South Plainfield 20 New Brunswick 6 in Home-Run-Fest

Ryan Hutchinson made his Varsity pitching debut 4/30/2010 vs. New Brunswick

Hutchinson pitched 4 strong innings allowing 4 runs, 4 hits, 4 strikeouts, 2 walks and a pickoff at 2nd. He also helped the cause by going 2 for 4 at the plate getting a single and a double with 1 RBI.


SOUTH PLAINFIELD 20, NEW BRUNSWICK 6:

STAFF REPORT • April 30, 2010

Senior Matt Cesare cracked two of South Plainfield's five home runs.

Cesare ripped a two-run homer in the first and a solo shot in the third. Stephen Petriello, Daniel Hansen and Carlos Ruiz each homered as the Tigers improved to 15-1.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100430/SPORTS0103/4300364/1109

South Plainfield 20, New Brunswick 6 (High school Baseball scores and results)
The Star Ledger, April 30, 2010 10:30 p.m.

Matt Cesare homered twice while Dan Hansen, Stephen Petriello and Carlos Ruiz each slugged one home run in the five-inning contest for No. 13 South Plainfield (15-1) in New Brunswick. Victor Romero and Jose Torres belted a home run apiece for New Brunswick (2-12).

Box Score:
http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-8119362950613266690/south-plainfield-20-new-brunswick-6-high-school-baseball-scores-and-results/

Brandon Downes hit his 9th home run of the season while hitting for the cycle against New Brunswick on April 30, 2010.

South Plainfield 12 Colonia 4

South Plainfield 12, Colonia 4 (High school Baseball scores and results)
The Star Ledger, April 30, 2010 3:55 a.m.

Shortstop Brandon Downes went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored for South Plainfield, No. 13 in The Star-Ledger Top 20, in South Plainfield.
Mark Benak was 3-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored for South Plainfield (14-1).

Box Score:

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-2119366950693266779/south-plainfield-12-colonia-4-high-school-baseball-scores-and-results/

SOUTH PLAINFIELD 12, COLONIA 4:
STAFF REPORT • April 29, 2010

Mark Benak singled, doubled, tripled and drove in a run for the Tigers (14-1), who won their 12th straight game. Dan Hansen went 3-for-3 with two doubles and three RBIs in support of winning pitcher Dylan Papa.

Bobby Higgins went 2-for-2 with an RBI for Colonia (5-10), while Justin Van Glahn doubled and drove home a run.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100429/SPORTS0103/4290352/1109

South Plainfield 10 Monroe 0

Kyle Hughes crosses the plate with the game winning run off of Rob Pasternak's walk off RBI single in the bottom of the 5th inning in South Plainfield. Final score was SP 10 - Monroe 0.

South Plainfield 10, Monroe 0

(High school Baseball scores and results)
The Star Ledger, April 28, 2010 10:10 p.m.
By Josh Rosenfeld

The message, written in green ink on the whiteboard next to the starting lineup in the South Plainfield dugout, was simple: ``Make a statement.”
South Plainfield, which entered The Star-Ledger Top 20 at No. 13 this week, made a rather emphatic one and extended its winning streak to 11 games by handing No. 4 Monroe a 10-0 setback in five innings yesterday in South Plainfield.
``I felt that this was our opportunity to make a statement who we are,” South Plainfield coach Anthony Guida said. ``I say we accomplished what we wanted to do today.”
The victory avenged South Plainfield’s lone loss, a controversial 6-5 setback at Monroe (12-2) on April 5, and gave it the edge in the Greater Middlesex Conference-Blue Division race.
South Plainfield (13-1) jumped on Monroe ace Zach Batchelor (3-1) for five runs in the first inning and coasted behind southpaw Dan Hansen (5-0), who shut out one of the area’s most potent lineups and limited it to two singles.
``It made me feel a little bit more comfortable, but I still had to stay focused and get things done,” Hansen said of the early show of support by his teammates. ``I had great control over all of my pitches. My curve ball had a great break with it. I just felt great overall.”
South Plainfield batted around in the first inning and all nine batters reached base the first time through, one on a fielder’s choice. Its first two runs came on a two-run single by Matt Cesare, who became the center of the firestorm in the last meeting when he was ejected in the midst of a short-lived, seventh-inning rally for a uniform violation.
``I haven’t thought about that since it happened,” said Cesare, who went 3-for-3 with a double and three RBI. ``I just knew that they were going to come in here and we needed to have a big day.”
Cesare hit a squib just over the head of Monroe third baseman Victor Sorrento that was good enough to score Rob Pasternak and Brandon Downes. Carlos Ruiz followed with a three-run double and South Plainfield was on its way.
Mark Benak resumed the assault with a two-run homer to right in the fourth inning and Cesare made the score 8-0 by singling home Downes, who had doubled.
South Plainfield halted the proceedings early in the fifth when Ruiz reached on an infield error before Kyle Hughes and Mark Tomei singled to load the bases. Pasternak, who singled and scored in the first and doubled and scored in the fourth, laced a two-run single to right to end the game on the 10-run rule.
Monroe’s hits came on a one-out single by Jim Small in the first and a one-out single by Sorrento in the second, but each runner was erased by an inning-ending double play. Monroe placed runners at second and third with one out in the fourth, but Hansen, whose two strikeouts came on the first and last batters he faced, induced two ground balls to end the threats.
``We made a statement today,” Cesare said. ``That’s what we tried to do. We tried to come out here, beat this team and make a statement for what happened last time.”

