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.

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