SUNDAY, MAY 6TH -- HOBOKEN, NJ -- Earlier this season, Hudson River CrossFit took on 10th Willow in a wild interdivisional matchup.  10th & Willow looked to have this one in hand and may have gotten a little too complacent with a lower division opponent, but Hudson River CrossFit scratched and clawed and gave themselves a chance in the 7th. 

            The scoring came early and often in this one.  Jesus Torres started things off with a 2-run homer for 10th & Willow in the top of the first, scoring Tim Knapp after his leadoff double.  Hudson River CrossFit, however, answered right back with 2 of their own in the bottom of the frame.  Steph DiRubba made a productive RBI groundout to bring in Brian McCarthy.  Vinny Menechino followed with an RBI single to score Mike Brizzolara and knot it up.  A scoreless second inning gave way to the top of the third.  Ryan Arcadia hit a sac fly to bring in Jesus Torres and Jesse Daunno launched another 2-run homer, plating Bridgette Pasapane, to extend the 10th & Willow lead to 5-2.  A Mike Brizzolara homerun in the bottom of the inning cut the deficit to 2.

          After a scoreless fourth, 10th & Willow tacked on 5 runs over the next two innings.  A 3-run, bases clearing triple off the bat of Jake Pine scored Arcadia, Daunno, and Jaclyn Lima.  Pine also scored on an error during the play.  Pasapane would leg out a fielder’s choice to bring in Torres for another run in the 6th.  Hudson River CrossFit cut into the lead in the bottom of the fifth, but went scoreless in the sixth.  DiRubba singled in another run, Menechino hit a sac fly, and Alyson Fitzpatrick was able to reach base on an RBI fielder’s choice, bringing home Dave Conover, McCarthy, and Brizzolara respectively. 

          HRC held firm in the top of the seventh, but was in a 10-6 hole in the bottom of the last inning.  After leadoff out, Brizzolara sent a solo shot into orbit to cut the lead to 3 runs.  Fitzpatrick followed a DiRubba single and a Menechino walk with an RBI single of her own.  The lead was 2.  Adam Bray then smacked his own RBI single, making this just a 1 run game with 1 down.  After a second out, Seth Yockel drew the game-tying RBI walk, with Kelsey Bray following him to first by rule.  It was a tie game, bases loaded, and two outs.  Conover came to the plate and would come through in the clutch, winning the game with patience and drawing the bases loaded walk.  Hudson River CrossFit took this one by a score of 11-10 in the bottom of the seventh, shocking 10th & Willow.