Thursday, July 18, 1996
Colin Disch's perfect 4-for-4 night at the plate (with a double, 3 RBIs and 3 runs scored) led all batters, while starting hurler Frank Veglatte got the victory with help from Brian McFarlane, as the North Plainfield 12 & Under All-Stars beat host Bedminster 13-6 for their fourth straight win.
Veglatte did a fine job on the mound, allowing only 5 scattered hits and being charged with no earned runs. He got stellar assistance from closer McFarlane, who faced five batters without giving up a hit and allowing only one baserunner.
North Plainfield got off to an early lead in the first inning on a leadoff single by Disch, a double by Tommy Holbrook, and a 2-RBI single by Jeff Bassman. Bedminster took a 5-to-2 lead in the second inning on just two hits but three fielding errors. NP retook the lead for good in the fourth on singles by Matt Velasquez and Disch, a double by Pat Davis, walks to Pete Feigenbaum and Michael Medina, and Veglatte's reaching base on an error. It was Holbrook's infield out that scored Veglatte with what proved to be the winning run.
North Plainfield scored another insurance run in the fifth frame on Velasquez' double and Davis' single, and Bedminster matched that run in the bottom of the fifth. NP put four more runs on the board in the top of the sixth to put the game away. Andy Stites led off with a walk, Matt Senna reached first on an error, Veglatte laid down a sacrifice bunt, Disch singled to left-center, and Holbrook tripled deep to left and marched home on an overthrow.
NP's batters combined for 15 hits, including 5 for extra bases. In addition to Disch, four players had big nights at the plate: Davis also had a perfect night (3-for-3, with a double, 1 RBI, and 1 run); Holbrook (2-for-4, with a double and a triple, 2 RBIs, and 2 runs); Bassman (2-for-3, with 2 RBIs); and Velasquez (2-for-4, with a double and 2 runs). Feigenbaum and Jake Cohan also contributed a hit each in the effort.
Aside from the troubled second inning, NP's defenders again played well. In addition to several great plays by Pat Davis at shortstop, first baseman Matt Senna and second baseman Pete Feigenbaum combined for a beautiful out in the bottom of the sixth. The leadoff batter hit a hard grounder between Senna and Feigenbaum. Senna exploded to his right and knocked the ball down, and then, in one motion, scooped the ball up and tossed a lead pass to Feigenbaum, who made the putout.
North Plainfield plays again Friday night, travelling to Basking Ridge for a rematch of their 25-to-3 victory from June 16th.