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-3119349950573266578/south-plainfield-10-monroe-0-high-school-baseball-scores-and-results/



HNT Baseball -

South Plainfield whitewashes Monroe to take division lead

STAFF REPORT • April 28, 2010



In a battle of Greater Middlesex Conference White Division once-beatens, the South Plainfield High School baseball team scored a 10-0 victory over Monroe in five innings Wednesday.Matt Cesare went 3-for-3 with a double and three RBIs, and Rob Pasternak went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs to lead South Plainfield. Carlos Ruiz went 2-for-3 with a three-run double in the first inning, and Mark Benak blasted a two-run homer (first of the season) in the bottom of the fourth inning for the Tigers (13-1, 12-1 GMC White), ranked third in the latest Home News Tribune Top 10.Dan Hansen (5-0) allowed three hits, two walks and struck out two over five innings to pick up the victory.Jim Small, Victor Sorento and Nick Russo all collected singles for Monroe (12-2, 8-2), ranked No. 2 in the HNT Top 10.



http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100428/SPORTS0103/4280356/1109

A Statement Was Made..............

And Now It's "STEWIES" Time!

Star Ledger Photo Gallery:

http://photos.nj.com/4504/gallery/south_plainfield_vs_monroe_april_28_2010_/index.html

South Plainfield #13 in the Star-Ledger Top 20

NJ Baseball: Top 20 remains a work in progress as Bosco, Steinert join the fun
By Bob Behre/For The Star-Ledger
April 26, 2010, 6:53PM

Look who's back.
Don Bosco Prep, at No. 9, and Steinert, at No. 16, have returned to their accustomed spots among the state's leaders. Both teams started with a couple hiccups and responded nicely to charge into The Star-Ledger Top 20 this week.
Toms River South (10-2), which posted a 3-1 week, remains at No. 1. The team's only loss was a 1-0 decision to Toms River North in eight innings. Pope John (12-0) climbed from No. 6 to No. 2 and is knocking hard on the door to No. 1. We believe, at least for now, Toms River South is the best team in the state.
Immaculata was No. 3 and went 1-0 this past week, so stands at 9-0. As I said last week when I dropped Livingston from the Top 10, a team has to play a full schedule, one comparable with the rest of the Top 10, to remain there, regardless of its record. That's why Immaculata has dropped to No. 11 instead of ascending after it's 1-0 week. So, the stop the belly-aching on the forum.
That said, Immaculata has certainly played excellent ball, worthy of our deep respect, but its difficult to compare a team which has played nine games to ones that have played 12, 13, 14 games. It comes down to pitching. A team with a 12-2 record is using more pitching to get the job done than a team that has played just nine games. If we'd been fighting rain all April than it wouldn't be an issue. Rain hasn't been an issue until today. So, 9 is not enough.
The other newcomers to the Top 20 are No. 13 South Plainfield (12-1), No. 15 Ramsey (11-1), No. 18 Red Bank Catholic (7-1, I know we're waiting for more games), No. 19 Wall (10-2) and No. 20 Ridgewood (11-2).
As we close out the final week of April and turn the schedule to May, the games start meaning more. And, hopefully, this Top 20 will make more sense.


THE STAR-LEDGER TOP 20
1-Toms River South (10-2)
2-Pope John (12-0)
3-St. Joseph (Met.) (11-3)
4-Monroe (12-1)
5-Gloucester Catholic (10-2)
6-St. Joseph (Mont.) (12-2)
7-West Essex (11-1)
8-Paramus (11-2)
9-Don Bosco Prep (12-2)
10-Morristown (11-3)
11-Immaculata (9-0)
12-Randolph (12-1)
13-South Plainfield (12-1)
14-Millville (10-2)
15-Ramsey (11-1)
16-Steinert (13-2)
17-Cherokee (7-2)
18-Red Bank Catholic (7-1)
19-Wall (10-2)
20-Ridgewood (11-2)

http://www.nj.com/hssports/blog/baseball/index.ssf/2010/04/nj_baseball_top_20_remains_a_work_in_progress_as_bosco_steinert_join_the_fun.html

This week in Middlesex County baseball (High school Baseball news)

By Josh Rosenfeld,
FOR THE STAR-LEDGER,
April 26, 2010 1:52 p.m.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Senior first baseman/pitcher Mike Muha and his sophomore cousin, Nick, a catcher, have been mainstays in the middle of the lineup for South Brunswick (7-5).
Mike, who bats third and is one of three returning All-Middlesex County performers from a year ago, began the week batting .475 with two home runs, four doubles and nine RBI.
Nick, who is now batting clean-up, is hitting .364 with three home runs and 11 RBI.

