Rutherford defeated Hasbrouck Heights 4 to 3 in a semi-final game played at Wood-Ridge.
First it was the catch of outfielder Mark Zielinski which robbed the Heights of a home run to keep Rutherford in the ball game. Then came the final inning excitement when Rutherford took the field in the bottom of the sixth trying to protect a 4 to 2 lead.
The first Heights batter belted a home run to cut the bap to just one run at 4-3. The next two batters were at second and third with no outs. The following batter flies out and a substitute runner breaks from third and beat the throw to the plate enabling the runner on second to reach third. Third baseman Dave Brooks, son of the manager, called for an appeal play believing the sub runner left the base too soon. The umpire ruled the runner out and when the player at third left the base to protest the call an alart Dave Brooks applied the tag to complete a triple play.