They are separated by only a few blocks in northern Hudson County. In fact, the two municipalities border each other along Park Avenue, as Union City head baseball coach Chipper Benway is quick to point out.
“One kid lives on the one side of the street and he goes to Union City,” Benway said. “The other kid lives on the other side of the street and he goes to Weehawken.”
Both Union City and Weehawken took unconventional means to reach their respective NJSIAA state sectional baseball championship games _ Union City in North Jersey Section 1, Group IV and Weehawken in North Jersey Section 2, Group I.
The Soaring Eagles were a bizarre team, tough to figure out all season, maybe the biggest reason why they received the No. 8 seed in their section.
“I really felt it was a disappointing season,” Benway said. “We never won more than two games in a row all season. We played different components of the game well, but never as a whole. We never could put it all together. We made seven errors in one game. We had seven one-run losses all season. It was a frustrating season to say the least.”
So the Soaring Eagles, losers to Kearny in the second round of the Ed “Faa” Ford Memorial Hudson County Tournament, tried to regroup for the state playoffs with a modest and mediocre 12-11 record.
“My assistant coach Nick [Urbanovich] actually said that we could do some damage and make a little noise in the state playoffs,” Benway said. “I figured, ‘Why not?’ Let’s go out and have some fun and see what happens. Just enjoy ourselves. Well, one win led to another and the kids started to believe in themselves.”
Lo and behold, the Soaring Eagles somehow managed to not only get past Passaic County Tech (by a 3-1 score), top-seeded Passaic (4-2) and Fair Lawn (5-2) to reach the sectional title game, but they also were fortunate enough to have No. 14 seed Randolph win three games, so the Soaring Eagles hosted the Rams on the roof of Union City High School, the new Roosevelt Stadium, last Friday afternoon after press time.
“You never know how things are going to work out,” Benway said. “Baseball is a funny game.”
The Soaring Eagles were shooting for their first-ever state sectional baseball championship.
The same can be said for the Indians, who were the No. 6 seed in the North 2, Group I bracket to start the state playoffs.
Unlike Benway, Weehawken head coach Anthony Stratton liked the way his team was playing prior to the playoffs.
“We thought getting the No. 6 seed was a pretty good draw,” Stratton said. “We felt really good about it. We came together at the right time. It didn’t come easy, because we were facing everyone’s top pitcher. But we got timely hits. We came back after being down. We had that confidence that you need.”
Stratton said that his team, now 21-8, has been flying under the collective north Jersey baseball radar.
“We don’t play in the Hudson County league and we’re not a Bergen County team,” Stratton said. “It’s hard for us to get recognized. People tend to forget about us.”
The Indians defeated Bloomfield Tech, 3-1, last Tuesday to reach the title game. They previously knocked off Glen Ridge, 5-2, and Brearley Regional of Kenilworth (3-1). It’s the first time that the Indians have played for a state sectional title since losing to Lyndhurst in 2008. The Indians have never won a state sectional title since the playoff system was implemented in 1975.
The Soaring Eagles have been getting great pitching from Sando Martinez, Brian Martinez (no relation) and Justin Vazquez.
“All three have been solid,” Benway said. “That’s how you win in the state playoffs. They don’t have that dominating pitch, but they are quality pitchers.”
Benway knows what it takes to be successful in the state playoffs, having played for the great Hoboken teams in the late 1980s-early 1990s that won three state sectional titles.
The Soaring Eagles also received a boost when Wilber de la Cruz was inserted into the lineup at third base, moving Josie Tavarez to left field.
“Wilber worked his way into the lineup and has had some big hits,” said Benway of de la Cruz, who had a three-run double in the Soaring Eagles’ win over Fair Lawn. “We moved Tavarez to the outfield. We’ve been mixing and matching to see what works.”
Stratton has been getting great play from junior Brian Rodriguez, who was the top pitcher and hitter in the win over Bloomfield Tech.
Senior third baseman Ohanny Jeserum (one of the best names in Hudson County sports history) is batting better than .500 on the season.
“He’s the guy you want up with the game on the line,” Stratton said.
Jeserum has been selected to play in the New Jersey Scholastic Baseball Coaches All-Star Classic in a few weeks.
Senior Yandy Gonzalez is the team’s catcher and has been for the last three years.
“He is another who hits for power,” Stratton said of Gonzalez, who is batting better than .400. “No one runs on him. His arm is a rifle. He also handles our pitchers well.”
The top pitcher is senior Oliver Molano, who was a standout on the gridiron and already earned a berth in the North-South All-Star Football Classic later next month. Molano has an unbelievable 10-0 record on the mound this season.
Senior centerfielder Alain Ravelo, the basketball star, has been doing a sensational job in the outfield.
Needless to say, Stratton is shocked that the Indians are playing for their first-ever state title.
“I have to say I’m surprised,” Stratton said. “Going into the season, I thought we were looking at a .500 season. But to win 21 games? I thought that was a long way away.”
So the neighboring towns have high school teams still alive in the state tournament. The only other Hudson County team still in the hunt is Marist in Non-Public B South, but the Royal Knights have yet to reach the semifinals in their bracket. The Soaring Eagles and Indians have titles at stake.
“I think it’s great that Weehawken and Union City are both still alive,” Benway said. “I think it shows the type of baseball we play in Hudson County. I think it says something about the county.”
“I know we’re rooting for them and I bet they’re rooting for us,” Stratton said. “It’s pretty impressive that we’re both still playing. It’s really unbelievable. It’s great for the school, great for the program. If we win, it would be really unbelievable.”
As opposed to being really unbelievable just getting there.
“You never know how things are going to work out,” Benway said. “Believe me, I didn’t think this was possible.”
Neither did a lot of other people across Park Avenue and across the state as well.
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.
You can also read Jim’s blog at www.jimhaguesports.blogspot.com.