Pilots spilt doubleheader with the Tide

Originally posted on jerseypilots.com and acbl-online.com

The Jersey Pilots and Staten Island Tide split a doubleheader at Snyder Avenue Park on Friday night. The Tide won the first game 16-2 and the Pilots won the second game 10-9.

The Pilots got out to an early lead in game one. With the bases loaded, Brian Dudeck hit a groundball to Justin Cassinelli at first base. Cassinelli got the out at first, allowing David Young to score from third.

The Tide got on the scoreboard in the third inning. Charles Misiano and Justin Cassinelli both knocked in a run on singles. Zachary Leone also hit a double scored two runs.

Staten Island blew the game open in the fourth, scoring eight runs in the inning. Sean Mazzio hit an RBI single; Gabe Hernandez was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded; Justin Cassinelli, Leone, and Anthony Godino were all walked with the bases loaded; Connor Powers hit a two RBI single; and Matt Cassinelli hit a sacrifice fly. 

Two more runs were added by the Tide in the both the fifth and sixth inning to give the Tide 16 runs for the game. Hernandez hit an RBI double and John Russo hit an RBI single in the fifth. In the sixth, two runs scored on a Hernandez double.

The Pilots scored one run in the fifth when John Scarr singled home Young. 

Of the 11 Tide players that had a plate appearance in the game, only one hitter did not reach base. Misiano had four hits and Hernandez had three hits. Staten Island pitcher Rosario DiLorenzo pitched all seven innings in the win.

In game two, the Pilots again got off to an early lead. Greg Kocinski started the scoring when he doubled home two base runners. Kocinski would later score in the inning on a Drew DeAngelis single.

The Pilots scored another three runs in the second inning. David Young, Tommy Trotter, and Greg Kocinski all hit singles to load the bases. Stephen Petriello was then hit by a pitch to bring in a run. The next batter was John Scarr. Scarr hit a single that scored Trotter and Kocinski.

The Tide scored one run on a Misiano single in the third inning. Staten Island scored two more runs in the fourth on RBI singles.

The Pilots extended their lead to 8-3 in the bottom of the fourth when Greg Kocinski hit a two-run home run over the right field wall. It was his second homer of the season. 

Staten Island got back into the game in the top of the fifth. Hernandez and Leone both hit doubles that scored two runs and Godino hit an RBI double to tie the game at eight.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Pilots regained the lead. Again, Petriello came to the plate with the bases loaded and, again, he was hit by a pitch. The Tide argued that Petriello leaned into the pitch, but the umpire disagreed. The Pilots took a 9-8 lead.

An insurance run was tacked on in the sixth when Dudeck doubled home Drew DeAngelis.

The Tide managed to score one run in the top of the seventh, but could not get a second run to cross the plate and tie the game. 

Vinny Zanfordino got the win for the Pilots and Nick Pedalino got the save. Kocinski went 3-3 with a home run, double, walk and four RBIs.

After the doubleheader, the Pilots move to 8-14 on the season, while the Tide move to 13-6. The Pilots next play on July 13 against the South Jersey Giants. Jersey’s next home game is on July 15against the Trenton Generals with a game time of 6:30. For updates on the Pilots, visit jerseypilots.com and @ACBL_Pilots.

South Jersey Takes a Pair from Pilots

Originally posted on jerseypilots.com

Fueled by first inning rallies in both games of Sunday’s doubleheader, the South Jersey Giants beat the Jersey Pilots 8-5 and 12-1 at Snyder Avenue Park.

Game one started off with the Giants getting three consecutive singles to load the bases. The next hitter, left fielder Devin Ruiz, cleared the bases with a grand slam. The Giants scored another run in the inning when Matt Maul hit a single, making the score 5-0.

The Pilots responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the first. Tommy Trotter scored on a John Scarr single, Ryan Jennings scored on an error, and Greg Kocinski scored on a groundout.

South Jersey tacked on another run in the second on a Nick Browne sacrifice fly and two in the third on a Kyle Lindsey RBI double and sacrifice fly by Jon Theckston.

In the fifth, the Pilots cut the lead to 8-5. Trotter scored on an errant pickoff throw and Jennings scored on a single by Drew DeAngelis.

Ryan Dorosh went six innings and got the win for the Giants with Ben Hoffman pitching the seventh inning. Tommy Giunta picked up the loss for the Pilots.

In the top of the first of game two, the Giants had seven runners cross home plate. Browne, Vic Cosenzo, and Maul all had RBI singles; Kevin Mohollen and Cody Clarke had RBI doubles; and John Brue had a single that scored two runs.