TEAM TO WATCH: One of the best performances of Saturday's eight-game Autism Awareness Day was turned in by South Amboy's Joe Charmello, who went 3-for-4 with a double, a triple, a grand slam and eight RBI in a five-inning victory over Wardlaw-Hartridge. South Amboy has been just as impressive in jumping out to a 7-1 start.
South Amboy went 3-0 last week, starting with its best victory of the season, a 6-5 decision over potent South River (8-4). South Amboy finished the week with a pair of mercy-rule, five-inning victories.
South Amboy is 4-0 in Greater Middlesex Conference-Gold Division play, with a huge divisional game Thursday at defending league champion Dunellen (5-3). South Amboy defeated Dunellen, 6-3, on April 12. Another victory would put it in the driver's seat in the divisional race.

GAME TO WATCH: With Monroe and South Plainfield both 12-1 and ascending rapidly in The Star-Ledger Top 20, Wednesday's rematch takes on state-wide significance. Of course, there is plenty at stake without the rankings.
The winner will have a leg up in the heated White Division race, where No. 13 South Plainfield (10-1) holds an edge over No. 4 Monroe (8-1). Monroe handed South Plainfield its lone setback in a 6-5 thriller at Monroe on April 5, then suffered its only loss in its very next game to Iselin Kennedy, 12-3.
Their last encounter left a bad taste in South Plainfield's mouth because Matt Cesare, one of its leading hitters, was ejected from the game for a uniform infraction in the midst of a potential seventh-inning rally. South Plainfield will be looking to avenge that defeat on its home field on Wednesday.

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/4448244321217005680/this-week-in-middlesex-county-baseball-high-school-baseball-news/

South Plainfield 7 Sayreville 3

It was Autism Awareness Day at Community Park in North Brunswick on April 24, 2010.

Brandon Downes connects for his 7th homerun of the season against Sayreville on April 24th 2010.

The Star Ledger, April 24, 2010 9:35 p.m.

Brandon Downes went 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI while Mark Benak delivered three hits as South Plainfield (12-1) extended its winning streak to 10 games at the Greater Middlesex Conference Autism Awareness Day in North Brunswick. Winner Matt Cesare hurled a complete game and struck out five without issuing a walk. Matt Monte and Jake Werb had three hits apiece for Sayreville (5-5).

Mark Benak scores during the 1st inning against Sayreville on April 24, 2010.

Matt Cesare delivers against Sayreville on April 24, 2010. Cesare hurled a complete game and struck out five without issuing a walk.

Box Score & Recap:

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/1880659049359733186/south-plainfield-7-sayreville-3-high-school-baseball-scores-and-results/

GMC NEWS

HNT Baseball Notebook:

GMC division foes slated to play back-to-back days

By GREG TUFARO • STAFF WRITER • April 23, 2010

Some exciting changes are in store for the Greater Middlesex Conference and much credit deserves to go to baseball committee chairman Jerry Smith, the former head coach at J.F. Kennedy High School who is now the athletics director at St. Joseph.Smith has taken the responsibility of serving as GMC baseball chair to a new level, surpassing the outstanding job turned in by his predecessor, legendary former Edison baseball coach and athletics director Jim Muldowney.

The GMC divisions will be realigned for a two-year cycle beginning next season.Sayreville will move up from the White Division to the Red Division. New Brunswick will drop from the White Division to the Blue Division. Cardinal McCarrick and South Amboy will leave the Gold Division for the Blue Division. GMC newcomers Timothy Christian and Wardlaw-Hartridge will debut in the Gold Division. The rest of the league members will remain in their current divisions.

Smith has already set the GMC division schedule for the 2011 and 2012 seasons. He has done so with an interesting twist, finally implementing a concept Muldowney first proposed several years ago. Beginning next season, division foes will always square off on consecutive days. For example, St. Joseph opens the 2011 season at home on April 1 against Old Bridge. The following day, the teams will square off in Old Bridge. The home-and-home series will ensure three things: No school can throw its ace at a division foe twice in the same season, rivalries between schools will intensify and division play will conclude in early May. The latter means the GMC Tournament may be able to start early. The fact that GMCT games are being contested during the NJSIAA Tournament has always been a bone of contention among coaches.

The new division schedule also frees up schools to play more nonconference games, something Smith believes is paramount to the league's exposure. Smith would like to see the GMCT seeding criteria altered, allowing strength of schedule to become a factor. Currently, the GMCT seeding committee relies exclusively on division play and some crossover results."It's very difficult to seed a tournament when you only use the division (and conference) records," Smith said. "We should really change that. We need to start telling our teams to go out and play some of the top teams throughout the state. Give your teams the recognition and notoriety they deserve so we can start showcasing our talent."St. Joseph, Edison, J.F. Kennedy, Spotswood and South Plainfield have always done an excellent job of scheduling tough nonconference competition. Smith would like more schools to follow suit."If we are just going to play in our own backyard," Smith said, "I think we are shortchanging our athletes in Middlesex County."

