Auspicious start for Manchester baseball team

Manchester baseball has been taking its lumps the past few years, but this season the team has been competitive and brought home some victories.

While the Falcons were 2-4 as of last week, it was a promising sign as they have been struggling to grab any victories the past few seasons. In the previous three seasons, Manchester won a total of four games.

The biggest win in the early going was a 6-3 victory over area and NJIC Colonial Division rival Hawthorne, 6-3, at home in Haledon on April 12.

"No not surprised, I’ve been telling the team all year that they have the talent to play with any team, but they just have to play a complete team game defensively, pitching and with the bats," said Manchester coach Peter Savastano.

In the win over Hawthorne, Falcons junior pitcher Berdover Diaz kept the Bears' bats at bay for five innings, allowing only two unearned runs, two hits and striking out five. Junior reliever Justin Aponte came in to pick up the save with two innings.

Diaz also pitched in with the bat with a pair of RBI and sophomore second baseman Javier Perdomo went 3-for-3 in the contest.

Eastern Christian: The Eagles (2-4) received a key hit in the bottom of the sixth inning against Manchester in the April 16 NJIC Colonial Division contest in North Haledon.

Eastern Christian senior catcher Anthony Segreto doubled to score junior Danny Bautista for the game-winning run.

While not a complete masterpiece, Eagles senior pitcher Mark Foster fired a no-hitter with the two runs coming on an error, a hit batter and a walk.

"I think we are heading in the right direction," said Eastern Christian coach Max Harvell. "I’m looking forward to seeing how we continue to grow as a team."

Hawthorne: The Bears (4-4) ended last week in the Colonial Division on a high note with a 13-0 victory over Elmwood Park at home April 17.

Hawthorne senior hurler Aidan Hallquist was unstoppable on the mound, firing a five-inning one-hitter and striking out 13. Senior Brian Tousignant led the offense with three RBI. Nick Acosta, James Brudzynski, Kris Miller and Logan Rivera had two RBI each.

Softball

The Passaic County tournament seedings were announced last week.

Locally, Hawthorne has the best seed as the No. 8. The Lady Bears will host the winner of 16th-seeded Eastside and ninth seeded Wayne Valley on Saturday.

There will at least be another area team in the opening round this weekend. Fifteenth-seeded Manchester was set to take on 10th-seeded Mary Help of Christians last week in a play-in contest. The Manchester/Mary Help winner travels to seventh-seeded Pompton Lakes on Saturday. Eastern Christian is the 13th seed and was scheduled to travel to 12th-seeded Passaic in the play-in contest last week.

Hawthorne raised its record to 6-1 last week after shutting out Elmwood Park, 13-0, at home April 17. The Lady Bears only loss had been to Pompton Lakes, 11-0, at home April 8.

Lady Bears junior pitcher Melissa Martin shutdown the Elmwood Park hitters at home to pick up the victory. Senior Jillian Padovani led the offense with four RBI, and seniors Beth O'Boyle and Meghan Knepper chipped in three and two RBI, respectively.

Eastern Christian: The Lady Eagles (1-6) took home their first win by defeating rival and neighbor Manchester, 8-3, on April 16 in a NJIC Colonial Division battle in North Haledon.

Gwen Van Goor led Eastern Christian with four RBI along with a double and Karissa Kuperus had a pair of doubles and a pair of RBI. Elizabeth Lopez picked up the victory in the circle. Isabela Bonilla led the Lady Falcons' offense with a double and a RBI.