After an exciting, back-and-forth game, sophomore catcher Jake Milmoe delivered a walk-off two-RBI single to send Verona past Caldwell and into the NJSIAA North 2, Group 2 semifinals.
The Hillbillies struck first in the bottom of the first inning after a two-out single by senior Anthony Zamloot, juniors Nick Coppola and Will Gaccione were hit by pitches to load the bases. Milmoe then lined a single to right field, scoring Zamloot and Coppola. Sophomore Kyle McCaffrey singled home Gaccione to quickly make it 3-0.
In the top of the second inning, Caldwell managed to load the bases but Verona sophomore starting pitcher Pierce Coppola snuck out of the jam, not letting up a run.
But the Chiefs strung together a couple of hits in the fourth inning, scoring two runs and added on another run in the top of the fifth to make it 3-3.
In the bottom of that inning, both Zamloot and Nick Coppola doubled to give the Hillbillies a 4-3 lead.
After allowing Caldwell to get two runners on in the top of the seventh, Pierce Coppola was pulled from the game for Nick Coppola. He let up two singles, a walk, and a sacrifice fly ball to give Caldwell a 6-4 lead, sending Verona into the bottom of the seventh with their season on the line and only three outs to mount a comeback.
Verona worked two men on base, giving Zamloot an opportunity to cut the Caldwell lead to one run, which he did by crushing a ground-rule double to center field to make it 6-5. Caldwell intentionally walked the next batter to set up a force out at every base but it did not matter. With two outs, Milmoe lined a single to left field scoring two runs, completing the comeback and setting up a sectional semifinal matchup between the Hillbillies and Lyndhurst.
Pierce Coppola finished his outing going 6 â…“ innings with 8 strikeouts and 4 earned runs. Zamloot had a monster day at the plate, going 4 for 4 with and RBI and three runs scored. Milmoe, the walk-off hero, was 2 for 4 with four RBI.
The semifinal round against Lyndhurst will be played this Tuesday at Paul Doc Goeltz Field in Verona. The starting time has yet to be set.
Photos copyright Kathleen Seubert. Used by permission.
