By Andy Loigu

The Hackettstown Tigers concluded their regular season schedule in American Legion junior division play on Thursday with a 4-2 win at Hillsborough.

The squad, coached by Vince Putignano, compiled a stellar 8-2-1 record and provided a harbinger of good things to come in high school varsity play for next spring.

A pair of second team honorees from this recently completed varsity season’s Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference All-Star team, Andrew Carida (junior) and Jon Scalera (sophomore) gained additional experience and continued their skill development in summer play, hoping to step up as the Tigers’ anchors in varsity play next year.

Final statistics from the summer season and playoff dates and times are not yet available, but the pair’s spring numbers are impressive, particularly for underclassmen.

Carida batted .356 in varsity play, with 25 stolen bases and 27 runs scored. Scalera batted .325 with 11 steals and 24 runs scored.

They are likely to lead a Tigers’ offense that will be aggressive and will keep the pressure on opposing pitchers and fielders come spring.

****

Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building.