8U Red Wins NPGL Gold Championship
Submitted by Bret Sayre
After winning their District 12 tournament in the middle of the summer, the Berkeley Heights 8U Red baseball team returned to regular season play in early July for the New Providence Green League (NPGL). After a string of close victories over Basking Ridge, Chatham, and Summit, the Jr Highlanders beat Somerset Hills 12-2 in their final regular season game to win their division with an 8-1 record and advanced as the second seed in the NPGL gold playoff bracket.
The playoffs began on July 21, as the Scotch Plains Raiders came to Sansone Baseball Field to try and upset the district champions. The Jr Highlanders proceeded to shut out the seventh seed 3-0 and advance to the semifinals, where they would face Summit for the fourth time this summer. On the back of some timely hitting, the boys defeated them once again by a score of 4-3. Finally, on July 28, the Jr Highlanders traveled to Watchung to play the top-seeded Watchung Hills Warriors in the championship game. The boys weathered early rain that eventually gave way to clearer skies and big hits. By the time the sixth inning was over, the boys had won 14-4 and were on their way to home plate to celebrate their final victory of the summer.
The full Berkeley Heights 8U Red team roster consisted of CJ Bazydlo, Andy Brady, Caiden Bryant, Andy Faxon, Leo Franchino, Colin Gillespie, Jon Kanarek, Nate Klacik, Gavin Klasey, Colin Richter, Evan Rosenbloom, and Josh Sayre. Coaches Bret Sayre, Todd Klacik, Scott Rosenbloom, Jasen Bryant, and Frank Franchino all helped throughout the season.
