2014 Game Report
4/3 CEDAR DRIVE
Your beloved Huskies enjoyed a beautiful afternoon for their 2014 Opening Day. Matt Fitzsimmons (2 for 3 at the plate) pitched 5 dominant innings, striking out 9, walking 1, while surrendering only 1 hit. Ryan Rodriguez led the offense with 2 runs scored, 1 hit, 1 walk, & a stolen base. Jackson Hercek played sparkling defense in center field, consistently robbing base hit after base hit. Jack also had 2 hits & scored a run. Austen Nappi got a hit & a RBI. Dan Hirujo collected 2 hits & 2 RBIs in his first MAMS game. Stephen Salot & Joe Beukers also had base hits in this 3-2 victory.
4/10 HOLMDEL
After a week off due to spring showers, your beloved Huskies traveled to Holmdel for their second game of the season. Austen Nappi took the ball & threw 4 solid innings, striking out 9 with no walks. Austen also led the Huskies at the plate, going 4 for 6 with a double, 3 RBIs, and a run scored. Ryan Rodriguez collected 3 hits, 3 RBIs, & scored a run. Brendan Martin enjoyed a great day at the plate with 2 hits & 3 runs. Rich Olsen pitched an inning, got 2 hits & 2 RBIs. Jackson Hercek, Matt Fitzsimmons, Dan Hirujo, Christian Rodriguez, & Chris Gendi added hits to this 16 hit barrage that saw our record improve to 2-0.
4/23 NEPTUNE
On a chilly & windy afternoon, your beloved Huskies traveled to Neptune and put on a hitting clinic, collecting 17 team hits, including 4 doubles & 1 triple. Ryan Rodriguez led the charge with 2 hits, 1 triple, 1 walk, 3 runs, & 2 stolen bases. Matt Fitzsimmons had 2 doubles, scored a run, & had a RBI. Pat Caragliano, in his first game back from injury, also had 2 doubles, scored 2 runs, & had a RBI. Stephen Salot had 2 hits, scored twice, & had a RBI. Chris Gendi had 2 hits & a team high 3 RBIs. Jaysen Kalieta, Chris Caragliano, Rich Olsen, Dan Hirujo, Zach Grillo, Derek Jordan, & Christian Rodriguez each had a hit.
4/25 LONG BRANCH
Hagler vs. Hearns...Ali vs. Frazier...DeLaHoya vs. Merryweather...all epic prize fights. Friday's heavyweight battle at Husky Park did not disappoint the Matawan faithful. For 10 innings and 60 outs, the Huskies and Long Branch threw everything but the kitchen sink at each other. Austen Nappi got the ball & threw 6 solid innings, striking out 5, walking 3, & allowing just 1 run. Rich Olsen then threw the next 4 innings, striking out 8, walking 2, & also allowing just 1 run. Your beloved Huskies threatened many times in extra innings, but the Green Wave converted 2 double plays on line drives to end the 8th and 9th. With 1 out in the 10th, Dan Hirujo was hit by the pitch to take first. Jackson Hercek ran for Dan. Rich Olsen was then hit by the pitch, & Brendan Martin walked on 4 pitches to load the bases. On a 2-2 count, with ice in his veins, Chris Caragliano lifted a fly ball to center, just deep enough to score Jackson with the winning run.
4/28 THOMPSON
One of those days. Your beloved Huskies stung line drive after line drive, even mixing in an occasional bomb, but the Thompson defense was up to the challenge. If it wasn't an outfielder making an over-the-shoulder catch, it was an infielder diving into the hole to snare the hit. But, this team showed resiliency. Down 8-1 in the bottom of the 7th, we scored 4 runs to make it interesting. Derek Jordan (1 for 2, walk, run) walked to get our first runner. John Beukers singled. Jaysen Kalieta walked. Matt Fitzsimmons walked. Zack Grillo took one for the team & plated Jordan. Dan Hirujo then singled in 2 more runs with his second hit of the day. But, it was one of those days, & the rally ended.
4/29 BAYSHORE
On a cold, rainy day, your beloved huskies rebounded from the previous day's loss with a resounding win. Rich Olsen & Dan Hirujo combined to pitch the victory. Ryan Rodriguez got the 'big hit', a bases loaded double in the 5th to cement the win. Austen Nappi, Dan Hirujo & Jaysen Kalieta each had 2 hits & a RBI. Stephen Salot, Matt Fitzsimmons, Jackson Hercek, Derek Jordan, Colin Meany & Ben Palumbo also had a hit, meaning the entire starting lineup collected at least 1 hit.
