Group III - 2nd Round vs Morristown

John Haley, for the Star Ledger

Morristown 2, South Plainfield 1

Pat Murphy hit a solo homer in the top of the seventh to lift Morristown in a game played at North Plainfield High. Each team scored in the first, South Plainfield on a Mark Tomei leadoff triple, followed by an infield hit by Taylor Born. 

South Plainfield outhit Morristown, 8-5, as A.J. Celantano was the tough-luck loser. He struck out one and walked one. Born and Ryan Marcoux had two hits each for South Plainfield, which ended the game with a man on first.

Staff Report
MORRISTOWN 2, SOUTH PLAINFIELD 1: Pat Murphy’s solo home run in the top of the seventh in­ning for 12th-seeded Mor­ristown broke a 1-1 tie. Tay­lor Born went 2-for-3 in­cluding an RBI single in the first inning for the fourth­seeded Tigers (19-9) to tie the game, scoring Mark To­mei, who led off the inning with a triple. A.J. Celentano went the distance for South Plainfield, allowing two earned runs on five hits.

Group III - 1st Round vs Warren Hills

South Plainfield Advances On Bowden Gem
Posted by Harry Frezza
SOUTH PLAINFIELD 1, WARREN HILLS 0: Senior righty Tommy Bowden (3-2) threw a complete-game shutout Wednesday night and senior catcher Stephen Petriello scored on a fourth-inning infield error to lift fourth-seeded South Plainfield (19-8) at Krausche Field in North Plainfield. Bowden’s 72 pitch effort included three strikeouts, one walk and five hits. Petriello went 2-for-3 with a single and double. The Tigers will play host to 12th-seeded Morristown Friday at a time and site to be announced. [Editor's note: As of last night--game is Friday, 1pm at home.]

Other Results:
NORTH 2, GROUP III

Cranford 5, Ferris 0
Scotch Plains 10, Barringer 0
Morristown 4, Nutley 3
South Plainfield 1, Warren Hills 0

Millburn 3, Parsippany Hills 2
Mendham 3, Chatham 2
Iselin Kennedy 2, Somerville 1
West Morris 10, Belleville 0

Today's 1st round sectional game vs. Warren Hills has been postponed due to weather. New game date is Wednesday May 23^rd at 3:45pm.

GMC 2nd Round vs Middlesex

Middlesex-5, South Plainfield-0
The Tigers will now look towards the NJ State Sectional Tournament beginning Monday as we host Warren Hills at 4pm.

NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 2
GROUP 3
16-Ferris at 1-Cranford
9-Scotch Plains-Fanwood at 8-Barringer
12-Morristown at 5-Nutley
13-Warren Hills at 4-South Plainfield
14-Parsippany Hills at 3-Millburn
11-Chatham at 6-Mendham
10-Somerville at 7-Iselin Kennedy
15-Belleville at 2-West Morris

Click on bracket to enlarge

South Plainfield's Tigers roaring at just the right time

Greg Tufaro
Just as it did a year ago, the South Plainfield High School baseball team, which advanced last spring to the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament final, is peaking at the right time.
The Tigers enter today’s 2 p.m. GMCT quarterfinal against Middlesex with a nine-game winning streak.
Other quarterfinal contests pit Sayreville against Edison and St. Joseph against Dunellen at 11 a.m. The fourth quarterfinal is between Monroe and Perth Amboy at 2 p.m.
All quarterfinals are at North Brunswick’s Community Park.
South Plainfield dropped a 5-1 decision to Middlesex in an April 28 regular-season meeting. The Tigers have been rolling since.
“Baseball is a game of momentum,” Middlesex coach Mike O’Donnell said, “so obviously they have some momentum.”
Junior lefthander Kris Fellin pitched the first game against South Plainfield, throwing a mere 60 pitches.
“They were getting themselves out early in the count sometimes,” O’Donnell said of South Plainfield’s hitters. “It’s going to be a different situation (today) because he’s unable to pitch anyway.”
Tommy Marcinczyk will likely start for Middlesex today.

