PHILLIPSBURG – North Hunterdon’s season of masterful pitching got a dramatic, memorable performance from its offense Friday, and it meant a Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament title.
Lions’ senior left fielder Nick Hernandez slugged a three-run homer over the left field fence and No. 5 seed North rallied to beat No. 6 Phillipsburg 8-5 in 11 innings at the Phillipsburg Athletic Complex.
Hernandez was ahead on the count 2-0 when he connected scoring Zach Fronio and Tyler Anderson ahead of him. Anderson delivered a two-run single one batter before that tied the game 5-5 before Hernandez dug in. Nick Politi and Alex Famolari scored on Anderson’s hit. Famolari went 5-for-6 with two runs scored.
Anderson watched from first base as Hernandez’ ball disappeared beyond the left field fence, lifting North to its first HWST title since 2016. They also won in 2015.
The Lions jumped for joy as Hernandez toured the bases. They had begun the 11th down 5-3 after Jacob Kissebach’s two-run single.
“I see my teammates and friends going crazy and celebrating after I tied the game,” Anderson said. “I finally had a chance to catch my breath and then Nick just slammed one. ‘Oh my gosh’ I thought. I can’t believe that just happened. There was no feeling like that.”
Hernandez said he wasn’t sure what kind of pitch he hit.
“I see the pitch, I swing the bat, I hit the ball and then my concern is where it lands,” said Hernandez.
That was in a place where nobody could catch it.
“This was the biggest at-bat of my high school career,” said Hernandez. “I’m never going to forget this.”
Hernandez also tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh with a sacrifice fly to left that scored Chris Sand.
North’s fourth rally of the game – they trailed 1-0, 2-1, 3-2 and then 5-3 – made them winners.
“I’m so proud of them, they’ve worked so hard,” said coach Derek Yocum, “It was one of the better battles I’ve been part of – two teams that didn’t quit.”
North definitely showed its pitching depth. Fronio went four innings, allowing a hit and four walks and striking out four. Sand went three innings with a walk and four strikeouts. Ben Linzer went the last four, allowing two runs, three hits and a walk.
He turned out the winner. He also got the win in relief in the 1-0, 10-inning quarterfinal win at Hunterdon Central.
“This is what we dreamed of,” said Linzer.
Phillipsburg’s Eddie Weindel threw five relief innings with seven strikeouts and one run allowed. He also had three hits and one RBI. Starter Jared Diefenbach pitched five innings.
North beat No. 17 Newton 11-0, No. 4 Hunterdon Central 1-0, No. 1 Pope John 4-0 to advance to the final. Pburg beat No. 11 Kittatinny 7-2, No. 3 High Point 6-5 and No. 2 Sparta 10-9.
Pburg beat Hunterdon Central 2-1 to win the HWS IN 2012.
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