State Runs Come to an End for River Dell and Bergen Catholic

For the diamond boys of River Dell, a trip to the state semifinals was not in the cards this year as rival Ramsey peaked at the worst time for the Hawks and batted to a 9-3 victory in the North 1, Group 2 quarterfinals. River Dell had overcome the Rams twice in the regular season but on Friday, Ramsey scored eight runs in the first four innings on seven hits.

Bergen Catholic's 2012 baseball season came to an end on Tuesday afternoon, as the top-seeded Seton Hall Prep Pirates eliminated #9 BC by a 12-2 final in the state quarterfinal round. Bergen led the game early in the contest 2-0 after 4 innings, but the Pirates exploded for 12 combined runs in the 5th and 6th innings to envoke the 10 run mercy rule and end the game. Seniors Ryan Kelly and Mike Sutherland drove in Bergen's 2 runs on the afternoon; Alec DeMattheis, Mike Martinez, and Joe Esposito each hit a double. BC finishes the season with an overall record of 15-11.

Bergen Catholic volleyball's 2012 season ended on Wednesday afternoon, losing in the sectional semifinals to Don Bosco Prep, 13-25, 23-25. Brendan McCullagh and Joey Guarmaccia combined for 16 kills, Kirk Nouhan added 19 assists, while Hacik Arslangolgu and CHarles Fraser came up with 15 digs. The Crusaders (22-6) had a brilliant year in only their 4th varsity season in program history, but 3 of their 6 loses came against the Ironmen, including being eliminated from the County and State tournaments.

For the Golden Hawks track team, the boys finished in a dramatic fashion to claim second place in North 1 Group 2 action at Mahwah with 76 points behind group champs Morris Hills (147.5 points). Chris Band took third in the 100m (11.50) and fourth in the 200m (22.84); 4-x-400 relay nabbed second (3:25.89); Matt Koh easily won both the shot put (56-4) and discuss (151-6); Austin Berniger secured fourth in the shot put (50-2) while Andrew Tummino picked up fifth in the discuss (124-06); Sam Becourtney swept javelin (168-6); Brandon Jurasin hit 6-0 for second in the high jump; Chris DeSanctis came in sixth in triple jump (49-2 1/4) while Calvin Hartman finished up in third during the pole vault (14-0). 

In the Lady Hawks side of things with a fourth place overall finish with 55 points, Paige Fernandez kept herself busy breaking the 800m record coming in at 2:16.70, two-tenths of a second faster than 2009 Pascack Hills record setter Julieanne Fontana (2:16.72). She also placed second in the 400 hurdles in 1:03.95 behind Westwood junior Alexandra Cimino (1:02.57). Emily Croonquist took third in the 1600m (5:16.18), 4-x-400 relay was third (4:04.94), Jamie Woods fourth in 100 HH (15.80) and sixth in the 400 hurdles (1:06.48), Laura Oh was third in the shot put (36-4) and fifth in the discuss (102-7), Lana Weeks took fifth in shot put (34-0) and Erin Smith third in the discuss (102-7).Marina Reilly flew to sixth in the long jump (16-3 3/4) while Bridget Brindley soarded to 9-6 in the pole vault for a fourth place tie.

Bergen Catholic Track and Field saw outstanding performances for an eighth place overal in North Non-Public A action with Matt Morano winning his 1600 meter heat with a personal best time of 4:42 and teammates Mike Whalen (4:45), and Frank Minson (5:01) finishing behind him while Dan Lynch finished as the top Crusader (51.9) in the 400m, followed by Julius Wingate (52.9) and Craig Scheuring (53.99). The 4-x-400 relay finished fifth in 3:33.66. Kyle Queiro was 3rd overall in the high jump (6'0") and second in the triple jump (43-8 1/4), Dan Lynch finished 6th in the 400 meter intermediate hurdles (58.8), Mike Moore advanced in the pole vault competition with a jump of (11'6''), and Garrett Hessman qualified in the shot put competiton with a personal best throw (41'3 1/4"). Jack Lippin tossed a 116-1 for sixth in the discuss and Nick Gegan came in fifth in the javelin (149-11).

A few days later, Jamie Woods of River Dell came in fifth in the 100HH at the Bergen Meet of Champions in 16.21; Paige Fernandez was third in the 400 IH (1:05.37); Brandon Jurasin was sixth in the high jump (6-0); Calvin Hartman sixth in pole vault (13-0); Laura Oh fifth in shot put (106-3); Matt Koh second in shot put (55-1.5); Austin Berniger sixth in shot put (52-2); Sam Becourtney fourth in javelin (163-2); and girls 4-x-400 relay was fifth (4:01.66).

The Hawks boys placed 11th in the Group 2 State Championships at Old Bridge as Matt Koh (53-7) and Austin Berniger (52-0) took the 4 and 6 slots in the shot put; Sam Becourtney third in javelin (176-0); and Calvin Hartman sixth in pole vault (12-6). Bergen Catholic finished at 15th in the Non-Public A round as Kyle Quiero placed fifth in the high jump (6-0). The Lady Hawks finished in 30th with the 4-x-400 relay coming in sixth as Melissa Gibbons, Sam Schleiger, Jamie Woods, and Paige Fernandez ran 4:02.38. Fernandez also ran a 1:04.62 in the 400 IH to finish fifth.

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