Pilots fall to North Jersey Eagles 6-3

Originally posted on jerseypilots.com

The Jersey Pilots lost to the visiting North Jersey Eagles 6-3 on Wednesday, July 6 at Snyder Ave Park.

The Eagles got off to a quick start in the top of the first. Leadoff hitter Shane Woelfel was hit by a pitch and then scored on a Bobby Shannon double.

John Scarr tied the game in the bottom half of the inning, but the Eagles took control in the next half inning.

In the top of the second, North Jersey scored four runs, all with two outs. Matt Slater and Woelfel hit back-to-back doubles and then Shannon hit a two run homer. Tyler Benson followed that up with a double and then scored to make the score 5-1.

The Eagles tacked on a run in the fourth to make the score 6-1.

The Pilots managed to get two runs back in the sixth. After Rob DeAngelis, Colby Smith, and Malcolm Kelsey all walked, Scarr singled in a run and Greg Kocinski hit a sac fly.

The Pilots had multiple runners on the seventh and eighth but couldn’t get any runners to cross home.

Tom Marcinczyk led the Pilots offense with three hits. Smith and Scarr also had two hits themselves. Dominick Pisciotto picked up the loss for the Pilots. Alvin Vega went five innings out of the pen for the Pilots, giving up only two hits and dropping his ERA to 0.61.

The Pilots next home game is on Sunday, July 10. It will be a doubleheader against the Trenton Generals with first pitch of the first game set for 4:30 against the Trenton Generals at Snyder Ave Park. The Pilots will also be holding a food drive for local families on the date. The Pilots will be holding a clothing drive on July 17.

Continue to check jerseypilots.com and @ACBL_Pilots on Twitter for more updates.

Pilot of the Week: Outfielder Tom Marcinczyk

Originally posted on jerseypilots.com

Tom Marcinczyk is having a great season for the Pilots. The rising senior at Rutgers is first in the ACBL in home runs with four, second in batting average with a .380 clip, tied for second in doubles with seven, tied for third in hits with 27 and is fifth in stolen bases with 11. Marcinczyk has played in every game for the Pilots in either center or right field. Against the Staten Island Tide on June 29, he hit two home runs: a solo shot and a three-run dinger. The Pilots won the contest 8-2.

Q: How do keep the energy up when you guys fall behind?

TM: There is no need to be negative or to put pressure on oneself. If we are positive and having fun, we can comeback.

Q: What is your approach at the plate?

TM: Just to be more patient when I am up there. When I get myself into trouble I am always swinging at the first pitch. I just need to be able to sit back and drive it.

Q: What do you hope to keep doing at the plate?

TM: Really just to stay positive. Even when you go through negative slumps, just stay positive and have fun.

Q: What is your attitude in the outfield?

TM: It is awesome. Everyday I get to come out in the outfield and catch fly balls. It is fun out there.

Q: What are some of your goals for the season?

TM: Just to stay confident in myself, bring my confidence up, have fun out here with my teammates and enjoy the summer.

Q: When the end of the summer does come, what do you hope to be able to say that you accomplished?

TM: Playing for the Pilots. It is an honor to play here and play for our state.

Iceland and Wales are the best part of Euro 2016

The biggest surprises of Euro 2016 should not be big surprises.

Wales features probably the best player in the whole tournament (sans Ronaldo) in Gareth Bale and Iceland was one of the best teams in qualifying. While these two factors does not always equate to wins, they are usually prerequisites to success.

Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale
http://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/fd63f81
c3dc2a9fffd6f2106b64a1f09?width=700

However, what sets these two teams apart is their pride. The passion the players from Wales and Iceland have for their teammates and their country is incredible.

Gareth Bale gave one of the quotes of the year when asked whether anybody on England would start on Wales. He said “none,” despite the fact England, heading into the tournament, appeared to have the better team.

That is not only the sign of a leader, but of someone who believes in his teammates. Bale plays with some of the world's best at Real Madrid, yet supports his countrymen to the upmost degree. That epitomizes what this Wales team is all about. Yes, Bale is the man. But, for his teammates and his country, Bale will do anything to get the victory.

This mentality has rubbed off on his teammates. Aaron Ramsey is playing some of his best soccer ever in his attacking midfielder role. It is a shame he will be suspended for the semifinal against Portugal.

