Photo by Steve Fallon
After splitting a doubleheader with fellow New Jersey Athletic Conference opponent Stockton, Ramapo took home a win over the Rutgers-Newark Scarlet Raiders on a cloudy and rainy afternoon last Friday, beating them 9-0.
Ramapo’s 15th year head coach Rich Martin was impressed with senior pitcher Tom Portesy’s performance on the mound.
“We expect him to go out there and hold a fort for us and he didn’t have his best controlbut he did a nice job and in situations where we needed him,” said Martin. “He really came up big, so I was really impressed.”
Portesy improved his record to 6-0 on the year as he pitched seven shutout innings. Portesy only allowed three hits and struck out seven, despite not having his best control, as he walked four and hit a batter. The Roadrunners scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back.
The Roadrunners’ starting center fielder, senior Scott Peschiani, hit a single to left field to drive in the starting right fielder, fellow senior Rob DeAngelis, for the first run of the game. Senior first baseman Jared Ensmenger followed up with a two-run single to left to drive in Peschiani and one of the NJAC’s best hitters, junior second baseman Joe Venturino. Then, the Roadrunners’ starting left fielder, junior Rafael Dela Cruz, singled up the middle to drive in senior catcher Chris Werr.
Ramapo would then add two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, as Venturino reached on a throwing error by senior third baseman Nick Gencarelli, allowing DeAngelis to score from second. Then, Ensmenger reached on a fielding error by senior first baseman Rowland Goodman, allowing Venturino to score from third.
Then in the bottom of the eighth inning, the Roadrunners put up a three-spot. The first of these runs was scored on a wild pitch that got away from freshman catcher Justin Marks, allowing Venturino to cross home plate. Then, senior Kevin Kelly, who came into the game in place of Dela Cruz, laced a two-run double to left to score freshman pinch runner Evan Ochlan and Peschiani.
The Roadrunners returned to action the next day as they traveled to Campbell’s Field in Camden, N.J. to take on the Rutgers-Camden Scarlet Raptors in a doubleheader, in which they lost both games 6-3 and 4-2, respectively.
The Roadrunners will next play on Thursday as they take on Kean University at Jeff Maund Memorial Baseball Field at 3:30 p.m.
pmcguire@ramapo.edu
