By Frank Rizzo
LIVINGSTON MANOR — May 22, 2001 – One big inning carried Livingston Manor to a big 9-6 win over visiting Chapel Field in Friday’s OCIAA Division V baseball game.
The victory means the Wildcats need to win one of their three remaining games to clinch a sectionals spot — their first since 1998.
Ryan Carlson notched the win on Friday, tossing a five-hitter and fanning eight.
After spotting the Lions an unerned run (without the benefit of a hit) in the top of the second, Manor knotted the contest in its half of the frame.
Jason Will singled and Kytt McManus drew a walk. Will moved to third when Brian Smith hit into a 6-4-3 double play and scored when Brian Will reached on an error.
Carlson yielded his first hit in the top of the fifth, to Greg Imbarrata. The Lion promptly stole second, and as J.P. Aponte was looking at a third strike, Imbarrata broke for third. Catcher Brian Smith’s throw skipped past Brian Will at third, and Imbarrata scampered home with the go-ahead run.
Chapel Field coach Dan Spanjer replaced starter Tim Jones with Jared Siglin to start the fifth, and the Wildcats promptly abused the reliever.
Smith led off and reached on an error, taking the extra base when the ball got past Craig Wilkinson at first. He scored when Brian Will slashed an opposite field double.
Siglin was charged with a balk, moving Will to third. From there it was a short jaunt home as Casey Adamse hit a bloop single to short right field.
Siglin walked Carlson and gave up a bunt single to Clarence Hinkley to load the bases.
Ryan Edwards lined a shot to deep center for a ground rule double and two RBI. Denman then reached on an error to score Hinkley and put the Wildcats up 6-2.
Edwards later scored on a fielder’s choice and Denman crossed the plate on a wild pitch as Manor took an 8-2 lead.
The Lions put the scare into the home team in their half of the sixth, closing the gap to 8-6 on the strength of three timely hits.
Carlson led off the sixth with an infield single and moved up when Hinkley also beat out a grounder.
Edwards hit into a 4-6-3 double play, which placed Carlson on third. He then gave himself an insurance run, scoring on a passed ball.
Manor coach Chuck McKenna feels a playoff slot is within his team’s grasp.
“We had a couple of down years the past two years, so it would be nice to get the program pointed in the right direction,” McKenna said.
His squad faced visiting Tri-Valley yesterday in non-league game. Results were unavailable at press time.
On Wednesday, Narrowsburg will visit Manor to finish out the Division V schedule for both teams.
The Wildcats close out the season on Friday against Sullivan West/Jeff-Youngsville, a non-league game.
“Class D is wide open,” McKenna noted of the upcoming tournament. “Seward is the favorite but we played with them down there.”
Seward beat the Wildcats 6-4 down in Florida on April 25. The return game was more lopsided, on May 11, when the Spartans romped 14-0.
“We had a long layoff and I had three starters out that game,” McKenna noted.
McKenna was encouraged by Carlson’s performance on Friday. The senior hurler had been out of action for two weeks before his loss to Narrowsburg the previous Monday.
“Ryan was rusty, but now it’s starting to come together for him,” McKenna noted.
He also praised Hinkley for his 8-3 win over Downsville on Wednesday.
“Clarence stepped up big. It was his first starting game and he went all the way,” McKenna said.
Notes: Edwards led Manor with three hits against Chapel Field.