Northeast
NJ tournament game ends in uproar after umpire makes controversial call on game-tying home run
A potential game-tying, three-run home run in the final inning of a high school baseball state tournament game was waved off after an umpire ruled that a runner had not touched home plate, which ended the game.
Northern Highlands High School in New Jersey was down to its final out on Wednesday in the first round of the state’s Section 3, Group 1 tournament when Beckham Stern blasted a three-run home run – all for naught.
The big lefty flipped his bat in the air for good reason, as he had just tied the game at three in miraculous fashion – or so he thought.
However, the home plate umpire said that the first baserunner, who had originally been on second, never touched home.
A high school baseball game ended in controversy after a game-tying home run was waved off.
The opposing team in Mount Olive seemed to notice right away, as their catcher immediately jogged to the pitcher’s mound.
According to New Jersey Advance Media, Mount Olive head coach Pete Zoccolillo said that the catcher had gotten no inkling from the umpire, but the ump did appear to turn toward the area behind the dish after the runner had crossed.
The video shows it is unclear whether the runner did, in fact, touch home, although he clearly is in the vicinity of the plate.
A baseball laying in a glove on the grass. (Getty Images)
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As Northern Highlands headed back toward the dugout, Mount Olive had a mound visit with the entire infield, all while Northern Highlands head coach Paul Albarella was talking to the next batter.
There clearly seemed to be a bit of confusion from the Mount Olive side, but Zoccolillo, several feet from the foul line, instructed his pitcher to step off the mound and throw it home.
The catcher caught the ball and stepped on home, and the umpire ruled the appeal successful, thus giving Mount Olive a 3-0 win.
The runner in question, and the head coach, argued with the umpire, but to no avail.
“He completely jumped over home plate and missed by like three feet,” Zoccolillo said Thursday. “The umpire was standing right there, and he saw it. He saw it. And he was watching everybody touch home, and the kid jumped over home plate. So the second kid came around, and the third kid came around, so I appealed it. Everybody saw it. Myself, the crowd, everybody saw the kid completely jumped over home plate.”
This isn’t the first controversy in the New Jersey Interscholatic Athletic Association this year. Manasquan High School thought they had won a trip to the boys’ basketball Group 2 state championship after a buzzer-beater against Camden.
SEC baseballs. (Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
However, despite the shot clearly having gotten off in time, officials gathered afterward and reversed the call, giving Camden a 46-45 victory. Camden eventually won the state tournament at Rutgers, with Manasquan players in attendance.
The seventh-seeded Mount Olive squad advanced to the second round, where they will play No. 2 Ramapo on Wednesday.
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Pittsburg, PA
Man’s body found underneath trailer behind former Shop ‘n Save in Carrick
Pittsburgh Police detectives are investigating after a man’s body was found underneath a trailer behind the former Shop ‘n Save store in the city’s Carrick neighborhood.
Pittsburgh Public Safety said late Monday night that detectives from the Violent Crime division responded to the area of Amanda Street and Wynoka Street in Carrick after a man’s body was found around 8:30 p.m.
Public Safety said the man’s body was found underneath a trailer and that he was pronounced dead by medics at the scene.
A photo provided by Pittsburgh Public Safety shows officers surrounding a taped off area and what appears to be a refrigerated trailer parked at the loading dock along Amanda Street behind the former Brownsville Shop n’ Save, which closed its doors last month.
No details surrounding the circumstances of the man’s death were provided by Public Safety, who said that the cause and the manner of the man’s death will be determined by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The man’s identity has not been released.
Public Safety said the investigation into the man’s death is “ongoing.”
Connecticut
The Great Westport Sandwich Contest kicks off with event at Old Mill Grocery
The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce held a kick-off event at Old Mill Grocery on Monday for The Great Westport Sandwich Contest.
The contest runs throughout March with 21 restaurants, delis and markets competing in 10 categories to be crowned the best sandwich maker.
Residents can vote in the following categories: Best chicken, best steak, best vegetarian, best combo, best club, best NY deli, best pressed sandwich, best breakfast sandwich, best wrap, and best fish/seafood sandwich.
After people sample sandwiches, they can vote for their favorites in each category on the chamber’s website. They will also be placed into a drawing to win a free sandwich from one of the 10 winners.
“Of course, the goal is to have people come to Westport and check out restaurants, our markets and our delis. This is a great promotion. I mean it is a competition, but mostly it’s to bring people to the restaurants. It also gives a great community activity because they are the ones who get to vote who makes the best one,” says Matthew Mandell, the chamber’s executive director.
Winners will be announced in April and receive a plaque.
The chamber has held similar contests to determine what establishment has the best pizza, burger, soup and salad.
Maine
How the Good Neighbor Day of Giving telethon is impacting Maine’s communities
BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – Monday’s telethon held by WABI in partnership with Penquis and Heart of Maine United Way Monday raised money for the heating of homes, something so basic, yet so significant in a state like Maine.
Danielle Hewes, Penquis contributor and volunteer, says some people might not even know that they qualify for heating assistance.
“I think there’s this misconception that you can’t get that if you’re working. Like that’s just for people on general assistance. The truth of the matter is this is for the people that are maybe not able to work, but also for the people that are working. They’re making ends meet,” she said.
For Danielle, that’s what makes events like the telethon so special: it’s making a real difference in the community with people who need the help the most.
Speaking about Penquis in particular, she said, “You learn about all of the other things they do and how they help the community and you can’t help but want to be a part of that.”
If you weren’t able to donate Monday, donations are still being accepted.
You can go to homeunitedway.org/heat.
You can also call 941-2800.
Copyright 2026 WABI. All rights reserved.
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