It would be hard to play more crisp game, especially considering the raw weather conditions. There were just nine hits combined for both teams, there was a total of just two runs scored and it took just over 90 minutes to complete the full seven innings of a game in which there with no RBIs.

Wayne Hills used a balk and Demarest’s lone error to scrape together both runs in a 2-0 win in Demarest in an NBIL Division 1 matchup.

“You have to give credit to both teams. This was a well-played high school baseball game,” said Wayne Hills head coach Chris Ianello. “Both guys threw the ball well and it was a rematch of the first time we played them early in the year and we handled [Weingast] relatively easy the first game. Today he came and threw great, but we had Matt Greene step up and throw a great game for us. The bats never got going for either side.”

The first time Weingast took the hill against Wayne Hill earlier this season was the first time he used his revised delivery, which is now a three-quarters slingshot if not a traditional side-arming style. Weingast went the first 5 2/3 innings and allowed just two runs, one earned run, four hits and three walks while striking out five.

He pitched out of a two-on, one-out jam by starting a 1-6-3 double play that ended with a nice pick at first base by Rob Orlando in the top of the second and was one out away from dodging trouble created by a lead off walk to Kevin Solomon in the third. Solomon was bunted up to second base by Matt Taylor, went to third base on a ground ball and then was awarded home when Weingast was called for a balk, one of his few mistakes in the game.

“The first time I pitched against them was the first time I pitched sidearm in a game,” sand Weingart, who has been used mostly in relief this season. “I had much better control today. I got into a groove and I was able to keep them off balance and I was pretty much able to stay focused except for the balk, which still bothers me.”

Wayne Hills got its second run in the fourth inning when Jason Evans hit a ringing double to the left-centerfield gap leading off and, after a groundout for the first out of the inning, Evans broke for the plate on contact of a groundball hit by Greene. The throw came home, but it was off line and Evans scored to give Wayne Hills a 2-0, which was more than enough for Greene.

Greene let his defense do the work and he also was a part of it. He started a 1-6-3 double play in the first inning when Demarest got its first two hitters on base when Breandan Kelly walked leading off and Matt Formica followed with a sacrifice attempt turned bunt single.

In the second inning and after Orlando delivered a one-out single, Travis Della Volpe got a perfect jump on a sinking line drive hit by Paler and made a sliding catch for the second out. Greene then got one of his three strikeouts to end the frame.

Greene went the distance on a five-hitter and walked just two to go along with his three strikeouts to improve to 3-1 on the season.

“I’ve kind of had a rough season, giving up runs and leaving the ball up in the zone. It’s kind of a mental thing, but today I came in with an approach that was more relaxed. I just wanted to throw strikes and get ahead of batters and it finally happened,” said Greene. “My first inning was a little shaky but I felt good after that. This was not the same Demarest team that we played in the beginning of the year. They’ve won a lot of games since then, they have really hit the ball and they got great pitching today. It was a good game and I am glad that we came out on top.”

Greene’s battery mate, catcher Ryan Daddurno, also had a solid day. He cut down all three of Demarest’s would-be base stealers and now has a streak of five straight caught-stealings in his last two games.

Wayne Hills improved to 12-4 on the season and is now 9-4 in the NBIL, sitting in second place behind Old Tappan in Division 1. The Patriots are also the No. 2 seed in the Passaic County Tournament.

“We are right where we want to be right now. The league is still open, I think we are a game behind Old Tappan and we still have to go around another time. The way it goes in this league is that somebody is going to knock off somebody else that you don’t expect and you have to take advantage of your opportunities,” said Ianello. “We are the No. 2 seed in the county which starts next week and we are just working on getting better and being ready for every game as it comes.”

Demarest is also going to be playing some big games down the stretch, a situation that didn’t look like when the Norsemen opened the season at 1-5. They had won 8 of their last 9 games before Friday loss, but at 9-7 with a busy week ahead, they are not out of the running for a berth in the Bergen County tournament. A state tournament bid is well within reach for Mike Carcich in his first season as Demarest’s head coach.

Demarest had games against New Milford on Saturday, Ramapo on Monday, Old Tappan on Wednesday and Bergenfield on Friday.

“We have to get one of these next four [to qualify for the states] and that would be a great accomplishment for our 11 seniors. They are working their tails off to get there,” said Carcich. “We are just a little bit short on pitching and that is why it would have been nice to get a win here with how well Matt [Weingart] threw today, but you have to give credit to Wayne Hills and their kid [Greene]. It was the best [Weingart] has thrown all year, but we couldn’t put the hits together and a couple of mistakes made the difference.”

Demarest could clinch is state tournament spot against New Milford, weather permitting, and will try to do it with three sophomores lined up to take the hill including Taylor Wiel, who retired all four hitters he faced in relief against Wayne Hills.