In Bayonne Little League, Hattenberg Junior Minor League Championship baseball action, Tony's Pizzeria defeated Bayonne Medical Center, 3 to 1, winning the Championship.
     Liam Constantine recorded the victory for Tony's, striking out eight, allowing two hits, one walk and one run. Liam finishes with an impressive 8-0 pitching record. Justin Guthrie closed out the game striking out seven, allowing two hits, one walk and no runs.
     Kenny Williams started for Bayonne Medical Center striking out five walking six, hitting two batters, surrendering one hit and three runs. Charlie Castellano pitched in relief striking out seven, walking none and allowing one hit and no runs.
    Bayonne Medical scored in the top of the first inning with Kenny Williams drilling a lead off, two strike double to right-center field. After a strikeout, Nick Villardo singled to left field driving in Kenny racing around the bases for the first run. Tony's pitcher, Liam Constantine, settled down and struck out the next two batters ending any further scoring. As it turned out, it was Bayonne Medical's only run scored of the game.
     On to the bottom of the first, Tony's matched Bayonne Medical's lead off hit with their own as Justin Guthrie doubled to left. Pitching control issues played a part in the run scoring as walks to Anthony Pilovsky and Marc Rodriguez loaded the bases with no outs. Liam Constantine drew a walk on four pitches bringing Justin in for Tony's first run tying the score. After a strikeout left the bases still loaded with one out, Dylan Constantine was hit with a pitch scoring the second run when Anthony crossed the plate. Bayonne Medical's pitcher, Kenny Williams struck out the next batter on a full count. With bases loaded and two outs, Tony's Charlie Gebhardt hit one back to Kenny who scooped it up and threw it to Nick Villardo at first base recording the third out of the inning. After one inning of play, Tony's was up 2 to 1.
     In Tony's half of the third inning, walks to Anthony Pilovsky and Marc Rodriguez placed two runners on base. After a strikeout to the next batter, James Daly was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. Dylan Constantine, who drove in the go ahead run in the first inning, walked on four pitches scoring Anthony Pilovsky. This was Anthony's second run scored. The score was 3 to 1 in favor of Tony's. Bayonne Medical's Charlie Castellano was brought in to pitch and retired the next two batters with strikeouts ending any additional scoring.
     In the top of the fourth inning with Justin Guthrie on the mound for Tony's, Bayonne Medical threatened to score when the hot hitting, Nick Villardo led off with a single. Guthrie needing only six pitches to strikeout the next two batters as he worked the strike zone without wasting pitches. With two outs and two strikes on him, Joe Burns singled past short advancing Nick over to third base. Joe moved over to second base on the throw home. Two on and two outs with two strikes to him, the batter Justin Jaryno hit a bullet to Anthony Pilovsky at shortstop who knocks it down and throws over to Marc Rodriguez at first base, squeezing the ball for the third out. Anthony's quick reaction at shortstop ended the scoring threat.
     In the bottom of the fourth, Bayonne Medical's pitcher, Charlie Castellano struck out the first two batters. Justin Guthrie punched a two out double down the right field line. Anthony Pilovsky hit a slow roller back to Charlie on the mound who tossed it over to Nick Villardo at first base ending the inning. Charlie proceeded to strike out the side in the bottom of the fifth inning.
     Down to their last chance to score, Bayonne Medical had the top of their order up in the sixth. After the first batter struck out, Charlie Castellano grounded out to Anthony Pilovsky at shortstop getting out number two. Nick Villardo kept things alive drawing a walk after a full count. Justin Guthrie was determined to close the game by getting ahead of the next batter. With two strikes, the batter, refusing to go down easily, fouled off the next pitch. Justin reached back and fired away the final pitch. The batter foul tipped the ball into catcher Liam Constantine's mitt for the final out of the game, a game ending strikeout.
     The Tony's players excited at their victory, burst into celebration pouncing on Justin not far from the mound. For six of Tony's players this was their second championship, repeating their feat from last year. Both teams enjoyed the competitive rivalry between the two clubs. This was their fourth meeting this year. Bayonne Medical won the first contest, 9 to 5, with Tony's avenging their only loss by besting them later in the year 2 to 0. The last two contests were here in the championship series, 5 to 2 and 3 to 1, in favor of Tony's.
-This was an interesting and long season. Mother Nature delayed the conclusion with many rainouts. Tony's tallied six rainouts alone. There are eight teams that make up the 2003 Hattenberg Junior Minor League (Bayonne Medical Center, Coldwell Banker, DeSena Association, PNC Bank, Rutkowski Association, St. Mary's, Tony's Pizzeria and Val's Construction). Each team played a ten game season and advanced to the playoffs. The first and second rounds were one game elimination contests with the winners of the second round advancing to the best of three championship series.
     The players for Tony's are: Bobby Yannaccone, Liam Constantine, Anthony Pilovsky, Marc Rodriguez, Charlie Gebhardt, Jose Vasquez, Justin Guthrie, Daniel Boyle, James Daly, Dylan Constantine, Joshua Edgerton, Michael McDermott, Bryan Fiorino, and Gabriel Cartagena. Tony's coaching staff consisted of Bill Pilovsky, Les Constantine, Jim Constantine, Jim Daly and Bobby Yannaccone. All of the practices paid off for the Tony's players, advancing their skills and enabling them to play to the best of their abilities. While pitching was the cornerstone of the Tony's game led by Liam Constantine, Anthony Pilovsky and Justin Guthrie, the defense came through when needed. The offense's timely hits kept them ahead of most contests and gave them a few come from behind victories. Tony's last three playoff wins embodied the stuff that champions are made of, all three were come from behind. The attitude comprised of focus, hard work and playing up to their abilities got them were they are now, 2003 champions. Congratulations Tony's Pizzeria!