ALEXANDRIA – The best chance Bernards High School’s baseball team had of breaking through on Delaware Valley ace lefty Ryan Auten Tuesday afternoon was in the first inning.

The Mountaineers loaded the bases with one out on two singles and walk. But the 6-foot-5 sophomore struck out two to end the threat. He eventually got in his rhythm and did what’s come to be expected of him – he dominated.

The Terriers had a four-run fourth inning sparked by senior Brady Riordan’s three-run homer and went on to win 5-0.

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Auten allowed only those two first inning hits, struck out 12 and walked two in his 5 2/3 inning, 91-pitch effort. Dan Shapiro went the last 1 1/3 innings.

“I struggled in the beginning with walks, but then focused up, threw strikes, got my pitches in and did my thing,” said Auten.

Del Val took a big step in taking the Skyland Conference Valley Division title. The Terriers (8-3-1) are 5-1-1 in the division with one game left with Phillipsburg. Bernards (6-6-1) is 4-2 with games against Phillipsburg and Gill St. Bernard’s left.

Auten was coming off an 111-pitch, 6 1/3 inning effort against Gill St. Bernards last Thursday so coach Marty White was sure not to push the youngster.

“He’s fantastic, and I think he might be the best pitcher in the conference,” said White. “When he comes out and hits his spots, I mean he just starts going and blowing past batters.

“He’s legit, he’s gonna be a D1 player somewhere, We weren’t going to run him past 90 (pitches) today. He had a 4 1/2 day rest and we felt comfortable with that.”

Auten pitched five innings with 10 strikeouts and five walks against Bernards April 11 in a 4-2 win. Shapiro got the win in relief.

Bernards senior ace Evan Hoeckle, who took the loss in that game despite 6 1/3 strong innings, went six innings in the rematch, He allowed seven hits with six strikeouts, a walk and a hit by pitch.

“We didn’t put the ball in play enough,” said Bernards coach Jeff Falzarano. “We took too many fastballs down the gut, and you have to hit fastballs. You can’t let him get into a positive count. We have to play better defense, and we can’t strike out 14 times.”

Sophomore Cooper Fransen had two hits, a run scored and stolen base for Del Val. Junior catcher Matt Falzarano – coach Falzarano’s son – had two hits and a walk.