By TJ Hunt
New Jersey Scouting Director

DEMAREST – Bergen Catholic defeated rival Don Bosco Prep 5-4 on Sunday to win the Bergen County Tournament, the first County Title for the Crusaders since 1999. It was a back and fourth game, with momentum on the side of Don Bosco and Bergen Catholic at different times during the game.

BC jumped out to an early lead in the second inning when Bryan Hallenbeck led the inning off with a walk and scored on a single by 2019 2B Dom Cancellieri. The Crusaders would plate another run in the third inning when Rob Cappadonna and 2018 Chris Gerard doubled. 

Don Bosco put up a three-spot to answer in the top of the fourth. Notre Dame recruit 2018 OF Ryan Carr led the inning off with a double, and 2019 SS Danny Helfgott reached on an error. With one out Matt Lengua singled in Carr, and 2019 2B Anthony Petrosino doubled in Helfgott. With two down, 2018 OF Tommy Courtney singled in Petrosino and was thrown out attempting to extend his single to a double. The score would remain 3-2 until the top of the sixth when Connor Buckhout homered to deep left center field, extending the Don Bosco lead to 4-2.

In the bottom of the sixth, Bergen Catholic roared back with a three run inning of their own. Evan Bergman led off the inning with a double. Cole Bosch singled and then Chris Gerard reached on a failed fielder's choice attempt, scoring Bergman. With one out, Notre Dame recruit 2017 C David LaManna drove in the tying run with a single to right. With the bases loaded and one out, Cancellieri lifted a sac fly to left, bringing in the go-ahead run. 

Cancellieri then came into the game to pitch to close the game out. He struck out two on his way to giving Bergen Catholic the 2017 Title. His fastball sat 87-88 touching 89. His ball showed late life and great downhill angle.

LaManna was awarded the tournament Most Valuable Position Player, while Maryland recruit Gerard was awarded the Tournament Most Valuable Pitcher, with his masterful performance in a complete game win in the semifinals over River Dell on just 88 pitches.

The two teams will play each other again on Tuesday, in the Parochial A North Sectional Tournament.

 

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Don Bosco (20-7)	0	0	0	3	0	1	0	4	7	1
Bergen Catholic (21-5)	0	1	1	0	0	3	x	5	8	1

WP: Jacob Denner

TOP HITTERS
DBP
McLinskey 2-4
Carr 1-3, 2B, R
Buckhout 1-3, RBI, R

BC
Cancellieri 2-2, 2 RBI, BB
Bergman 2-3, 2B, SB
Gerard 1-4, 2B, RBI