North Hamilton left fielder Brett Hoffman reaches out and attempts to make a diving catch against Bordentown Post 26. Photo by Michael A. Sabo.
By Rich Fisher
Fish4scores.com
June 26: Matt Maher does not like being 4-7 but he does like being the first-year manager of North Hamilton’s American Legion baseball team.
He just thought he would be coaching a somewhat bigger team numbers-wise.
“I’m enjoying it,” Maher said. “I just wish some things would be easier. . .like guys coming.”
Maher was speaking after Monday night’s 8-2 loss to Bordentown at Gilder Field, in which he was missing four starters. Two were injured, one was in China and another had a personal issue to deal with at the last minute. He also loses a player to travel ball each weekend.
“I don’t want to make any excuses, but we’re like the North Hamilton Mets with our injuries,” Maher said. “We’re playing two eighth graders, a catcher in the outfield. It’s frustrating but it’s a little disappointing to be 4-7 eleven games in with what I think is a pretty good ballclub.”
Ronnie “Baseball” Voacolo, pitched six strong innings for North Hamilton. Photo by Michael A. Sabo
Maher and his counterpart, Tom “The Breadman” Dolan, both had sympathy for Hibernians’ starter Ronnie “Baseball” Voacolo, who pitched six strong innings.
“We’ve now wasted four of Ronnie’s starts, which is a shame,” Maher said. “He’s one of the better pitchers in the league, if not the best in the league. He’s pitched well four times and we’ve yet to get him a win, so that hurts.”
“We faced one of the best pitchers in the league tonight and you gotta give him credit,” Dolan said. “He threw the ball very well and hit his spots and we just had some clutch hits.”
North Hamilton took a 1-0 lead in the first on David Scott’s single and Bryce Fremgen’s RBI double. After Post 26 scored two in the bottom of the inning, the Hibos tied it in the second when Ryan Sparks’ single scored Brett Hoffman, who was hit by a pitch.
Voacolo and Joey Horton then toughened up. North Hamilton appeared ready to mount a rally in the fifth before Scott’s blooper past second base was grabbed on an outstanding diving play by Josh Berg. Instead of runners on first and third with one out, Berg stepped on second to double off Phil Rojek, who took off thinking the ball would drop (as did everyone else).
Bordentown responded with two in the sixth and tacked on four in the final inning to improve to 9-3.
Maher noted that he has had his full starting lineup in just the first two games of the season, but quickly added, “that’s not making any excuses. The guys are getting opportunities to play. Some guys are showing they can help us and other guys, unfortunately. . . .well, hopefully we can get some of these other guys back.”
With a slew of games remaining, Maher isn’t giving up hope just yet.
Noth Hamilton Shortstop Nicholas Rocco makes the long throw across the diamond as Phil Rojek looks on, to get the runner out as first. Photo by Michael A. Sabo
“We’re gonna hang in there, battle to the end,” he said. “Hopefully you’ll be playing your best ball at the end of the year so that’s my goal. String a few wins together and hopefully sneak in (the tournament) and if we’re playing our best ball at the end of the year anything can happen once you get there.”
