Will Kirk was pacing around in the dugout as Ramsey got ready to play Haddon Heights in the Group 2 championship.
Kirk admitted he was nervous, saying who wouldn’t be as he was getting ready to pitch in the biggest game of his high school career. The sophomore lefty calmed himself down as he took the mound but found himself down 2-0 after three innings.
He talked himself throughout, and that’s when Kirk said his competitive drive kicked in, knowing he couldn’t allow Haddon Heights to get on the scoreboard anymore.
Kirk has consistently delivered big-time performances for Ramsey all season long, but what he did in the Group 2 final was one of the reasons why coach Paul Urbanovich described him as “special.”
Kirk tossed a complete game, striking out a career-high 13 batters on a career-high 106 pitches as No. 10 Ramsey defeated Haddon Heights 5-2 in the Group 2 championship game Saturday at Bob DeMeo Field at Veterans Park. Kirk allowed just three walks and four hits in his outing.
It’s Ramsey’s first state championship in baseball in the school’s history, joining three other teams who won their first state titles this week.
Kirk struck out the side in three different innings, including the seventh inning. After he got the last out, he put his arms out into the air, and the dogpile ensued, although it was a little painful for Kirk.
“It was utter jubilation until I felt a spike into the back of my shoulder,” Kirk said. “There might be a little bit of blood, but it was (worth it). I’d trade in blood for a state championship any day.”
Ramsey (28-4) coach Urbanovich, just in his second year at the helm, watched his ace mow down Haddon Heights hitters after allowing a solo home run to Caden Bodine in the first inning and an RBI double by John DiCostanzo in the third inning.
After allowing the two runs, Urbanovich saw Kirk’s demeanor change and had a feeling he was about to find a groove, and he rode it the rest of this start.
“The last couple of starts, he started to sniff it. That finish line and he wanted to get there,” Urbanovich said. “He came to me after the sixth and said, ‘I want it.’ Usually, he’s very honest with that, and he came out and said he wanted it. I told him on Monday after he played an incredible outfield (in a win over Caldwell) that the kid amazes me every time he gets on the field. He’s special. He’s different.”
Added Kirk: “As I got into the game, my competitive side kicked in. My coach (Jeremy Taylor) said I looked like a man possessed, so I gave it everything I had to get the W. I guess you could say I was a little bit possessed. This is such a big deal for us having never won a state championship before. I just had to lay it all out there and just put my team in a position to win.”
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You can reach Luis Torres at ltorres@njadvancemedia.com and you can follow him on Twitter @ByLuisTorres.
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