5/2 HAZLET
In a game already deemed an instant classic, Austen Nappi took the ball and willed his team to victory with as gutty a pitching performance as you'll ever see. Austen pitched a complete game, allowing just 1 first inning run, struck out 9, & only walked 1. Your beloved huskies scored all 3 of their runs in the fifth. Rich Olsen singled, then Pat Caragliano singled. Ryan Rodriguez walked to load the bases. Stephen Salot walked in the first run. Matt Fitzsimmons walked in the second run. Hazlet tried a pick-off play at second. An alert Rodriguez, on third base, stole home to cap the scoring. Nappi sat down the last 9 Hazlet batters in a row to ensure the win.
5/6 HOLMEL
Everyone knows this Huskie team has pitching depth, but yesterday Richie Olsen proved we have 3 Number One Pitchers. Olsen pitched a complete game, striking out 9, only walking 1, & not aloowing a baserunner until 2 outs in the 4th. He was in total control the entire afternoon. Austin Nappi led the offensive attack, going 3 for 4 with a double, 2 runs, & a RBI. Jackson Hercek went 2 for 2 with a run, stolen base, & walk. Zack Grillo also collected 2 hits & had a RBI. Ryan Rodriguez, Pat Caragliano, Matt Fitzsimmons, Dan Hirujo, Derek Jordan, & Olsen each had a hit in this balanced victory.
5/7 OCEAN
This game saw a starting pitcher have to exit after only 1 inning with what we hope is just a sore arm & not an injury, but your beloved Huskies rallied all afternoon, refusing to give up as other players decided to step up against an undefeated team. Dan Hirujo (2 for 4, run) got the unexpected call to pitch in the 2nd inning. John Beukers took over for Dan in the 5th. Both Dan & John pitched well & kept the Huskies in the game, giving us a chance to win. We took a lead with a 4 run 2nd inning with Richie Olsen & Ryan Rodriguez each driving in 2 runs. That lead lasted until the 5th when Ocean made the score 6-4. A run in the 6th cut the deficit in half when Jack Hercek singled, stole second, & was hit in by Derek Jordan. Your beloved Huskies had 2 other chances, 2nd & 3rd still in the 6th, & a man on second in the 7th, but just could not plate the tying run.
5/9 THOMPSON
In a classic pitchers duel, your beloved Huskies unfortunately came out on the losing end of this hard-fought game. Austin Nappi pitched 6 great innings, scattering a few hits while striking out 5, & only surrendered 2 runs. The Huskies had their chances in the 6th & 7th, getting runners in scoring position, but could not get that big hit. Ryan Rodriguez, Pat Caragliano, Nappi, Matt Fitzsimmons, & Dan Hirujo each had a hit.
5/12 THORNE
And the bats woke up! In a tight 3-2 game, your beloved Huskies batted around in the 6th inning, plating 6 runs, to take control. Jackson Hercek (1 for 2, triple, 2 runs, stolen base, 2 walks, 3 RBI) had the big hit with a bases loaded triple. Ryan Rodriguez (2 for 4, 3 runs, 3 stolen bases), Austin Nappi (2 for 3, double, run, sac, 3 RBI), & Dan Hirujo (2 for 3, double, run, walk, RBI) all had huge days at the plate. Chris Gendi, Rich Olsen, John Beukers, Colin Meany, & Matt Fitzsimmons each collected a hit. Olsen pitched a complete game for the win.
5/13 NEPTUNE
Your beloved Huskies pounded out 11 hits and 13 runs in 5 innings in what was a total team effort for this victory. 16 of the 19 Huskies who played reached base at least once with a hit or a walk. Stephen Salot & Dan Hirujo handled the pitching duties, essentially shutting down Neptune. Derek Jordan, Salot, & Christian Rodriguez each scored 2 runs.
5/15 OCEAN
In a classic pitchers' duel, your beloved Huskies matched mighty Ocean township pitch for pitch, for every inning except one. Ocean capitalized on some Husky miscues in the third and erupted for 6 runs, the only runs of the game. But, there is no quit in the heart of a Husky. We put runners on base every inning but one. We just could not muster that RBI hit, and ended up stranding 11 runners in 7 innings. Ryan Rodriguez, Dan Hirujo, Rich Olsen, & Stephen Salot each had a hit. Jackson Hercek & Matt Fitzsimmons each walked twice to get on base. Austin Nappi pitched effectively & deserved a better fate, but, couple left on base with a 3 error inning, and you will be the wrong end of the decision most times.
5/19 HAZLET
Your beloved Huskies closed out their 2014 campaign with a loss against rival Hazlet. Thank you to all our 8th graders (Ryan Rodriguez, Austin Nappi, Matt Fitzsimmons, Pat Caragliano, Derek Jordan, Richie Olsen, Stephen Salot, Christian Rodriguez, & Zack Grillo). Good luck in high school, have a great time & do oyur best!