N.J. squad familiar with success

Playing in the Senior League World Series could be cause for some nervousness for the young men who are competing.

There might be a bit more of a comfort level for the United States’ East Regional champion from South Vineland, N.J.

Thursday night, South Vineland wrapped up its second consecutive East crown, beating Elton, Md., 5-0 at West Deptford, N.J.

A handful of players on the East squad were in last year’s Senior League World Series and also played in the Junior League World Series in 2000. In fact, four players will be competing in their third consecutive World Series together.

Palm Harbor, Fla., the U.S. South winner last year, was the 2001 World Series champion.

South Vineland went 5-0 in winning the East Regional, which also included North Haven, Conn., Newark, Del., Swampscott, Mass., South Portland, Derry, N.H., West Deptford, N.J., West Chester, Pa., and Providence, R.I.

“We are very excited to be going to the World Series again,” South Vineland star Abe Heredia Jr. told The Press of Atlantic City after his team won the East Regional. “Many of us have been playing together since we were 9.

“This is going to be our third year that we made it there and this is our last chance,” he added. “This is a chance for us to finish big.”

The East champs led their regional with a .301 batting average, scored a tournament-high 46 runs (9.2 per game) and successfully stole 20 bases in 22 attempts. Among the leading producers at the plate are Bubba O’Donnell, who was 7-for-14 during one three-game stretch at the East Regional.

Leadoff man Darren Ford also is dangerous and likes to run, as does Sean Rivera, who scored nine runs in five East Regional games. South Vineland likes to put the pressure on opponents with aggressive baserunning.

“If our leadoff man gets on, we are a dangerous team,” South Vineland manager Abe Heredia Sr. told The Press of Atlantic City after Thursday’s title game. “Any time that you make an error against us and we get our fast guys on base, we are going to score.”

One of the East champion’s trademarks has been its ability to score early in games. South Vineland got on the scoreboard in the first inning in each of its five East Regional contests, totaling 17 runs.

Other top producers are Luis Nieves, who racked up 10 RBIs in the regional, and Chris Martinez.

On the mound, South Vineland compiled a stingy 1.40 earned run average and recorded 39 strikeouts.

Leading the pitching staff is Abe Heredia Jr., who pitched a three-hit shutout, striking out seven, in Thursday’s regional title game. He finished the tournament with a sparkling 0.50 earned run average.

Heredia Jr., a righthander, also struck out 10 in South Vineland’s 7-2 win over Newark (Del.) National on Aug. 3. Another top pitcher is Chris Acevedo, who pitched a four-hitter with seven strikeouts in the East semifinals.

South Vineland also has been an outstanding defensive ballclub, although its opponents have tended to be error-prone.

“Our defense is unbelievable,” Heredia Jr. told The Press of Atlantic City. “In this [East] Region, if you throw strikes they are going to hit the ball, but our defense kept coming up big.”