RUTHERFORD –– In a matchup of the top Group II schools in Bergen County, Pascack Hills beat Rutherford 10-2 yesterday in a game that got off to a fast start. Pascack Hills unleashed 11 hits including two home runs to beat the Bulldogs.

The visiting Pascack Hills Cowboys jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Uncommitted junior 2019 Julian Bulzomi led of the game with a walk and Paul Sullivan singled. The number three batter Michael Rodriguez then attempted to sac the two runners over with a bunt, but Rutherford pitcher CJ Fransisco made a nice play by getting the force out at third base. With two on and one out, Villanova recruit Brandon Siegenthaler singled home Sullivan and Rodriguez after they advanced on a wild pitch. 

In the top of the 2nd, the Cowboys continued their onslaught with LF Chris Lum leading off the inning with a single and SS Chris Curcio tripled to left-center, bringing home Lum. With one out, the lineup flipped over to Bulzomi – who singled in Curcio, one of his three hits on the day. 

The top of the fourth and the top of the fifth saw Pascack Hills score two and four runs, respectively. In the fourth, Lum led off with a walk and Curcio laced an inside the park homerun to left center field, making the score 6-0. Rutherford answered in the bottom half of the fourth with two runs to cut the lead to 6-2. Lead off batter and Rutherford sparkplug Abellany Mendez led off the inning with a single and with one out, Oklahoma State recruit 2018 John Kelly singled as well. With two outs, uncommitted 2019 SS Breyln Jones singled home Mendez. 2020 Old Dominion recruit Jacob Gomez reached on a fielder's choice that scored Kelly, but that's all the Bulldogs would get.

The top of the fifth the Cowboys scored four runs all with two outs. Lum, again, got the party going with a single and Curcio followed up with a walk. No. 9 batter Jack Brodsky singled home Lum. Bulzomi then hit a laser into the left center field gap that just kept rolling – ending up as a three run homer. 

With the score 10-2 after 5 neither team would score again. Pascack Hills starting pitcher and Villanova recruit Brandon Siegenthaler went six innings striking out nine and scattered five hits. His fastball sat consistently 82-85 MPH with a downhill plane. He flashed a curveball with 11/5 tilt at 72-75 and a changeup at 74 MPH as well. Siegenthaler has a lean, athletic build at 6-foot 180-pounds with a defined lower half and a long, loose arm action.

It will be interesting to see where both of these teams end up as the Bergen County tournament cut off and state tournament cuts offs are both this week.

 

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