Mills Bakery

The Wood-Ridge/ Moonachie Little League 10 Year Old All Star Team kept up its winning ways this past week picking up 3 more victories and pushing its two tournament combined record to 11 wins and only 2 losses. At press time ( Friday July 18, 2002 ) the team was eagerly waiting to find out who its opponent will be in the championship game of the District 5 Little League Tournament on Monday July 22, 2002 at 7:00 pm in Rutherford. The team knocked off perennial powers Rutherford Americans and Lyndhurst Nationals this past week to remain undefeated in District play ( 4-0 ). In the Paramus Summer Baseball League the locals pushed its record in that tournament to 7 wins and 2 losses defeating Wayne PAL, and is also awaiting the tournament seedings for that tournament’s playoff round. Tuesday 7/16/02 the locals hosted Wayne PAL and after jumping on the visitors for 8 first inning runs came away with a 15-2 victory. Wood-Ridge/ Moonachie used 6 different pitchers to keep all arms fresh and held the visitors to 2 runs on 4 hits with a combined 8 strikeouts. Leading the offensive attack was Alex Aitkens with 2 hits and 3 runs scored, Tony Veltri also with 2 hits and 1 run scored, and Thomas Fugnitti with a double and 2 runs scored. Jennifer Keller led the defense handling all 6 chances at second base flawlessly. Wednesday 7/17/02 The locals traveled to Lyndhurst for their 3rd District game, this time against Rutherford Americans. In a game for all games the locals battled the Rutherford team and entered the bottom of the 6th inning tied at 1. The locals managed to place runners on 1st and 3rd bases with 2 outs. On the front end of a double steal Nicky LaTesta scored the winning run giving the locals a thrilling 2-1 victory and pushing their record in District play to 3-0. Starting and winning pitcher Shannon Sullivan held Rutherford to no earned runs while striking out 5 and issuing no walks. She also helped her own cause with solid defense from the mound. Alex Aitkens plated Tommy Lacey with the locals other run with an RBI single in the 3rd inning. The defensive play of the game was turned in in the 5th inning when centerfielder Brian Melber cut of a solid hit in the gap and turned and fired a strike to 2nd baseman Jennifer Keller nailing the batter trying to stretch the hit into a double. Thursday 7/18/02 The team traveled to Rutherford’s Little League field for a winners bracket showdown against Lyndhurst National. Starting off slowly in this District 5 game the locals found themselves down 4-0 early in the game. They answered back with 4 runs of their own in the 2nd inning and then tacked on 2 runs in the 3rd inning before scoring 8 times in the 4th inning and defeating the Lyndhurst team 14-4 in a shortened 10 run rule game. The locals pushed their record in District 5 play to 4 wins and 0 losses and now will play in the championship game on Monday July 22,2002 at 7:00PM, again at Rutherford. Winning pitcher Alex Aitkens ( 2-0 pitching record in district play ) allowed only 4 hits while walking only 1 and striking out 5. He helped his own cause with 4 hits including 2 booming doubles off the left field fence ( warning track power) knocking in 4 runs. Tommy Lacey contributed 2 hits, scoring 2 runs and knocking in 1 run, Tony Veltri also had 2 hits for 2 RBI’s and 1 run scored, Brian Melber had a hit for an RBI and scored 2 runs and Robbie Francis knocked in a run with his hit and also scored. The infield trio of Tommy Lacey, Thomas Fugnitti and Tony Veltri turned in a 6-4-3 double play to end the 3rd inning. Coach Keller