Massimo Forte knows what it takes to develop a championship-style Little League baseball team. After all, the veteran Hoboken Little League coach and manager was the architect of the 2005 and 2006 Hoboken Little League teams that captured District 7 championships.
So when Forte was selected to manage the Hoboken 9-and-10-year-old All-Stars this year in the District 7 tourney for that age bracket, he knew exactly what it would take to bring another banner to the mile-square city.
“I always believed that good pitching and good defense wins games,” Forte said.
So Forte developed his young All-Star squad to feature those aspects of the game. He certainly had a team that had plenty of both.
“The pitchers all throw strikes,” Forte said. “They all put the ball over the plate, which is a key. They know that they have a good solid defense behind them.”
When the District 7 tourney began two weeks ago, Forte knew that he had a solid pitching staff.
Leading the way was right-hander Victor Martinez, who was the team’s ace. Incredibly, Forte was a mastermind in utilizing the 50-pitch count that is allotted to pitchers in a tourney, so he was able to start Martinez in all five District 7 contests, then take him out before he reached the maximum pitches allowed limit.
“Martinez has great talent,” Forte said. “He has good skills and throws strikes. He rarely walks anyone.”
It was that control that enabled Martinez to remain in games for as long as possible.
Josh Ortiz was Hoboken’s No. 2 pitcher. Ortiz also pitched in all five District games in relief of Martinez.
“He also throws strikes all the time,” Forte said.
The two pitchers enabled Hoboken to roll through the District 7 tourney unscathed, winning all five games by impressive margins. They won four of their five games by 10 runs and defeated Roberto Clemente of Jersey City, 8-4, in the title game.
Hoboken moved on to the Section 2 tournament in Hasbrouck Heights last week and won two games to advance to the championship round, only to fall to Livingston National in the title game, 5-1.
However, it was a great run for the kids from Hoboken.
“It was great for the kids to get this far,” Forte said. “They practiced hard and they always want to play. They came out in all different kinds of weather, heat, rain, sun, and wanted to play. They don’t fool around. They just love baseball.”
Kris Salinas, Bruce Doyle, Jeremy Nunez and Nick Siniscalchi are all capable pitchers as well. Salinas was the winning pitcher against Palisades Park/Leonia in the opening round of the Section 2 tourney. Siniscalchi earned the save in that victory.
That’s incredible pitching depth and by far, the key to the team’s success. Most teams have to rely on two, maybe three pitchers in a tourney like the District 7 and Section 2. Hoboken had a stable of six pitchers. It’s almost unheard of.
Evan Lichman was the team’s catcher and leadoff hitter, a complete player both at the plate and behind the plate. Aram Assadourian was the team’s first baseman who provided a clutch bat. Nunez was at second base when he wasn’t on the mound.
Martinez was the team’s shortstop when he wasn’t on the mound.
“He hits the ball very well,” Forte said. “And he doesn’t swing at bad pitches.”
Ortiz also plays shortstop when he’s not pitching, while Salinas was a capable third sacker.
Doyle was the starting centerfielder and he had a phenomenal postseason, collecting 11 hits in each of the district and section tournaments.
Siniscalchi started in left field and he batted .400 in the postseason. Danny Burrell was in right field and it was his clutch late-inning hit that lifted Hoboken to the Section 2 title game.
Nasir Colon was a utility player who was called into action as the starting catcher when Lichman suffered an injury. Robert Cabrera had two clutch hits off the bench in the section tourney and Zack Albino, nicknamed “Wild Thing,” played practically every position for the squad.
Needless to say, the exploits of these youngsters means a very bright baseball future for Hoboken, because the stars of the last District champion, guys like Abe Groomes, are currently standouts at Hoboken High School.
“It’s a great sign for the future,” said Forte, who will coach the team again next year as they step up to the 11-and-12-year-old level. “Once you get a team, you want to keep them together through fall ball and such. We’ll give them more work and hope they learn. The more they play, the more skills they’ll receive. The team overcame a lot this summer and just wanted to play. They were a lot of fun to coach.”…
The WNY American Little League 12-year-old All-Stars fell a little short of their goal of returning to the New Jersey State Tournament, losing to Livingston American, 8-2, in the Section 2 title game last Saturday night in Hoboken.
WNY American lost the opening game to Lyndhurst, 8-5, then bounced back to defeat Palisades Park/Leonia, 4-0, and turned the tide on Lyndhurst, winning 6-5, only to fall to Livingston in the title game.
Still, they managed to win the District 7 banner for a third straight year and the prospects look good for another run next season…
EXTRA INNINGS focuses on the best stories that come from local baseball and softball leagues throughout the area.
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Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.