All three of Bishop Ahr's losses have come by one run. One-run defeats to Blue Division rivals Middlesex and Spotswood could cost the Trojans (6-3) a shot at defending their division title. Bishop Ahr will look to avenge a 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays (11-1), who are unbeaten in the division, on Tuesday. Middlesex could see ace Dario Santangelo, who has been the area's most dominant pitcher, striking out 22 and surrendering no earned runs over 18 innings. Bishop Ahr committed just five errors in its first seven games. A defensive miscue, however, allowed the winning run to score in Thursday's 4-3 loss to Spotswood. The Trojans are batting .339 as a team and have outscored the opposition 59-17. Tyler Rossiter and Joe Post have performed well on the mound and could provide the Trojans with enough pitching depth to make a run in the GMC and NJSIAA tournaments. Most improved: Several GMC schools are vastly improved including Piscataway Tech, which equaled its win total of the previous three years combined with a 3-2 victory Thursday over Perth Amboy Tech. The Raiders improved to 4-2 by erasing a 2-0 deficit against the Patriots as Billy Heditsch plated what proved to be the winning run in the fifth inning."We've had some kids come into the school that can play baseball," Piscataway Tech coach Don Surowitch said, "especially kids that pitch."The addition of a junior varsity team last year and this season has enabled Surowitch to get more players in his program experience. "That means we get kids that can develop and get in more playing time instead of sitting on the bench as freshman and sophomores with the varsity," Surowitch said. Cousins Santos Zabala, a sophomore left-hander who owns a 3-0 record, and Roberto Ortiz, who leads the club with three homers, are Piscataway Tech's best players.

Top senior: At the midpoint of the season, at least five players can stake a claim to being the GMC's top upperclassman.St. Joseph's Victor Diaz (3-1, 0.55 ERA), Bishop Ahr's Dario Santangelo (3-0, 0.00), Spotswood's Cody Pace (.524), South Brunswick's Mike Muha (.531) and Woodbridge's Zach Hopf (0.56). All five players have put up big numbers hitting and pitching.

Top junior: Monroe's Nick Dini is not only our pick as the area's top junior, but he also is the player we believe is the most difficult for any pitcher to face. Dini leads the Falcons in a host of offensive categories including hits (21), runs (17), doubles (5), triples (2), homers (5), average (.512) and slugging percentage (1.098). In addition, he is second on the team with 13 RBIs from the leadoff spot. Dini has yet to fan in 47 plate appearances. Simply put, he is not only the toughest out in the Greater Middlesex Conference, but one of the toughest outs in the state. Top sophomore: South Plainfield's Stephen Petriello, who played on the junior varsity last season, is a big reason why the Tigers will contend for the GMC Tournament and White Division titles. The catcher is batting .452 with three homers and 12 RBIs. Top freshman: Middlesex's Tommy Marcinczyk is, hands down, the area's top rookie, batting a conference-leading .667 with 18 hits, four doubles, five homers and 20 RBIs. Join the club: Jerry Smith Jr. became the third GMC coach this season to reach the 100-win plateau in the Mustangs' 10-0 victory over New Brunswick last week. Metuchen's Sean Economou and Spotswood's Glenn Fredricks also reached the milestone earlier this spring.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100423/SPORTS0103/4230364/1109

Stephen Petriello in The HNT Spotlight

HNT Baseball: In the Spotlight -
Stephen Petriello, South Plainfield

By GREG TUFARO •

STAFF WRITER • April 23, 2010

South Plainfield High School's Stephen Petriello has emerged as one of the Greater Middlesex Conference's top clutch hitters.The sophomore catcher, who is batting .452, delivered two walk-off hits in the Tigers' last three games.Petriello belted a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth to give South Plainfield a 6-5 comeback win over North Brunswick on Thursday. His RBI single capped a 4-for-4 day at the plate in a 10-9 victory over J.F. Kennedy on Sunday.Over the last three games, Petriello is 9-for-12 with seven RBIs."He finds himself at the plate in crucial situations and he's been able to get the job done," South Plainfield head coach Anthony Guida said. "We feel comfortable with him up there."Petriello's emergence as a solid defensive backstop enabled Guida to move former catcher Brandon Downes to center field, suring up South Plainfield's defense.South Plainfield (11-1), ranked No. 3 in the Home News Tribune Top 10, has won nine straight.The Tigers look to avenge their only loss of the year, a 6-5 setback to second-ranked Monroe when the once-beaten White Division rivals square off in South Plainfield on Wednesday.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100423/SPORTS0103/4230363/1109

South Plainfield Baseball Raising Autism Awareness

South Plainfield baseball player Simon Diaz (left) locks arms with South Plainfield student Ryan Buckelew after helping assemble an autism awareness puzzle at the school on Wednesday. (STAFF PHOTO: JASON TOWLEN)

