Kiefer Goss went 2-for-4 with two RBI in today’s 7-3 win over Princeton Day School. Photo by Michael A. Sabo
By Rich Fisher
Fish4sores.com
Apr. 24: It’s a good thing Kiefer “Nephew of Bread” Goss wasn’t depending on a gift from his uncle to succeed.
The nephew of uber-successful Bordentown Post 26 American Legion manager Tom “Breadman” Dolan; Goss was asked how much his uncle has helped impact his game.
“Well, he always said he was gonna buy me a bat,” Kiefer said. “But he never did.”
Maybe that’s a good thing. Whatever bat Goss is using now is doing quite the job. After going 2-for-4 with two RBI in today’s 7-3 win over Princeton Day School, Goss maintained his .500 average (18-for-36) and has 11 RBI, two doubles, three walks and been hit by three pitches. He has also stolen five bases.
Not bad for a sophomore who didn’t even think he would make varsity this season.
“No, not at all,” Goss said. “But I did good in tryouts, then I did good in scrimmages.”
And he has never stopped doing good, having hit safely in 11 of 12 games.
“Kiefer’s been great for us,” coach Mike “Mo” Moceri said. “He’s been a sparkplug, he’s swinging the bat very well right now. Hopefully he keeps it up.
“He just came out, had a really good tryout. We asked him to play outfield, he never really played outfield before. We stuck him in there and he’s been hitting ever since. You can’t take out somebody who’s been swinging the bat.”
Normally a shortstop, where he played today, Goss was uncertain what has led to such success.
“I don’t even know,” he said. “I’m just going up there, clearing my mind and just hitting. I’m doing something right.”
Perhaps his approach?
“I just think, the way my bat’s been going through the zone it feels like it’s just been solid all the way through,” Goss said.
Tyler Springett smacks a double against PDS. Photo by Michael A. Sabo
Moceri was familiar with Kiefer, since he came up through Hamilton Little Lads and Hamilton Babe Ruth. He’s not surprised at this start.
“We knew he was a good player,” the coach said. “We didn’t know if he was mature enough yet to play at the varsity level. Obviously, he’s proving me wrong and it’s awesome.”
Goss batted third today and he, leadoff hitter Tyler Springett and No. 2 man David Zamora each had two hits and two RBI. Springett also scored two runs and had a double.
Hamilton West Catcher Connor Luckie tags out Tommy Sarsfield of PDS. Photo by Michael A. Sabo
Hamilton (7-5), coming off a tough loss to Allentown in which errors again hurt the cause, took a 1-0 lead before PDS tied it in the second. The Hornets got three in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good.
West maintained its margin in the fourth thanks to some solid glove work. With Tommy Sarsfield on second base and one out, Vinnie Gasparro singled to right. Justin Wiltsey got to the ball quickly, threw to cutoff man Zamora at first, and Zamora threw to catch Connor Luckie to nab Sarsfield. PDS argued the call to no avail. After a single put runners at the corners, Goss made a leaping catch to rob Kevin Flahive and get winning pitcher Mason Fitzpatrick (3-1) out of the winning.
“We’ve been working on our defense,” Moceri said. “If we can shore up our defense and make plays and not walk people we’re gonna be in games. In big games you gotta make big plays, that’s just what it comes down to.”
Hamilton High West Pitcher Mason Fitzpatrick improved to 3-1 with the win over PDS. Photo by Michael A. Sabo
In his four-plus innings, Fitzpatrick allowed eight hits, no walks, a hit batsmen and two runs (both unearned). He was hurt by two errors but was benefited by three unconventional double plays.
“He threw strikes and that’s what we preach,” Moceri said. “He didn’t have his best stuff but he gutted through it and did what he needed to do.”
After winning four of five, the Hornets are 2-2 in their last four as some mistakes have hurt and others have been negated.
“With a young team there’s some learning curves we gotta figure out,” Dolan said. “That comes with maturing, and we’re getting there. It’s just gonna take a little bit of time for them to buy into the things we’re preaching.”
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Breadman Dolan can be forgiven for his bat lapse with Kiefer. This Sunday, he and Bordentown Post 26 are holding a fundraiser to help last year’s manager, Doug Moore, pay for some high-cost bills after Moore has gone through extensive medical treatments.
The fundraiser is this Sunday (Apr. 29) at Hightstown Post 148 from 1 to 5 p.m. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at the door. Price includes beer and food from JoJo’s Tavern, which features roast beef, sausage, peppers & onions, meatballs and vodka rigatoni. There will be a 50/50 and a tricky tray. All proceeds go to help curtail Doug’s medical expenses.
