Ridge Baseball Wins Skylands Conference Game at TD Bank Park

Although Ridge High School's baseball team's annual game at TD Bank Park is a popular event that invites hundreds of young players from Ridge Baseball Club onto the field, the game usually has little impact on the actual season. On Wednesday, the night had many layers including senior night and the chance to win the Skylands Conference.

Ridge, now 16-8, secured that championship with a 10-6 win over Warren Hills.

Warren Hills (11-14)

After the pomp and ceremony that lead up to game time, the Ridge Red Devils knew they had to be serious if they hope to bring home the Skylands Conference championship. 

And the first inning started with lead off hitter Liam McArthur belting out an infield hit and following it up with a stolen base. The same inning, with two outs, Ryan Bell smacked a solid drive to left center for a double and sending McArthur home. Andrew Hartjen walked to put runners at 1st and 2nd. 

Next batter Cory Commer hit a line drive double, scoring Bell and setting up 2nd and 3rd for Joe Timko. Timko would get on and put Ridge up by four runs when Warren Hills errored sending Hartjen and Commer home. 

Ridge would be held scoreless for the next three innings and seemed to falter in the field, giving up 5 runs and passing the lead to Warren Hills. But Ridge was poised to strike, and they did so in the 5th inning — running up up six runs with an array of walks, singles and doubles that sent 12 Ridge batters to the plate. 

Ridge was done with scoring after that 5th inning effort and gave up a single run to Warren Hills in the seventh before closing out the game.

Pitching for the Devils came from game winner Eric Falvo who pitched 5 innings giving up 6 hits and 5 runs. Falvo had 3 walks and 3 strikeouts to bring his season record to 3-1. Sean Fuchs came into the game in relief pitching two innings for Ridge giving up 3 hits and striking out 3 batters.

"They were such great leaders on the field and off the field all year long," said Ridge coach Tom Blackwell. "We went through some real good times and some tough times, like most seasons do. But they were such rocks all year long. To have a spot like this, a championship game, where you can do a senior night and put those guys out there and let them perform, it was fun and really rewarding."

"I told them it was there championship to win," added Blackwell. "For the rest of their lives they can come back to Ridge and see the 2013 championship banner hanging in the gym and it will be something they can be proud of."

"Awesome," said senior hurler Eric Falvo. "A great way to end the season. I love all these guys and I have been having a great year with all of them.  Everyone believes in each and every one of us. They always got rowdy on the bench for me and I loved it. It is just sad to see everyone go but it was a good run. It was nice to top it off with a conference championship." 

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