PARK RIDGE—Congratulations to the Park Ridge Owls 9U baseball team, which capped off a dream season with back-to-back championships.
Entering the spring with the sting of last summer’s 1-0 championship loss to the Northern Valley Norsemen still fresh, the Owls were on a mission. Determined to erase the memory of that narrow defeat, they took to winter workouts and spring practices with a singular focus: redemption.
The Owls wasted no time making their intentions clear, starting the season with an 8-5 victory over Wood-Ridge. They stormed through their first seven games undefeated, securing the top seed in the playoffs.
In the semifinals, Park Ridge faced Wood-Ridge again, showcasing their championship mettle in a hard-fought 6-4 victory at Colony Field. Catcher Bryce Hamilton ignited the offense with a first-inning double, driving in three runs. Johnny Pierotti’s clutch catch in left field in the sixth inning sealed the win, sending the Owls back to the finals with redemption on their minds.
In the championship game against River Edge, the Owls left no doubt about who the best team was. Pitchers Nolan Rosa, Niko Franolic, and Brody Weiss combined for five scoreless innings, stifling River Edge’s offense. Thomas Smith led the charge at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs as Park Ridge cruised to a commanding 10-0 mercy-rule victory, claiming the spring championship.
As the summer season began, the team was hungry to defend their title. They opened with a gritty 1-0 win over Teaneck, followed by an 11-4 drubbing of the Northern Valley Norsemen. The victories kept coming, with Montvale and Cresskill falling to the Owls’ relentless attack, highlighted by Bennett Brogan’s towering home run and blasts from Nathan Kida and Dylan Jobst.
The Owls’ winning streak was snapped in a 5-4 loss at River Edge, but they regrouped, defeating Fort Lee 5-1 to clinch the first overall seed in the playoffs.
In the semifinals, Park Ridge faced New Milford. Trailing 3-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Owls dug deep. A string of clutch walks set the stage for Sohan Shah, who delivered a game-winning single into center field, sending the Owls back to the summer championship game.
The championship rematch against Teaneck at Colony Field was tense. Park Ridge struck first, with lead-off hitter Brody Weiss drawing a walk, stealing third, and scoring on Dylan Jobst’s fielder’s choice.
Nathan Kida tossed two scoreless innings before Teaneck took a slim lead in the third. The Owls, displaying championship discipline, worked consecutive walks in the bottom of the fourth to reclaim a 3-2 lead.
With a one-run lead and two innings left, Park Ridge turned to their closer, Dylan Jobst. The right-hander was electric, striking out six batters to secure the Summer championship. Franolic earned the win and combined with Kida and Jobst for 15 strikeouts.
The Owls excelled all season. At the plate, the team was led by Dylan Jobst (.390), Nathan Kida (.383), Bryce Hamilton (.380), Nolan Rosa (.370), Brody Weiss (.356), and Thomas Smith (.306). Jobst paced the team in RBIs with 24, followed by Hamilton (23), Kida (22), Rosa (21), Franolic (20), Brogan (18), Smith (14), and Danny Ramcharan (11).
On the mound, Brogan and Rosa led with four wins each, while Franolic, Weiss, Kida, and Jobst added three victories apiece.
The defense was rock-solid, anchored by catcher Bryce Hamilton and outfielders Ryan Klos, Pierotti, and Ramcharan.
Led by manager Eric Rosa and coaches Shaun Hamilton, Leigh Weiss, Adam Kida, and Tom Brogan, the Owls compiled a 20-1 overall record, clinching back-to-back titles in another season to remember.
— Team submission