Nanuet Cubs Fall Just Short of Little League Championship

The Nanuet Cubs fell one game short of winning the 51st Journal News Little League baseball Tournament of Champions at the Haverstraw Little League Leo Lader’s Post 130 American Legion Memorial Field.

The White Sox of Ramapo were a bit too much to handle on Sunday morning as their balance of pitching and hitting drove the Sox to a 4-1 win.

“I was surprised by the low score,” said Ramapo Manager Bill Huddock  “It was the quality of pitching out there. Both pitchers did a phenomenal job. Our boys just kept their composure and I’m just really proud of them.”

Bobby Caprioglio pitched a wonderful game out there for the Sox. Caprioglio completed the game and was carried off by his team.

Despite the good performance from Caprioglio, the Sox put on an outstanding effort as a team. Their defense was solid from start to finish, pitching was taken care of and they got the hits they needed.

Jacob Goldstein had the big hit in the game when he drove in two runs on a double down the third base line. Goldstein slid into second and the Ramapo fans went wild.

“I was just happy to get up to bat with men on base,” said Goldstein. “I was more confident on my second at bat. I had to wait on the pitch and I knew I could hit it.”

Sean Gick, who scored the only run for Nanuet on Sunday, blasted a shot into deep center field to lead off the sixth inning. An outstanding snag by Ramapo’s centerfielder was really a blow to the Cubs’ confidence.

Nanuet has plenty to be proud of. A team that just came together early in the spring, whose first practice was their first game due to rain, really has no business competing for a championship but that’s exactly what the Cubs did.

“They played very well they just didn’t hit today said Nanuet Manager Tom Di Benedetto. “Our team’s capable of hitting they just didn’t do it today. They were a little off balance. The other team played well and they made less mental mistakes than us today.”