Hackensack is not familiar with the old version of themselves.
The Comets began the 2024 season with two harsh losses, including their second defeat at Emerson Boro’s field on April 5.
It was after that loss when Hackensack decided to wash themselves clean of a bad start, motoring themselves to surface as one of Bergen County’s best stories of the spring.
Hackensack ran to nine wins over their next 10 games following that loss to Emerson Boro over a month ago, and the Cavaliers’ field is exactly where they found themselves once more.
On Wednesday, the rejuvenated Comets took on Emerson Boro in the Round of 16 of the Bergen County Tournament and showcased a visible improvement.
Big-game Alex Bulger toed the rubber and carried ninth-seeded Hackensack to a 3-2 victory behind seven unrelenting innings to win his seventh consecutive start.
The senior right-hander only needed 85 pitches to move by 8-Emerson Boro in a zero-walk outing with two strikeouts to place the Comets into the quarterfinal round of the tournament.
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5/8 - 4:15 PM Baseball Final Hackensack 3 Emerson Boro 2
“We had a meeting on this very field after we started the year with two losses. I told these guys that there was no way we’re going to have a disappointing season,” Hackensack head coach Frank DiLorenzo said. “This is where the season started for us.”
The Comets jumped to 14-7 in the standings, which is the program’s most victories in a season in two decades.
Bulger pitched to contact with ease and was able to limit any major damage against Emerson (15-4). He stranded four runners and responded well to the Cavaliers’ early small-ball effort. Emerson Boro scored in the 1st inning following a sac bunt and sac fly, but Bulger held a runner at third base to keep them in check.
After that opening frame, Bulger was tough to string a rally against.
He now has a 1.54 earned run average in 45.1 innings this spring alongside 36 punch-outs and a 7-1 record.
Bulger is the workhorse that Hackensack’s needed for the longest time.
“I mean, come on. Throwing 85 pitches in a complete game on the road in this setting? You can’t ask for anything more than what Alex did for Hackensack today,” Di Lorenzo said. “He has been unbelievable this season.”
Thomas Ingallinera played some hero ball in right field for Hackensack. The junior made a few impressive plays throughout the game, dashing forward and diagonally to collect a few pivotal putouts.
However, his snag in the bottom of the 7th will be a catch that Ingallinera won’t soon forget.
Hackensack entered the last inning with a 3-2 lead. Any Emerson player to reach base would stir up some energy in the Cavos dugout, and Ingallinera was not going to let that happen.
Ranging back to his left on a Michael Amoia fly ball, Ingallinera had an immediate read on the well-hit smash. If the ball landed, Amoia had an easy triple, which would leave him 90 feet from tying the county tournament game.
Ingallinera left the ground, glided through the air and made the rally-halting catch to save Hackensack.
“I look back and just see Tom in the air, flying like Superman,” Bulger said. “That pumped me up to get those last two outs.”
Right fielder Tom Ingallinera (20) of Hackensack makes a diving catch against Emerson in the bottom of the 7th inning during the Bergen County Tournament between Hackensack and Emerson at Emerson High School in Emerson, NJ on Tuesday, May 8, 2024. Duncan Williams | For NJ Advance Media
Ingallinera also scored the eventual game-winning run in the top of the 4th on an RBI groundout from David Nunez, but that catch was what left his biggest print on this victory - even if he still hasn’t processed what he’d done.
“I was surprised I caught it,” Ingallinera said. “And honestly, I still am.”
Leo Spitaleri and Joe Farrington scored the first runs of the game for Hackensack in the top of the 1st to set the tone. Thomas Ghostlaw drove in Spitaleri on an RBI single, and Farrington crossed home on the same play after a throwing error.
Emerson’s Derek MacKenzie fired 10 strikeouts and allowed two earned runs in seven innings. Matt Sabatella scored both runs for the Cavos after reaching on a single and a hit by pitch.
Michael Dillon and Jared Scharf picked up one RBI each.
Emerson almost had a rally going in the 6th inning after a Liam Pattermann single with one out. Hackensack, playing sound defense all day, was able to throw out the runner at second base for a huge second out.
Christian Pelaez (7) of Hackensack reacts after tagging out Liam Pattermann (23) of Emerson at second base in the bottom of the 6th inning during the Bergen County Tournament between Hackensack and Emerson at Emerson High School in Emerson, NJ on Tuesday, May 8, 2024. Duncan Williams | For NJ Advance Media
Hackensack will face top-seeded Don Bosco Prep on Saturday.
“It’s an honor to make it to the final eight teams in this tournament,” DiLorenzo said. “We’re not done, though. We believe that we can keep this train rolling. That’s all that matters.”
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PJ Potter may be reached at PPotter@njadvancemedia.com.