BELLEVILLE — The Belleville High School baseball team finished with an 11-14 record after dropping a tough 5-3 decision to Union City in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4 state tournament on May 27. Belleville was seeded ninth, while Union City is the eighth seed.
The Bucs trailed 5-0 for most of the game after committing a few errors.
Junior Jake Gonzalez hit a three-run triple in the sixth to cut the lead to 5-3. “We managed to get two guys on in the seventh, but were unable to get them in,” said BHS head coach Joe Sorce.
Senior captain Sean Walsh pitched five strong innings without allowing an earned run for the Buccaneers, who finished in second place in the Super Essex Conference–Colonial Division with a 6-4 divisional record.
Walsh finished his career with 202 strikeouts and 99 hits. “Sean will certainly be missed,” said Sorce. “He was a competitor who rose up in the biggest moments. Sean was a four-year varsity player for us.”
The team’s other captain was Crismel Deleon, also a four-year starter.
“Crismel was our center fielder and always provided great defense,” said Sorce. “Sean and Crismel were both selected as First Team All–Colonial Division –.Sean as a pitcher and Crismel as an outfielder. Senior shortstop Marcos Atehortua was named a Second Team All–Colonial Division infielder. Junior catcher Nate Diaz was named Honorable Mention All–Colonial Division.”
Photos by Joe Ragozzino
Belleville vs. Newark Academy (Essex Invitational semifinals, May 12, at Belleville)
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