AJ LoPresti has been getting a lot of headlines this season for what he’s been doing with his arm. On Monday, however, LoPresti’s bat was the difference maker for Indian Hills.
The senior outfielder singled home the winning run in the bottom of the seventh, giving the Braves, ranked No. 3 in The Record baseball Top 25, a 5-4 victory over No. 2 St. Joseph in a key Big North crossover game.
“A great win,†said Indian Hills coach George Hill. “That’s how it is anytime you beat a quality, quality program. They have been, heck, they still are, the big dog around here, and to get a win against them is big no matter when it is.â€
This was Hill’s first win in four games against the Green Knights in his 14 years as Indian Hills coach. The Braves (17-2-1) and Green Knights (15-3-1) can meet again in the Bergen County semifinals if they both win their county matchup on Saturday.
The Indians got a superior effort from Brett Wilkes, who scattered eight hits in seven innings to improve to 5-0. He’s been an outstanding compliment to LoPresti, a North Jersey Pitcher of the Year candidate who is 6-0 with an 0.85 ERA,
LoPresti had three hits. Rich Pagano had three hits, including a double and two RBI, and Devin Torres had three hits and an RBI.