

In advancing to the Little League state championship final, the Freehold Township All-Stars did not lose a game. This collection of talent simply out-classes their opposition. And added to their talent is a special drive to succeed.

"The players will do whatever it takes to win," said Wilmot. "They have a lot of pride."

Freehold Township has overwhelming depth on the mound, led by the rotation of Jason Nardi, Ryan Cuneo and Mike Kinsella.

In his two tournament starts, Nardi pitched a no-hitter and a two-hitter. Cuneo won the Section III championship game against Brick (5-1), and Kinsella was the winner in the District 19 final, when Freehold bested Tinton Falls, 13-3.

Dominick Hayes, A.J. Rusbarsky and Rodger Wilmot also proved to be effective when they pitched.

"We have ample pitching to back our starters up," noted Wilmot. "There is barely a drop-off when we go to our other pitchers. We have been lucky to have so many good arms."

Defensively, shortstop Rusbarsky and second baseman Wilmot are gold gloves. They have great range, and catch everything they get a glove on.

Offensively, Freehold Township has been so dominant that it hasn’t even had to rely on small-ball game. Dr. Long­ball has worked just fine.

Cuneo hammered eight home runs through the section tournament, dis­play­ing power to all fields. Rusbarsky has smacked five over the fence.

Lead-off hitter Hayes brings track-speed to the base paths, and has been a dis­ruptive influence on defenses.

Steve Murphy has been the team’s steadiest hitter, coming up with the most multi-hit games.

Jason Baggitt sprays line drives to all fields, and Kinsella, Chase Majewski and Brian Cooney have also been frequently producing base hits.

"We haven’t had to play small ball, but we can bunt and hit-and-run," Wilmot in­sisted.

Freehold Township won the Section III title in Tin­ton Falls on July 21, as Cuneo helped himself out by driving a waist-high fastball over the left field fence in the top of the third inning to stake himself to a 2-0 lead. The left-handed swinging Cuneo went with the pitch, smacking it to the op­posite field, well over the left field fence.

Brick, which had defeated Howell Cen­tral to win the loser’s bracket and earn a second shot at Freehold Township, would come back with a run of its own in the last of the third, when starting pitcher Mike Ga­leotafiore lofted a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring John Rutkowski, who had started the inning with a single.

In the fifth, Freehold Township cashed in on Hayes’ lead-off triple to take a 3-1. Rusbarsky brought Hayes home on a sacri­fice fly.

Freehold Township added two more in the top of the seventh to give Cuneo further breathing room. Cooney, Hayes and Mur­phy started the inning with three consecu­tive singles. Rusbarsky’s RBI fly to center made it 4-1, and Hayes scored from third on a delayed steal.

Brick tried to get back into the game in its last at-bat in the seventh, loading the bases on a pair of singles and a walk with one out.

But a 5-4-3 double-play, started by Murphy, ended the game and any hopes of a Brick comeback.

There was no let-up last weekend at the state tournament as Freehold Township beat West Deptford, 13-1, and Roberto Clemente, 16-5, to capture the winner’s bracket.

Nardi tossed a one-hitter against West Deptford, and Murphy and Cuneo went downtown. Hayes scored four times.

Against Roberto Clemente, Kinsella picked up the win with relief help from Hayes. Cuneo rapped his 10th home run of the post season with runners on, and Jason Baggitt got the team rolling with a two-run home run.

The Freehold Township Junior League All-Stars are: Dominick Hayes, Steve Murphy, A.J. Rusbarsky, Ryan Cuneo, Ja­son Baggitt, Rodger Wilmot, Mike Kin­sella, Jason Mardi, Chase Majewski, Brian Cooney and Steve Panarese.

J.D. Rusbarsky, Frank Hayes and Bob Kinsella are the coaches, and Charles Wilmot is the manager.