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Micka, seniors lead Williamstown past Cherry Hill East

Ross Micka says he has a "big mouth." He also says that because he's a catcher, that's a good thing.

Williamstown's # 22 Paul Gerstle, # 42 Zach Dougherty and # 20 Paul Flagg celebrate after the final out of the Cherry Hill East at Williamstown H.S. boys baseball game on April 2, 2015. Gerstle had been called upon to pitch late in the 7th inning and Williamstown won the game 9-8. (Elizabeth Robertson/Staff Photographer)
Williamstown's # 22 Paul Gerstle, # 42 Zach Dougherty and # 20 Paul Flagg celebrate after the final out of the Cherry Hill East at Williamstown H.S. boys baseball game on April 2, 2015. Gerstle had been called upon to pitch late in the 7th inning and Williamstown won the game 9-8. (Elizabeth Robertson/Staff Photographer)Read more

Ross Micka says he has a "big mouth."

He also says that because he's a catcher, that's a good thing.

"You have to be talking all the time as a catcher," Micka said after helping Williamstown to a 9-8 victory over Cherry Hill East on Thursday afternoon.

Micka did more than talk a good game in the nonleague clash of South Jersey Group 4 baseball programs on a warm, windy afternoon at Williamstown's field.

He also rapped a pair of RBI singles as Williamstown rallied for the victory over the Cougars.

"We're having so much fun this year," Micka said. "We've got 10 seniors and that's important. We all know this is our last year."

Nick Dalessandro reached base three times, Tyler Apt had a pair of singles, and Zach Martinez delivered a two-run double for Williamstown (2-0).

Jake Babroff hit a three-run home run, Kobe Sutherland had three hits, and Jon Hansen had three hits and three RBIs for Cherry Hill East (0-2).

"The thing I'm psyched about is that we legitimately didn't quit," said Cherry Hill East coach Erik Radbill, whose team scored three runs in the top of the seventh and had runners on second and third when the Cougars made the final out. "But we had that one bad inning again. It was the same thing two years ago.

"We'd play good baseball for six innings and have one horrendous inning."

Williamstown sent 12 batters to the plate and scored seven runs in the bottom of the fifth, turning a 4-2 deficit into a 9-4 lead.

Martinez's two-run double was the big hit in the inning, but the Braves also got RBI singles from Apt, Devon Jefferies, and Micka.

Micka also had an RBI single in the second.

"He's swinging the bat," Williamstown coach Joe Smith said of Micka. "He was 3 for 3 [in a 24-2 win over Penns Grove on Wednesday] and he came through for us again today."

Micka said his hitting is a secondary concern after his defense and leadership on the field.

"As a catcher, it's all about controlling the game," Micka said. "The hitting has to be [secondary]. You have to worry about communicating and running the team."

Williamstown is a spirited team with a lot of cheering in the dugout area. Micka is one of the Braves' most vocal players, always encouraging his teammates.

"He's one of the nicest kids and hard-working kids I've ever had," Smith said. "The catcher has to be the leader. He sets an example by how hard he's trying, how much he supports his teammates."

Micka said the Braves have a saying this year: "Be a senior."

He said that's his favorite line.

"It gives me extra confidence," Micka said. "It means we've been around, we've been through the program."

Micka said all the Braves have embraced the team's loud, energetic approach.

"It's not just me - it's all of us," Micka said.

But he knows that as the senior catcher, he's probably the loudest one.

Cherry Hill East 103 001 3 - 8 13 3

Williamstown 020 070 x - 9 10 1

WP: Denny Bentley. LP: Brett Tafaro. 2B: CHE-Jon Hansen, Kobe Sutherland; W-Zach Martinez. 3B: W-Zach Dougherty. HR: CHE-Jake Babroff.