Ashley Williams
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CmTwMKLXgAECw3w.jpg:medium

Up front, Bale is getting some inspired play from his striker partners: Hal Robson-Kanu and Sam Vokes. Robson-Kanu, who is currently a free agent, has scored two game-winning goals so far. Vokes, who did not play in the first two matches, has gotten some playing time and scored a lovely header to put the Belgium game out of reach.

And it is not just the attackers who are playing well. Captain Ashley Williams is leading a good five-back defense that managed to hold a potent Belgium offense to one goal.

With all that being said, there are some issues facing the Dragons. Ramsey and defender Ben Davies are suspended for the semifinal due to yellow card accumulation. Ramsey’s role will be extremely difficult to fill as he and Bale have developed some good chemistry over the tournament. Their lackluster win over Northern Ireland also gives some pause, but their effort against Belgium dispels most grievances after that victory.

These issues, however, can be overcome. Portugal is coming into the semifinal with many questions. Their attack has been poor and they have not been able to win either knockout round game in 90 (or 120 minutes). While they performed better against Poland, Portugal was extremely lucky to beat Croatia in the Round of 16. If there is any team that Wales can afford the loss of Ramsey and Davies, it is most likely Portugal.

As for Iceland, their success is a little more difficult to understand. They do not have a superstar like Bale and almost all of their players do not play on the same club team. Of the team’s 23 players, only two players play on the same team. They are also spread across 12 different countries.

However, this breakthrough was coming for years. The team was the closest it has ever been to the World Cup when it lost in the final round of qualification in 2013. Instead of sulking in defeat, the team came back stronger and qualified for Euro 2016 despite being in a group with the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Turkey, who have a combined 20 Euro appearances between them.

Iceland after the team's victory over England
http://resources1.news.com.au/images/2016/06/28/1227921
/978453-4f664552-3cd4-11e6-9d40-3a1aba6191b3.jpg

Iceland was not great in the group stage of the tournament, but thanks to a late goal by Arnór Ingvi Traustason in the final game against Austria, Iceland was able to finish second in their group.

That set them up with a match-up with England. Few people gave Iceland a chance against the Three Lions and when Wayne Rooney put England up after just four minutes, soccer fans all across the world thought the game was over.

It was far from it.

Iceland equalized two minutes later when Ragnar Sigurdsson scored off a throw-in and then took the lead just 14 minutes later after some exquisite passing led to Kolbeinn Sigthorsson beating Joe Hart.

While Iceland could have parked the bus and played it safe, they continued to play their game. England could do nothing against the Iceland defense and had few actual scoring chances.

Now Iceland has a chance to cement itself in the history books with its match Sunday against France.

The tournament hosts, besides the heroics of Dimtri Payet and Antione Grizemann, have been underwhelming. They are more than vulnerable and Iceland may be the team to take them down.

Iceland and Wales have been the most interesting teams of the tournament. If all goes their way, it might set up the most unlikely Euro final of all-time.

Pilots split doubleheader with Staten Island Tide

Originally posted on jerseypilots.com

The Jersey Pilots won game one of a doubleheader against the Staten Island Tide 8-2 on Wednesday at Snyder Ave Park before falling 4-1 in the second game.

Tom Marcinczyk led the Pilot offense in game one. He went 3-4 with two towering home runs over the right field fence. His first home run was in the bottom of the first to put the Pilots ahead and his second home run was a three-run shot in the fifth inning.

Brian Rodriguez also had a day at the plate, going 2-3 with a two-run home run in the fifth inning as well.

On the mound, Tyler Poulin had a quality outing, going seven strong innings while allowing only four hits and striking out five. He also had four innings where he retired the batters in order.

Many Pilots had good games including Colby Smith, who had two walks and a hit-by-pitch; Harrison Walls, who went 2-3 with a double; Malcolm Kelsey, who had a RBI double and Justin Trochiano, who scored two runs.

In game two, the Tide got on the board quickly, scoring three runs in the top of the first and never looking back.

The Pilots managed to get one run back in the fifth when John Scarr singled home Alex Wright, but that was all Jersey was able to muster.

Dominick Pisciotto went five innings for the Pilots giving up only two earned runs with three strikeouts. Max Herrman came out of the pen for the Pilots and pitched two innings of shutout baseball. At the plate, Scarr led the team with three hits.

Zach Leone led the Tide with three hits, including two doubles, and Christopher Hess picked up the win for the Tide.

The Pilots next home game is on Tuesday July 5 against the Trenton Generals at Weehawken Stadium in Weehawken.

Check the jerseypilots.com or @ACBL_Pilots on twitter for more updates.