By JOE O’GORMAN
jogorman@trentonian.com
HAMILTON – Let a couple runners reach base to amp up the pressure and you’ve found Ray Anderson’s comfort zone.
The Hamilton Babe Ruth League all-star hurler seemed to thrive on answering the pressure with poise and it couldn’t have come at a better time for the Switlik Park Kids.
Anderson took care of the mound chores and he received plenty of support as Hamilton banged out 13 hits to get past pesky Montgomery, 9-2 last night in a key elimination game at the District One 13-year old tournament at Trenton Babe Ruth.
The win, the third straight for Hamilton after dropping the tourney opener to Montgomery, send Hamilton to the elimination round final where it will meet Trenton, which fell to Nottingham, 11-5.
Nottingham advanced to the championship round and earned a berth in the Southern New Jersey State Tourney that begins on Wednesday.
The Trenton-Hamilton showdown is set for 7 p.m. on Trenton’s Bunting Ave Field.
“This has been an experience," said Hamilton manager Hiram Cartagena of having won three straight elimination games. “It has been great to see the kids come together."
The loss ends Montgomery’s tourney run and it was a four game run they can be proud of.
“We are disappointed we lost, but the kids had a great tournament," said Montgomery manager Frank Kimick. “I’m proud of them and congratulations to Hamilton. We wish then good luck.’’
Montgomery, which was a very tough out in all four games, saw (at least) the leadoff batter in the first three innings reach bases only to see Anderson bear down and strand six runners to allow his teammates to swing the bat.
“I don’t think anybody likes those pressure situations, but I can deal with it," said Anderson, who yielded four hits in five innings. “Hitting the ball made my job a lot easier. It’s great to pitch with the lead."
And swing the bat they did.
Seven players, Jake Beyer, Steven Leonard, Ryan Mostrangeli, Angelo Sanger, Josh Sikorski and Tyler Moore each stroke a pair of hits.
“The fact we have to keep winning has just motivated us even more," said Mostrangeli. “The last time we lost to them by one run and we knew we had to come out and hit the ball. We were able to do that."
Moore drove home three runs, Leonard and Anderson each drove home a pair.
While Anderson was frustating the Cougars the Hamilton bats build a 7-2 cushion after three frames.
It was a winning combination of poise and power for the Switlik Park Kids.
GAME NOTES: Cory Carmon, the third Montgomery hurler, was very effective on the mound. … The 13-year old champion and the runner-up with advance to the SNJ state tourney next week in Gibbsboro-Voorhees and it will start on the 11th. … Mostrangeli worked the last two innings for Hamilton and yielded just one hit. … The first game between Montgomery and Hamilton was a 10-9 Cougars win. … Kyle Liedtka did a great job behind the plate for Hamilton keeping the ball in front of him.