"I’ve been preaching to play for the big inning on offense and prevent it on defense," said Demarest coach Carcich. "Our offense in the first inning, solid team defense and pitching won it for us.

"Most of the season we’ve been missing one of those facets, but this is the first game we’ve had it all."

In the first inning, the Norsemen powered their way to a comfortable six-run lead to set the tone early forcing Ramsey to play catch up the rest of the way.

On the hill, Demarest pitcher Nick Orlando threw six strong innings and relied on the stellar defense behind him for the 8-3 win, as the Norsemen handed the Rams their first loss of 2008.

"Every pitcher will tell you that they’d love to have a lead like that, but in the back of your head you still know it’s your job to shut them down," said Orlando. "The defense behind me is great and I have such confidence that when the ball is in play my team will pick me up."

The rout was on from the beginning as the first eight Norsemen reached base against Rams starter Ryan Brazel. Second baseman Brendan Kelly singled up the middle past diving infielders. Center fielder Matt Formica drew a walk and third baseman Tom Neustein bombed a single near the right field wall to load the bases.

"We started hitting right off the bat and coach said it before the game that he felt like today would be a big offensive game," said Neustein. "He was right, as everyone was just on."

Shortstop Anthony Corso stepped into the batters box and hammered a double which rolled all the way to the center field wall, as two runs crossed the plate.

"It was a big spot and as the number four hitter I knew it was up to me to give us a good start," said Corso. "On a 3-2 count I just sat back on the fast ball and drove it."

The Norsemen weren’t nearly finished, as left fielder Sean Blumenthal tacked on another two runs with a single that found ground in short center.

"He kept throwing curveballs and I was just trying to get the bat on the ball," said Blumenthal. The count was 2-2 and I was thinking fastball, but I got a curve and I just used a flick of the wrist to get it out of the infield."

First baseman Rob Orlando kept the rally going by reaching on a bloop to right field. Catcher Bryan Paler joined the hit parade with a shot past the first baseman to load the bases. Designated hitter Mike Sabo took a ball on a full count to knock in another run.

Relief pitcher Brian Boyle’s pitch to right fielder Mike Petracelli bounced in the dirt and rolled away from the Rams catcher to score Demarest’s last run of the inning.

"We have a lot of kids that can hit the ball and get on base," said Blumenthal. "Everyone took it upon themselves to drive runners in."

After a harmless top of the second by Ramsey, the Norsemen were once again on the offensive at the bottom of the frame as Neustein reached on a walk and moved over on a fielder’s choice.

Neustein had a tremendous game and managed to get on board at every at bat.

Blumenthal knocked in Neustein on a scorching liner through the left infield hole.

"It was a new pitcher and I saw that he threw fastballs," said Blumenthal. "He left one over the plate and I was able to guide it to the opposite field."

The Rams engineered a couple runs in the middle innings, but the undefeated team couldn’t get that big hit to climb out of the sizeable deficit.

A key play came in the sixth inning when Ramsey loaded the bases with one out. Orlando zoned in, remarkably picked off the lead runner and got a ground ball to end the inning.

"We run it all the time in practice," Orlando said of the pick off play. "It’s such a pleasure to get out with no runs."

Ramsey threatened again in the final inning with three consecutive singles before reliever Matt Weingast settled down.

Weingast struck out the next batter and on a ground ball out a run crossed the plate. Demarest was more than willing to trade an out for a run.

"A win is a win and when you only have two, I’ll take it," said Carcich. "This is one of those games that jumpstarts our club and motivates us to win more games."

With the win and their record at 3-5, this could be just what the Norsemen needed to turn their season around.

"Recently we’re either on or off," said Blumenthal. "We need to always be on and we’re capable of it. Today showed that we’re a good team and to score eight runs off an undefeated team is huge."

E-mail: cheung@northjersey.com or call 201-894-6709