GMC teams raising autism awareness

By GREG TUFARO • STAFF WRITER • April 22, 2010

SOUTH PLAINFIELD — The South Plainfield High School baseball team, off to one of the finest starts in program history, is taking on its toughest opponent yet.The Tigers did some unique training in preparation for Saturday's Third Annual Greater Middlesex Conference Autism Awareness Day, going from classroom to classroom at the high school to raise awareness and more than $1,000 for the cause."The fact that we as a school community are coming together to recognize this and join together to do our little bit to find a cure is very enlightening," South Plainfield principal Kenneth May said, "because it shows that the young people today are really out for the future and the prognosis is really very good as far as I'm concerned."Saturday's event features 16 Middlesex County teams playing a total of eight games at North Brunswick's Community Park. Pamphlets with information about autism will be distributed to all spectators.All competing players will warm up wearing specially designed T-shirts that bear a baseball-playing puzzle piece sporting a cap and swinging a bat. The words "GMC Baseball Autism Awareness" are inscribed across the chest.Former Highland Park High School star and Rutgers University assistant coach Mike Garlatti, the father of a child on the autistic spectrum, founded the event to promote awareness about the country's fastest-growing developmental disorder, which 1 in 150 children are diagnosed with nationwide.The Tigers, ranked No. 3 in the Home News Tribune Top 10 and owners of an 11-1 record, wanted to do more than simply heighten awareness by taking infield and outfield Saturday in their T-shirts.
"Since it's Autism Awareness Month," senior left-hander Dylan Papa said, "we wanted to come together and do something to give back."

So head coach Anthony Guida and South Plainfield High School teacher Karen Foley joined forces to create a fundraiser to benefit the Center for Lifelong Learning, a new public school in Sayreville serving students from Middlesex County and elsewhere in the state with autism or similar behavioral disabilities. Foley and three paraprofessionals at South Plainfield High School — Rudy Coleman, Marissa Greenstein and Suzanne Tercek — teach a class of six male students, some of whom are on the autistic spectrum.Those students worked with Guida's senior players to help raise nearly $1,000 for the Center for Lifelong Learning.They visited every homeroom in the high school, asking students and faculty to donate money. Each homeroom received a colored puzzle piece reflecting the universal symbol of autism. Those who donated were allowed to sign the colored puzzle piece. Each signed colored puzzle piece was returned to the baseball team, which affixed more than 60 of them to a wall outside the cafeteria, completing a symbolic completed puzzle that reflected the cause and the school's solidarity. In addition to the homerooms, the nurse's office, main office, cafeteria, guidance office, and attendance office also had their own puzzle pieces.Autism has a broad spectrum of characteristics — from severe detached and isolated behavior to extreme verbal and hypersensitive behavior. Those diagnosed with the disorder — puzzling to all for it has no known cause — are as varied as the colors of a rainbow, thus the concept of the symbol's design.Foley said the rainbow puzzle piece symbol has a dual meaning at South Plainfield, where her students and others in the school — especially the baseball players — fit together and complement one another just like the pieces of a puzzle."It's just really nice to see them come down and really want to hang out with the boys and help them out and take them under their wing," said Foley, noting players such as Papa and Mark Benak routinely visit her class.

"To see the whole community come to bat in a short period of time (South Plainfield raised the money in just two days) is really nice."

The completed puzzle of red, yellow, blue and green pieces lies beneath the words "South Plainfield High School Goes To Bat For Autism." The homeroom that raised the most money for the cause will be honored Friday morning with a bagel breakfast."We are overwhelmed with how much money every homeroom contributed," Guida said. "I couldn't have done anything without the teachers and also the seniors as well."Greenstein said she sees the giving spirit of all South Plainfield students, not just the baseball players, every day."The amazing thing is when (students in Foley's class) walk around the school and the kids in the hallway — not even just the baseball players — give them a high five or say "Hi' to them in the hallway and banter back and forth, you can see how much taller they stand, how much brighter their smiles are," she said."They are so wholly accepted in this community
now. It is an amazing feeling.

"GMC Autism Awareness Day Saturday at North Brunswick Community Park

North Brunswick vs. Spotswood 10 a.m.

Dunellen vs. South River 10 a.m.

Colonia vs. J.P. Stevens 1 p.m.

Piscataway vs. St. Joseph 1 p.m.

J.F. Kennedy vs. Middlesex 4 p.m.

South Amboy vs. Wardlaw-Hartridge 4 p.m.

South Brunswick vs. Monroe 7 p.m.

Sayreville vs. South Plainfield 7 p.m

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100422/SPORTS0103/4220366/1109

South Plainfield 6 North Brunswick 5 in 9 Innings

Petriello's homer caps South Plainfield's rally
STAFF REPORT • April 23, 2010

Sophomore catcher Stephen Petriello's two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning led the South Plainfield High School baseball team to a dramatic 6-5 comeback victory Thursday over North Brunswick.With two outs in the ninth, Brandon Downes belted a solo homer, closing a 5-3 deficit to one run. After the next batter walked, Petriello homered to record his second walk-off hit in the last three games. He finished 3-for-5.Pitcher Ryan Harrington enabled the Tigers (11-1) to win their ninth straight with five strong innings of relief.North Brunswick (5-7) loaded the bases in the top of the ninth. Bryan Gaeta's RBI single snapped a 3-3 deadlock. Steven Hock followed with an RBI single to center for a 5-3 lead. On the play, the Raiders had a potential insurance run thrown out at the plate.Sean Youngman went 2-for-3 with a homer. His clutch two-out RBI double in the top of the seventh forced extra innings.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100423/SPORTS0103/4230346/1109

The Star Ledger, April 23, 2010 2:04 a.m.

Stephen Petriello had a home run and three RBI as South Plainfield (11-1) extended its winning streak to nine games by rallying for three runs in the bottom of the ninth in South Plainfield. Sean Youngman hit a double and a home run for North Brunswick (5-7).