The Giants scored two runs in the third inning on a Nick Tierno double and a Ruiz single. Another run crossed the plate in the fourth on a groundout by Tierno. The Giants added two runs in the fifth on a single by Brue and a fielder’s choice by Mohollen.

The Pilots scored their one run in the third inning. David Young got on with a double and then scored on a groundout by Christian Zazzali.

The Pilots next game is Tuesday in Trenton against the Generals. Jersey’s next home game is Wednesday against the North Jersey Eagles. Game time is scheduled for 6:30 pm. For team updates, check jerseypilots.com and @ACBL_Pilots.

Pilots Lose to Tide 5-4

Originally posted on jerseypilots.com

The Jersey Pilots lost to the Staten Island Tide 5-4 at Snyder Avenue Park on Wednesday.

The Pilots got the lead early. In the third inning, Pilots’ starting pitcher Nick Pedalino walked and center fielder Tommy Trotter followed that up with a single. Left fielder Ryan Jennings then hit a single that went off the first base bag. The hit scored Pedalino and advanced Trotter to third. During the next at-bat, Tide starting pitcher Mitchell Hillert balked, scoring Trotter. Jennings would later score on a Stephen Petriello single to make the score 3-0. 

The Tide scored one run in the next half inning. In the fourth, Angelo Navetta got a single and then scored on a sacrifice fly.

Staten Island took the lead for the first time in the game in the fifth inning. Anthony Romito had come into pitch for the Pilots. The inning started when the Tide’s shortstop Charles Misiano walked and third baseman Sean Mazzio single. The next hitter, Justin Cassinelli, hit a three-run home run to put the Tide ahead.

The Pilots equalized the score in the sixth when catcher Stephen Petriello hit a solo home run, his second of the season.

The game stayed tied until the eight inning. After Jersey’s David Young struck out the first two batters, Tide second baseman Julian Lanfranco and Misiano hit back-to-back singles. Misiano’s single but runners on first and third. During the next at-bat, Misiano went to steal second base. Petriello made the throw to Drew DeAngelis covering, but DeAngelis had to cut the throw because Lanfranco broke from third base. Lanfranco slid into home safely, giving the Tide the 5-4 lead.

Jersey could not take advantage of baserunners in both the eighth and ninth inning and score the game-tying run. 

Daniel Beizer got the win for the Tide while Young picked up the loss.

The Pilots fall to 6-9 with the loss, while the Tide improve to 10-5. The Pilots and Tide play again on Thursday at Staten Island. The Pilots return home for a doubleheader against the South Jersey Giants on Sunday, July 5. The first game starts at 4:30 pm. For more updates on the Pilots, check jerseypilots.com and @ACBL_Pilots. 

2015 NBA Free Agency Preview

LaMarcus Aldridge

LaMarcus Aldridge
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Aldridge has been under appreciated for years. While he is not an elite player, he is just a notch below and can be a key player on a championship team. He has spent his whole career with Portland, but that is set to change as it appears he is on his way out. He has meetings set up with the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns, San Antonio Spurs, and Toronto Raptors. Aldridge would be a good fit on all of these teams. Heading into July, the Spurs are the favorite due to Aldridge's appreciation of the system and the team. The one problem with the Spurs signing Aldridge is that they will have to make moves to open up cap space. One team that has not be given much attention but would be a very good fit is Toronto. Toronto's power forwards last season were Tyler Hansbourgh, Amir Johnson, and Patrick Patterson. All are good role players, but not typical starters. Aldridge could slide right into that starting role and help the Raptors become a legit contender in the East. With that being said, the odds are against the Raptors.

Paul Millsap

The Atlanta Hawks had one of the biggest free agent steals in recent memory when then signed Millsap to a two year, $19 million deal in 2013. Now, two years later, Millsap is again a free agent. Millsap can fit in with almost any team. As a stretch four, he can score the basketball from close, midrange, and three point land. He is also an above average rebounder. Millsap is likely to stay in the ATL, but it will be interesting to see if any team will be able to prowl him away. And if a team does, it would a great deal. 

Greg Monroe

Greg Monroe
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SportsBlogcom/2734962/0644988001435703716_filepicker.jpg

Monroe is a very good big man who is only 25 years old. He will not resign with the Detroit Pistons. Ever since the Pistons drafted Andre Drummond, Monroe has been forced to play more power forward and less center, his natural position. Monroe and Drummond would have been a good duo 25 years ago, but now the game has gotten smaller and the two clog too much space. It is better for the Pistons to let Monroe walk and stick with Drummond. Monroe will get a big deal from a team that misses out on one of the big time big men. It would also not be surprising if he replaced LaMarcus Aldridge in Portland. The problem with signing Monroe is it is going to cost a team a lot of money.

