BY ANDY LOIGU

Hackettstown outfielder Jake Hall will be playing in front of lots of scouts in summer baseball tournaments at Diamond Nation, in Flemington, this summer. In the fall he will start his collegiate career at County College of Morris, a program with a high recognition factor nationally.

Honored as one of the top 100 seniors in the state, he recently played in the Seniors All Star Game.

Hall was named first team Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference and second team All Group 2 in New Jersey. Joe Zedalis, of NJ.com, honored him as the state’s top run producer, factoring in the number of RBI opportunities he got compared to other top hitters in the state.

A feared slugger after making All State last year as a junior, his walks doubled this year, but he also improved his plate discipline, only striking out seven times in 21 games. Batting third in the Tigers’ lineup, he made 81 plate appearances and had 59 official at bats. He stroked 28 hits (10 for extra bases) and drove in an impressive total of 32 runs. He scored 18 times and finished with a .475 batting average and .593 on-base average.

He helped leadoff hitter Matt Arcona score 33 runs. Arcona made 87 plate appearances and recorded 62 official at bats. Sixteen of his 27 hits went for extra bases and he used his speed to get 11 doubles. Arcona, who played the outfield, third base and also pitched, batted .435 and had a .593 on-base average. His 15 RBI is an indication that the Tigers had players in the lower part of the order who also got on base frequently.

Other consistent Tiger performers on offense were Matt Danza (.319 batting average) and Wayne Evans (.270).

ANZEL WINS TITLE

In track and field, Nathan Anzel of Hackettstown won the small school championship of the NJAC in the 400 meter run at Wallkill Valley High School (up in Sussex County ski country) in an area-best time of 50.23 seconds. He also registered a blazing 11.14 time at Wallkill Valley in the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex championship meet.

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Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building.