BOX SCORE:

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-119346950661266878/south-plainfield-6-north-brunswick-5-high-school-baseball-scores-and-results/

TD Bank Park Game Video South Plainfield vs JFK is On-Line

A video of the complete between South Plainfield and JFK Iselin at TD Bank Park on April 18, 2010 can be seen at:

http://origin.peg.tv/pegtv_player?s=woodbridgechannels

Look under youth sports then click on high school baseball - JFK vs South Plainfield

By JR Parachini
For sidelinechatter.com

CRANFORD VS. SOUTH PLAINFIELD THIS SUNDAY
FOR THE WATCHUNG HILLS TOURNAMENT TITLE;
GILSTRAP BLANKS WAYNE HILLS ON 65 PITCHES

Cranford’s seventh win in a row was a 10-0 victory over Passaic County squad Wayne Hills Saturday at Somerset County school Watchung Hills.
It came in one of two Watchung Hills Tournament games. In the other, South Plainfield edged Watchung Hills 3-2.
As a result, Cranford will play South Plainfield at 3 p.m. Sunday at Watchung Hills in the championship game. The 10:30 a.m. third-place game will pit Wayne Hills vs. Watchung Hills.
The games are Sunday because Watchung Hills has a county game Saturday.
Cranford senior right hander Pat Gilstrap improved to 2-0 after tossing a 65-pitch (41 strikes, 24 balls), five-inning, one-hitter against Wayne Hills. He struck out two and walked two and also helped his cause by driving in three runs.
In three starts, Gilstrap has thrown complete-game victories at Governor Livingston 5-3 on April 1 and vs. Wayne Hills and has a no-decision in a Cranford 5-3 conference win at home over Roselle Catholic on April 6. In that game, Gilstrap allowed three runs – two earned – in four complete innings, striking out one and walking one.
Against GL he tossed a four-hitter, allowing three earned runs, while striking out five and walking two.
Gilstrap has a 1.98 ERA and opponents are batting .188 against him. In 17.2 innings, he has allowed six runs – five of them earned – and 12 hits. He has 16 strikeouts and six walks.
Cranford ’s 8-2 start includes six pitchers with at least one win. Gilstrap and sophomore right hander Kurt Rutmeyer have two each, with Rutmeyer also 2-0. With one win each are sophomore right hander Vincent Colineri, senior left hander Nick Cook, junior righty Justin VanOstenbridge and freshman lefty Ryan Williamson.

http://www.sidelinechatter.com/sport1.htm

This week in Middlesex County baseball (High school Baseball news)
Josh Rosenfeld, FOR THE STAR-LEDGER, April 19, 2010 1:55 p.m.

PLAYER TO WATCH: In three starts this spring, Bishop Ahr's Dario Santangelo is 3-0 with an 0.00 ERA. In 17 innings on the hill, the East Carolina-bound senior has struck out 19 and walked eight while yielding just six hits, including a five-inning no-hitter against Hamilton followed by a five-inning one-hitter versus South River.
Opponents are just 6-for-55 (.109) against the hard-throwing right-hander this season and 1-for-32 (.031) over his last two starts.
Santangelo got off to a fast start at the plate as well, going 6-for-12 with six RBI in the Edison program's first four games, before going 0-for-5 in his last two outings. Despite the recent slump he still has as many hits as a batter as he's given up as a pitcher -- six.

TEAM TO WATCH: South Plainfield traveled to Perth Amboy yesterday sporting a seven-game winning streak and a 9-1 record.
South Plainfield has been getting production from up and down its lineup, including two home runs by No. 9 hitter Mark Tomei in a 12-2 five-inning victory at Carteret last Tuesday. The middle of South Plainfield's lineup, starting with No. 3 hitter Brandon Downes followed by Matt Cesare, Stephen Petriello and Dan Hansen, has been lethal. Cesare and Hansen, both 3-0, nail down the top two spots on the pitching staff.
South Plainfield's lone loss was to Monroe, 7-6 on April 5, in which it had a potential seventh-inning rally derailed when Cesare was ejected for a uniform violation. South Plainfield will get a chance to avenge that loss when it hosts Monroe on April 28.

GAMES TO WATCH: The third annual Greater Middlesex Conference Autism Awareness Day returns to Community Park in North Brunswick on Saturday with an eight-game slate to be played on two adjacent fields.
The most intriguing matchup appears to be the 4 p.m. pairing of reigning Group 3 state champion Iselin Kennedy (6-4) and Group 2 contender Middlesex (7-1), which begins the week with a 4-0 record in the Greater Middlesex Conference's Blue Division. Middlesex heads to Highland Park today having won six games in a row since suffering a 7-6 loss to Rutgers Prep, including one-run victories over divisional rivals Bishop Ahr and Spotswood.
Here is the schedule for Saturday's games: North Brunswick vs. Spotswood and Dunellen vs. South River at 10 a.m.; Colonia vs. J.P. Stevens and Piscataway vs. St. Joseph at 1 p.m.; Iselin Kennedy vs. Middlesex and South Amboy vs. Wardlaw-Hartridge at 4 p.m.; South Brunswick vs. Monroe and Sayreville vs. South Plainfield at 7 p.m.