Jimmy Butler

The Chicago Bulls have reportedly offered Butler, the 2015 NBA All-Star, a max offer of five years, $90 million. That may be one of the smartest moves of this offseason. Butler is a fantastic player and key  for the Bulls. While the contract may seem large, it will not seem too bad when the cap increases over the next two seasons. By 2017, the deal will seem like a bargain.

Dwayne Wade

Wade has spent his whole career with the Miami Heat. And even though he opted out of his contract, it is still likely that he resigns with the Heat. Wade is asking for a three year, $16 million per year deal, which is way too much for him at 33. I think the Heat are the only team that would even come close to that offer. The Lakers have interest in Wade, but they would not overpay Wade and lose the opportunity to sign a young big man. Odds are in the Heat's favor with Wade.

Monta Ellis

Monta Ellis
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Ellis is an unrestricted free agent after opting out of his contract. He spent the last two seasons with the Dallas Mavericks. The Atlanta Hawks, Indiana Pacers, Miami Heat, Sacremento Kings are reportedly after the 29 year-old shooting guard. Of those four teams, the Kings would be the most interesting and most likely fit. Ellis is a high volume shooter who can be a ball stopper and shoots poorly from behind the arc. He seems like the type of player the Kings would overpay to sign. Ellis is going to get a large deal somewhere, but it is likely that it will be with a team that is not a good fit for him. 

Jersey Pilots lose in extras to North Jersey Eagles

Originally posted on jerseypilots.com


After tying the game in the ninth, the North Jersey Eagles scored three runs in the top of the tenth as they beat the Jersey Pilots, 6-4.


The Eagles got on the board first. Ryan Rivera led off the fourth inning with a walk and then Chris Baldi hit a single to put runners on first and third. Zach Tondi knocked in Rivera with a single and Baldi scored later in the inning on a Kenneth Hayden groundout.


I

n response, the Pilots scored one run in three consecutive innings. It started in the fifth inning when Pat Geraghty scored on a Christian Zazzali double. In the sixth, Tommy Trotter led of the inning with a single, moved over to second on a Vic Konstantinovsky bunt, and scored on a Greg Kocinski single. Brian Dudeck then scored in the seventh on a Geraghty single.


To begin the eighth inning, Baldi and Tondi reached base. North Jersey shortstop Paul Rufo was the next batter and he hit a groundball to Drew DeAngelis at shortstop. DeAngelis fielded and threw to Zazzali at second. Zazzali received the throw, but was taken out by Tondi, who had tripped and fell after sliding. The umpires ruled that Tondi, who was out at second, interfered with Zazzali, As a result, Rufo was out at first and Baldi had to return to second base. Instead of having one out and runners on the corners, the Eagles had a runner on second with two outs. Matthew Stalter struck out to end the inning.


North Jersey tied the game in the ninth. Shane Woelfel led off the inning with a walk and then stole second base. Woelfel scored the game-tying run when Dalton Filotei’s fly ball was dropped in centerfield. Filotei almost put the Eagles ahead later in the inning. After advancing to third on a fly ball, Filotei tried to steal home after a pitch got past Konstantinovsky, the Pilots’ catcher. However, Konstantinovsky retrieved the ball and tagged out Filotei at the plate to end the top of the ninth.


The Pilots had their own opportunity as well to win the game in the ninth. Stephen Petriello, pinch-hitting for Dudeck, came up to the plate with one out and DeAngelis on first. Petriello ripped a double into the right-centerfield gap. DeAngelis attempted to score on the play, but was thrown out at the plate.


The first two Eagles batters of the tenth inning, Rivera and Luis Amaro, walked. After a fly out, Rufo reached on an error, loading the bases. Stalter then knocked in a run when his groundball was mishandled. The next batter was Woelfel, who hit a 2-RBI double to make the score 6-3.


Jersey put together a rally in the tenth. Zazzali and Trotter walked to start in the inning and Kocinski hit a single that scored Zazzali. However, the Pilots could only get one run across in the tenth, leaving them two runs short of extending the game further.


The Pilots, now 4-6 after the loss, return to action on Father’s Day with a doubleheader at the South Jersey Giants. The first game scheduled to begin at 3:00. For more updates and news on the Pilots, go to jerseypilots.com or @ACBL_Pilots.

