Sunday, May 20, 2012

Ace of baseball: Ciavarella fires P'burg to HWS title

In the brief three-year history of the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex baseball tournament, no player earned the distinction of Most Valuable Player more than Phillipsburg's Anthony Ciavarella.

The left-hander owned this year's event, racking up three wins and a total of 46 strikeouts in four tournament starts, including 12 K's in the Stateliners' 2-1 win over Hunterdon Central in Saturday's championship game at Diamond Nation in Flemington.

It was Phillipsburg's second county title and first since 2006, when coach John Stillo's team claimed the Hunterdon-Warren crown. What did this one mean to the Warren County school?

"It's huge," said third-year P'burg coach Dave Hinkle, whose team defeated 2011 champion Pope John in the quarterfinals and three-time finalist Hunterdon Central during its title run. "I told them that [Phillipsburg] is not supposed to do this in baseball. Especially with this team. I don't think may people expected this."

Well, maybe those that hadn't seen Ciavarella in action this season. For those who have, it really came as little surprise that he was able to dominate as he's done all season.

But Hinkle said the final was his ace's masterpiece on the mound.

"Just when you thought he couldn't pitch any better ... he does that," Hinkle said. "He was ahead of every hitter and just in total control. We needed everything he had. In the last inning, he blew away the side. It was the best I've ever seen him throw."

In two previous meetings this season, Hunterdon Central dominated P'burg in wins of 15-3 and 10-0, and carried a six-game win streak over the 'Liners since their 10-9 win over the Red Devils on April 15, 2010 -- Hinkle's eight game at the helm. Central also suffered just its second loss in 12 HWS games, while P'burg improved to 6-2 overall in county games -- second in wins behind Central.

But this one was uniquely different.

"We didn't have Ciavarella on the mound in those [losses]," said Hinkle, whose 2011 team lost three times to Central, including a 6-0 loss in the HWS quarterfinals. "He gives us a chance against anybody."

And Phillipsburg's four HWS opponents had very little chance. Only Pope John managed more than one run against Ciavarella, rallying back from a 5-2 deficit for three runs in the seventh to force extra frames in an eventual 6-5 loss in 12 innings. It was the only county start in which Ciavarella did not earn the win, despite fanning 10 Lions that day.

There have been other heroes during Phillipsburg's run. Junior right-hander Tyler Woscek coming on in the eighth and no-hitting Pope John the rest of the way for his first varsity win ranks up there with the best of them. Center fielder Chris Trent has been solid with the bat. And how about Sahil Patel? He had two RBIs against PJ and drove in P'burg's second run on Saturday with a single to center.

How big was that second run with Ciavarella on the hill?

"Once we got that second run I really felt at ease," Hinkle said. "[Central] came back and got one, but that second run was huge. Once we got that run I felt like we were going to [win]."

In typical P'burg fashion, 'Liner Nation was out in full force rooting on their team. Hinkle said Diamond Nation got awfully loud, especially with each strikeout.

"The P'burg gathering was unbelievable," Hinkle said. "It was overwhelming the amount of support we had."

Overall, Ciavarella has 80 strikeouts in seven starts and one relief appearance. The Monmouth recruit has fanned at least 10 in six straight starts, including a season-high 14 against Hopatcong in the opening round.

The only drawback from Saturday's win is that Ciavarella won't be available for P'burg's first state playoff game on Monday against Edison in the North 2, Group 4 draw. The starting duties fall on Mike Ciesla for that one at the Phillipsburg Athletic Complex.

However, should the 'Liners get by that one, they'll have their ace on the hill for Friday's quarterfinals and likely from then on out.

"We have to get by that first one [with Edison]," the coach cautioned. "We have Ciesla going and we feel confident. He's a bulldog. But after that one, boy, doesn't that get interesting. When [Ciavarella] pitches we're a different team."

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