West Orange, NJ – On a cool, cloudy Sunday in early April, the Jersey Barons and Essex Bulls squared off and played yet another classic ballgame on Opening Day 2008 in the Mel Ott League. Renewing their friendly rivalry after a great 3-game semi-final series last Summer, the Barons and Bulls needed ten frames to decide the winner of this one. Both teams were still in Spring Training mode, utilizing most of their pitchers in 1, 2, or 3 inning stints. The Bulls held their ace to the end, Tim Dugan, which proved to be the decisive ace in the hole. Dugan retired all 9 men he faced in the 8th, 9th, and 10th innings, allowing the Bulls to earn the win with a walk-off infield single in the bottom of the 10th.

Manager Phil Barone ran out on the field to argue the game winning play, but to little avail as the judgment call stood. With two outs and the winning run on third base, Bulls CF Mike Bannon hit a squibber to the left of 1B Eric Fiedler. Fiedler went for the ball, which was just out of his reach, glancing off his mitt towards 2B Dylan Steitz. Steitz quickly scooped up the ball and threw to the covering P Andrew Brenneman, who, in this reporter’s eyes, hit the bag with his right foot just before the streaking Bannon reached. It was a bang-bang play, so the Barons will have to live with the ump’s decision and move on. League commissioner Mitch Miles is expected to decide on whether instant replay will be used in the future, a key tool for plays just like this.

The Barons and Bulls will fittingly end the season with a twinbill on July 27, with both games sure to have an enormous impact on the American Conference division as well as the Mel Ott playoff seedings.

Game Notes:

• The Barons opened up with a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. SS Andrew Brenneman led off with a single, moved to second on a walk to CF Tom Greene, then to third on a fielder’s choice by 2B Chris Fucci. 1B Eric Fiedler then walked to load ‘em up for C Jason McDonald, who was promptly plunked to force in Brenner. LF Mario Spallarossa then drilled a single to left, driving in Fooch and Feeds.

• The Bulls tied up the score 3-3 with one run in their half of the first and two runs in the second. The Barons then took a 5-3 lead in the 3rd. Brenneman again got things started with a single, but was forced at second on a fielder’s choice by Greene. Fucci walked, and then Fiedler ripped a single to left field. Greene scored on the Fiedler single, but Fooch was nailed at third on a strong throw by the Bulls left fielder. McDonald then ripped another single to left, bringing home Fiedler, who smartly trailed to second on the Fucci play at third.

• Another Opening Day, another long list of new Barons making their team debuts. The game also saw the return of several veteran Barons from seasons past:

• SS/P Andrew Brenneman had a solid day at the plate, setting the table for the new Baron heart of the order. Brenner also played a solid shortstop, showing off his cannon on several plays. Drew is also going to be a key cog in the Baron bullpen this year. Leadoff man, SS, reliever – Brenneman’s blueprints will be all over the team’s success in 2008 and beyond.

• 2B Chris Fucci, a founding member of the Jersey Barons, made his long awaited full time return to the team. Fooch made a cameo appearance last Fall, but the All-Time Baron is again a Full-Time Baron. Fucci will hit third for the Barons, and see time at 2B, 3B, and OF throughout the season.

• 1B Eric Fiedler also had a solid first day at the dish, reaching base on a walk and hitting a ribbie single. Feeds will be found in the cleanup hole for the Barons, and will drive in and set up runs throughout the lineup.

• C/P Jason McDonald is still bringing the lumber, and bringing it back to where he started with the Jersey Barons. McDonald, arguably the finest defensive catcher in the league, will provide a solid rock foundation behind the plate, along with veteran catcher Pat Santorsola and rookie Dylan Steitz. McDonald will also hit 5th, appear out of the Baron bullpen on the hill, and also see some time in the OF when not involved with the Baron battery. The Barons have enough depth behind the plate and in their staff to allow the versatile McDonald to excel at all three positions and stay rested and healthy all year.

• LF Mario Spallarossa is the 2nd founding member of the Barons to come home this season. Super Mario also made a cameo last Fall season, and like Fooch is happy to be back where it all started. Mario had a key 2 RBI single in his first at-bat of the year, and many more RBI chances will be laid out for the Baron slugger all season. With the talented hitters in front of him, Mario is sure to come to the plate with runners on base virtually every at-bat. Mario also made a sensational catch at the wall in LF, robbing the Bulls of at least a double, possibly a home run. During the season Mario will also see time on the hill as a reliever.

• 1B Matt Nice, another “nice” new addition to the team, brings a big bat and a strong glove to the mix. Nice ripped a single in this 3rd AB in this game, showing signs of the power bat he will wield for the Barons. Nice will see time at 1B and the OF for the Barons, and will sure to hear more not-so-nice puns throughout the season.

• C/2B Dylan Steitz is the youngest member of the Barons, but don’t let his young looks fool you. This kid can play ball. Steitz spelled McDonald behind the plate during the middle innings of the game, and the team didn’t miss a beat. Steitz also filled in at 2B during the latter stages of the ballgame, as infielder Dave Micallef started at 3B, moved to 2B, then finished at SS with Brenneman on the hill. Dylan is another Baron who can throw gas, and will see be a key member of the Baron bullpen as well.

• RF Phil Mazzetta split time in right and in the lineup with veteran Baron Chris Jeffray. In his last swing in pre-game BP, Phil drilled a bomb over the left-center fence that drilled the 2nd wooden wall with a loud thud. The rookie Mazzetta continues to improve each week in his first season back in the game after a little layoff, and the Barons expect big things from the young slugger.

• Pitcher David Caruso made his debut on the hill for the boys in blue, getting the Opening Day nod from the skip. NYPD Blue (or CSI: Miami for you youngsters) had a good first inning, but couldn’t escape from an error that eventually scored a run. Caruso provides a solid arm for the Barons after their Big Three (Aaron Kalb, Craig Tscherednikov, Matt Woehnker) and will form half of a tag team effort with fellow rookie and long time friend Giancarlo Cifelli.

• Pitcher Giancarlo Cifelli entered the game in the 8th inning, and threw two scoreless frames in the 8th and 9th innings in his first game as a Baron. Cifelli worked around a 2-out double in the 8th, and got help from a huge play in the 9th inning to secure his second scoreless frame. After retiring the first hitter in the 9th on a routine grounder to 2B, Cifelli walked the next two batters, putting runners at 1st and 2nd for the Bulls leadoff batter, 1B Sean Cassels. Cassels would bid to end the game with a long blast to right-center field, which carried deep with the wind. CF Tom Greene and RF Chris Jeffray both converged on the ball, which would glance off of Greene’s outstretched mitt. With the runner on 2B tagging up for the potential catch, Greene had time to recover the ball and relay it in to 2B Dave Micallef. Micallef turned and hurled a desperation throw to home in one movement from right field. The throw was right on the money, hitting C Jason McDonald at the plate, who quickly applied the tag on the runner. The man was out, and the game was saved for now. But Cifelli still had the winning run on third to deal with. GC showed his bulldog makeup, retiring the next hitter on a grounder to Micallef, who pumped his fist and patted the rookie Baron on the back for getting out of the jam unscathed.