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/4448242321204005647/this-week-in-middlesex-county-baseball-high-school-baseball-news/

South Plainfield 11 Perth Amboy 1

STAFF REPORT • April 19, 2010

SOUTH PLAINFIELD 11, PERTH AMBOY 1 (5 innings): Brandon Downes (2-for-3) homered and drove in three and Stephen Petriello (2-for-3, double) added two RBIs for South Plainfield (10-1). Carlos Ruiz was also 2-for-3, belting a home run to center in the first inning. Junior left-hander Dan Hansen (4-0) scattered five hits and struck out five for the victory. He also tripled and drove in two runs as part of a 2-for-3 day.
Carlos Done doubled and came around to score on an RBI groundout by Jose Hernandez in the fourth inning for Perth Amboy (5-8).

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100419/SPORTS0103/4190380/1109

Box Score:
http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/2887275824824047248/south-plainfield-11-perth-amboy-1-high-school-baseball-scores-and-results/

South Plainfield 10 JFK Iselin 9 At TD Bank Park

FINAL SCORE

CARLOS GOES DEEP

PETRIELLO SAYS "GAME OVER!"

Steven Petriello's bases-loaded single with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, his fourth hit of the game, lifted South Plainfield to a 10-9 victory over Iselin Kennedy, No. 15 in The Star-Ledger Top 20, yesterday at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater.
Carlos Ruiz had a double and a solo home run while Dan Hansen had three hits and three RBI for South Plainfield (9-1), which extended its winning streak to seven games. Dylan Papa (1-0) earned the victory in relief after striking out both batters he faced.
Joe Marciano had two singles, a double and three RBI for Iselin Kennedy (6-4).

BOX SCORE:

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-112735175194952707/south-plainfield-10-iselin-kennedy-9-high-school-baseball-scores-and-results/

Sunday’s games from TD Bank Ballpark
April 19, 2010 • 9:06 pm
By Greg Tufaro

WOODBRIDGE 9, COLONIA 6: Eric Perez went 3-for-4 with three RBIs to support winning pitcher Zach Hopf, who fanned seven and surrendered three earned runs. Nick Stallone singled twice and drove home a run for Woodbridge (5-4). Hopf (4-0) scattered seven hits and walked one. Anthony Caposiena singled, tripled and scored twice for the Patriots (2-7). Justin Don Diego had a pinch-hit RBI single for Colonia.
SOUTH PLAINFIELD 10, J.F. KENNEDY 9: Sophomore catcher Steven Petriello’ RBI single in the home seventh helped the Tigers (9-1) win their seventh straight. The hit was Petriello’s fourth of the game. Carlos Ruiz doubled and homered for South Plainfield, while teammate Dan Hansen collected three hits and three RBIs.
EDISON 12, J.P. STEVENS 1: Nick Marics scattered four hits, fanned eight and walked one in a complete-game win. Cory Cigas, Michael Brownlie and Andrew Sporer each had two RBIs for Edison (5-6). Dimitri Scerbo singled twice for the Hawks (1-9).

http://blogs.mycentraljersey.com/baseball/2010/04/19/sundays-games-from-td-bank-ballpark/

South Plainfield 3 Watchung Hills 2

STAFF REPORT - APRIL 17, 2010

SOUTH PLAINFIELD 3, WATCHUNG HILLS 2:
Brandon Downes scored on a groundout by Matt Cesare in the third inning to snap a 2-2 tie as South Plainfield escaped with the one-run victory.
Downes hit a two-run home run in the top of the first inning to stake the Tigers (8-1) to a 2-0 lead.
Watchung Hills (2-5) tied it in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI single by J.C. Rizzi and an error.
Ryan Harrington (1-1) picked up the victory, allowing two runs — one earned — on six hits, walking two and striking out two for South Plainfield.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100417/SPORTS0103/4170328/1109

Box Score:

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-112744175216952726/south-plainfield-3-watchung-hills-2-high-school-baseball-scores-and-results/

South Plainfield 8 Woodbridge 1

South Plainfield baseball breaks game open late to top Woodbridge
By MELISSA CHODAN • STAFF WRITER • April 14, 2010

WOODBRIDGE — Dan Hansen and Nick Stallone worked themselves in and out of trouble Wednesday in a pitcher's duel between the South Plainfield and Woodbridge high school baseball teams for five innings.

Double plays and pick-offs erased the base runners until first baseman Matt Cesare broke open the game with a two-run home run in South Plainfield's 8-1 victory.
"It was a high fastball. I got my hands above it. I got good contact and thank God I got it over the fence," Cesare said.

The game was tied 1-1 going into the sixth inning with both teams capitalizing on small ball for their runs.
Center fielder Brandon Downes walked to start the Tigers' sixth inning. Cesare worked the count full on Stallone, then sent a pitch over the right-center-field wall to put the Tigers up, 3-1.
Catcher Stephen Petriello followed with a triple and scored on Mark Tomei's grounder to first base.
"After that we just picked it up," said Cesare, who finished 2-for-3 with a walk.

Woodbridge attempted a rally in the bottom of the sixth with four players reaching base, but a pickoff and an out at home plate ended any chance of a comeback.