Pilots lose both games of a doubleheader to Lehigh Valley

Originally posted on jerseypilots.com and acbl-online.com

After splitting a doubleheader on Saturday, the Lehigh Valley Catz beat the Jersey Pilots in both games of Sunday’s doubleheader at Synder Avenue Park.

The Catz won the first game 5-4. The Catz got on the scoreboard first when right fielder Joseph Coyle came up with runners on second and third and hit an infield single, scoring a run.

Jersey retaliated with two runs of their own in the third. Center fielder Tommy Trotter hit an RBI triple and then scored on a Drew DeAngelis groundout.

The Catz tied the game in the fourth when David Moyer hit a solo home run and then reclaimed the lead in the fifth. Lehigh Valley DH Benjamin Bortz led off the inning with a double. Anthony Gaetaniello followed the double up with a bunt single and then Stephen Cohen walked to load the bases. After that, second baseman Nick Todero knocked in two runs with a double of his own. The Catz added a third run on an Anthony Rinaldi sacrifice fly to make the score 5-2.

The Pilots put together rallies in the fifth and seventh, but could not equalize Lehigh Valley. In the fifth, Trotter knocked in a run on a single. The Pilots also loaded the bases in the inning, but could not score any more runs. Stephen Petriello hit a solo home run in the seventh to bring the score within one, but the Pilots were unable to even the score.

In the second game, the Pilots scored first. To start the bottom of the third, Brian Dudeck hit a single and advanced to second on an error. The next batter was Nicholas Marini, who walked. After a fly out, DeAngelis hit an RBI single and Greg Kocinski walked to load the bases. Petriello then hit a weak groundball to the pitcher, but the Catz catcher dropped the throw, allowing a run to score.

The Catz scored six unanswered runs to end the game. In the fourth, Lehigh Valley scored one run when William Anderson hit a sacrifice fly. In the fifth, the Catz scored three runs when Todero walked with the bases loaded, John Collin McGeary hit into a fielder’s choice, and Doug deMarrais singled. The Catz tacked on two more runs in the seventh to make the score 6-2 when McGeary doubled in two runners.

Lefty Ian Carbone picked up the win for the Catz in first game, while Peter Moore got the win in the second. Both pitched all seven innings. Pilots’ pitchers Christopher Rossi and Tommy Giunta received the losses for game one and game two respectively. With the two loses, the Pilots fall to 4-5 while the Catz improve to 4-5. The Pilots next home game is Wednesday, June 17 against the North Jersey Eagles at 6:30. Check jerseypilots.com and @ACBL_Pilots for updates and more information.

Pilots Lose Home Opener 3-1

Originally posted on jerseypilots.com

The Jersey Pilots lost their season and home opener 3-1 to the North Jersey Eagles at Snyder Ave Park.

All of the Eagles runs came in the second inning. North Jersey catcher Zachary Tondi led off the inning with a single and was soon joined on the base paths by John Kukura, who walked. North Jersey right fielder Shane Woelfel then ripped a double into gap, scoring both baserunners. Woelfel then scored on a Ryan Rivera single.

The Pilots scored their only run in the eighth inning. After being no-hit for the first 7 1/3 innings, Pilots first baseman Greg Kocinski and left fielder Ryan Jennings had back-to-back singles to put runners on first and third with one out. During the next at-bat, Jennings broke for second base. Eagles catcher Frank Mayo threw the ball to second base, where the throw was bobbled. Jennings was safe at second and Kocinski, who broke from third base on the throw from Mayo,

was safe at home. 

Jersey had only two hits on the day, but did draw five walks. Pilots starting pitcher Tommy Giunta went 5 1/3 innings and picked up the loss. Catchers Vic Konstantinovsky and Stephen Petriello both threw out a runner attempting to steal.

The winning pitcher for North Jersey was Mike Sgaramella. He threw three innings of no-hit ball, but did surrender four walks. Daniel Rajkowski also threw three innings of no hit-ball in relief. Jordan Fontenelle closed the game out for the Eagles and had three strikeouts in his one inning of work.

The Pilots fall to 0-1 on the season, while the Eagles improve to 1-2.

The next game for the Pilots is on Sunday with a game time of 6:30 p.m. It is Ben Smookler Day in honor of the Pilots late owner and general manager. There will be pre-game ceremony honoring Smooker. For updates on the Pilots, check jerseypilots.com and the team’s twitter page: @ACBL_Pilots.