Wolfpack Runs Deep in Counties

Photo+credit+Jen+Sheppard

Photo credit Jen Sheppard

The West Morris baseball team made a deep run in the Morris County Tournament. Through the tournament Coach Reindel shared that their mindset was to “Be resilient and compete. Find a way to help the team win. Play loose and have fun.” They made an appearance in the championship game for the first time since 2019. But, then fell to Delbarton 9-1. 

The boys were awarded the third seed coming into the tournament. They received a first round bye because of their seeding and the second round played Roxbury. The score was tight all game, beginning in the first inning 3-2. The Wolfpack put up another run but Roxbury was able to tie the score in the fifth. Neither team was able to score again before the end of the seventh. So into extra innings it went. In the eighth inning Matt Healy hit a walk off to earn his team a spot in the quarterfinals. Wolfpack aces Nick Rotundo and Sebastian Holl split this game recording a combined seven strikeouts. The Wolfpack faced off against Hanover Park where they would go on to win 4-1. Michael Ferry went two for three, Donavan Veletto and Nick Dargel both went one for three with an RBI. Sebastian Ecker pitched a great game with an ERA of one and 12 strikeouts. 

Sebastian Holl begins his pitching motion in the county final (Jen Sheppard)

In the semifinals they boys took on an all too familiar opponent in Morris Knolls. Coach Reindel stated “Knolls is a rival of ours and always play close games. We expected it to be a hard fought game. Our players were ready to compete and battled through adversity. I am really proud of how mentally tough our group is.” The two had played twice already that season with Golden Eagles winning both, the last one coming just days before this semifinal matchup. But, lights out pitching and successful at-bats gave the Wolfpack a win this time around and punched their ticket to the county championship game. Holl pitched seven innings with five strikeouts and an ERA of two. Jake Harrison went two for two batting in one run. Ty Kopec went two for three with an RBI of his own. 

In the finals, they faced Delbarton who was 19-4 coming into this game. Michael Ferry went two for three, Gavin Drown went one for two batting in the only run for the Wolfpack. Sebastian Holl pitched six innings racking up eight strikeouts. But, they lost 9-1. Coach Reindel stated “It’s special for our program to return to the MCT final for the 2nd time in 4 seasons. Regardless of the outcome of the game. The boys earned the title of the #1 public school in Morris County. It shows all the time and effort pays off.”