South Plainfield added four runs in the seventh inning against the Woodbridge bullpen with Petriello recording a two-run single and later scoring on a sacrifice fly.

"We're a good team and they're definitely a good team," Woodbridge coach Lou Urbano said. "Something had to give and they made the plays where they had to.

"Woodbridge scored its lone run in the fourth inning. Center fielder Eric Perez led off with a walk and came around to score on left fielder Mike Clarke's double.

Clarke advanced to third base on the throw home. With no outs and Clarke on third, Hansen was able to work himself out of the inning.

The Tigers manufactured a tie in the top of the fifth inning. Center fielder Mark Tomei singled, stole second, reached third base on a dropped third strike, and came home on a wild pitch.
"I was just trying to get on base and I was working on getting home the whole time," said Tomei, who was 1-for-2 with two walks, a run scored, and an RBI.

Downes finished 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Petriello scored twice.
Hansen pitched a complete game. The left-hander allowed eight hits, two walks, and an earned run while striking out five. Hansen also picked off four baserunners.

"It's a big game, we just have to work off of this," Tomei said.

Stallone allowed six hits, four walks and four runs in his first varsity start. The right-hander used his fastball to stay ahead of the South Plainfield lineup — allowing just two batters to reach base when he threw first-pitch strikes.

"He gave us a chance to win and he had one bad pitch," Urbano said. "Cesare is a very good hitter."

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100414/SPORTS0103/4140361/1109

My Central Jersey's Photo Gallery of today's game:
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=CN&Dato=20100414&Kategori=SPORTS01&Lopenr=4140802&Ref=PH


Box Score & Recap:

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-1112727175078952570/south-plainfield-8-woodbridge-1-high-school-baseball-scores-and-results/

South Plainfield 12 Carteret 2

The Star Ledger, April 13, 2010 9:17 p.m.
By Josh Rosenfeld

Matt Cesare took the mound yesterday fully aware that the Carteret team he was facing had scored 62 runs over its last three games, but the senior right-hander wasn't concerned.
He had a plan.
``All I had to do was go out there, throw strikes, listen to my catcher and let my defense play behind me," Cesare said.
Cesare, with an inning of relief from Charlie Huber, held Carteret in check when South Plainfield posted a 12-2 victory in five innings yesterday at Carteret.
Sophomore Mark Tomei, batting ninth, belted two two-run homers to help bring the game to an early conclusion.
Carteret was playing its first home game of the season at the friendly confines of Sullivan Field, but that may have worked against it. Carteret had scored a total of 20 runs in the top half of the first inning in its previous three games, giving it a healthy head start and forcing its opposition to play from behind.
Not so this time, as South Plainfield placed its first four batters on base and, aided by two infield errors, all four came around to score for a 4-0 lead.
Rob Pasternak led off with a single and Mark Benak followed with a walk and both subsequently scored on a throwing error. Carlos Ruiz drove in a run on fielder's choice and Kyle Hughes added an RBI single.
``I guess getting the lead in the beginning took the air out of them," Cesare said.
Cesare (3-0) set the tone from the mound with a 14-pitch, 1-2-3 first inning, throwing 10 for strikes and striking out the last two batters. He struck out two more in the second but walked consecutive batters in the third, leading to a two-run single by Carteret's Mike Merz.
``My changeup was on point," Cesare said. ``And the kid behind the plate, Stephen Petriello, was absolutley great at calling everything. Everything was working."
South Plainfield, which was flawless in the field, scored in all five innings. It added two in the third on Tomei's first career homer and two of its four runs in the fifth scored on his second, both on towering drives to right field by the left-handed batter.
``It feels good," Tomei said. ``I just put the bat on the ball. I like batting ninth. I kind of expect the first eight batters to get hits."

Recap & Box Score:

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-4112751175246952842/south-plainfield-12-carteret-2-high-school-baseball-scores-and-results/

STAFF REPORT • April 13, 2010
SOUTH PLAINFIELD 12, CARTERET 2:

Outfielder Mark Tomei homered twice for the Tigers (6-1).
Winning pitcher Matt Cesare (3-0) helped his cause, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Carteret (2-4) committed four errors in the first inning when it spotted the Tigers a 4-0 lead.
Mike Merz went 2-for-3 with two RBIs for the Ramblers.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100413/SPORTS0103/4130366/1109

South Plainfield 8 North Brunswick 1

Dan Hansen picks off a North Brunswick runner at first base. (4-9-2010). Hansen earned his second win of the season while pitching a complete game and striking out four, while allowing only four hits and one earned run for South Plainfield.



SOUTH PLAINFIELD 8, NORTH BRUNSWICK 2:

Left-hander Dan Hansen (2-0) pitched seven innings and struck out four, while allowing four hits and one earned run for South Plainfield. Hansen also went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Brandon Downes went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored for the Tigers (5-1) and Matt Cesare hit a two-run home run in the third inning.
Steven Hock led North Brunswick (2-3) with two hits and a run scored.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20100409/SPORTS0103/4090372/1109

Box Score:

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-5112748175127952640/south-plainfield-8-north-brunswick-1-high-school-baseball-scores-and-results/