Game #24 at Edison
SOUTH PLAINFIELD 5, EDISON 2: Mark Tomei finished a homer shy of the cycle with two RBI for South Plainfield (17-7). Torre Manfre went 3-for-3 for Edison (14-11).

GMC TOP 10
1. Sayreville 20-1
2. Middlesex 21-2
3. Perth Amboy 18-4
4. St. Joseph 16-8
5. South Plainfield 17-7 
6. Dunellen 20-2
7. Monroe 13-8
8. Edison 13-10
9. Metuchen 16-5
10. South Brunswick 15-7

GMC Tourney 1st Round

Staff Report
SOUTH PLAINFIELD 3, NORTH BRUNSWICK 2: Sophomore A.J. Celentano’s two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the seventh lifted sixth-seeded South Plainfield into a Saturday quarterfinal matchup with third-seeded Middlesex. Stephen Petriello, who was intentionally walked, moving Taylor Born and the winning run to second, walked three times and had a hit. South Plainfield is 17-7.

Saturday - Quarterfinals
At Community Park, North Brunswick
11 a.m.
(9) Edison vs. (1) Sayreville, Field 2
(5) Dunellen vs. (4) St. Joe's, Field 1
2 p.m.
(10) Monroe vs. (2) Perth Amboy, Field 2
(6) South Plaifield vs. (3) Middlesex, Field 1

By John Haley/For The Star-Ledger 

South Plainfield 3, North Brunswick 2

South Plainfield, which had lost to North Brunswick twice during the season, looked like it would fall for a third time and it looked as though an eight-game winning streak would come to an end.
But in you believe in baseball Gods, then they were on the Tigers' side in this one.
Here's how close they came to losing:
Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh, South Plainfield had a man on first with two outs and an 0-2 count on Taylor Born.
But Born managed to single just in front of the center-fielder to put runners on first and third to keep the inning alive.
When Stephen Petriello had a 3-0 count on him, North Brunswick decided to intentionally walk him, putting the winning run on second base.
On the first pitch thrown to him, A.J. Celantano hit a line drive to center. The center-fielder made a dive for the ball, according to South Plainfield coach Anthony Guida, but he could only get his glove on it as it dropped in for the game-winning hit as two runs scored.
Wow!

STATE TOURNAMENT PAIRINGS
The NJSIAA Thursday announced the pairings for the state baseball tournament that will begin Monday. Games will be played at the sites of the higher-seeded teams. Seedings precede the teams.
The six state championship games -- four public school groups and two non-public groups -- will be played Saturday, June 9.

NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 2

GROUP 3
16-Ferris at 1-Cranford
9-Scotch Plains-Fanwood at 8-Barringer
12-Morristown at 5-Nutley
13-Warren Hills at 4-South Plainfield
14-Parsippany Hills at 3-Millburn
11-Chatham at 6-Mendham
10-Somerville at 7-Iselin Kennedy
15-Belleville at 2-West Morris

Game #23 at Indian Hills

Staff Report
SOUTH PLAINFIELD 4, INDIAN HILLS 3 (8 inn.): Pat Boyle drove in the winning run with a single to right center to score Chris Kukuch and picked up the win with four innings of relief. Mark Tomei went 2-for-4 with an RBI triple in the third to drive in the game’s first run for the Tigers (16-7).

THURSDAY'S SCHEDULE
GREATER MIDDLESEX CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
FIRST ROUND
East Brunswick at Sayreville, 3:45
Edison at Iselin Kennedy, 3:45
Old Bridge at Dunellen, 3:45
Metuchen at St. Joseph, 3:45
Bishop Ahr at Middlesex, 3:45
North Brunswick at South Plainfield, 3:45
Monroe at South Brunswick, 3:45
J.P. Stevens at Perth Amboy, 3:45

Saturday - Quarterfinals
At Community Park, North Brunswick
2 games at 11
2 games at 2

Tuesday, May 22 - Semifinals
At East Brunswick
Games at 4 and 7

Saturday, May 26 - Finals
At East Brunswick Tech, 1 p.m.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY: GMC Tournament pushed back

By John Haley/For The Star-Ledger 
With Metuchen not playing Piscataway on Monday, coupled with anticipated rain on Tuesday, the GMC Tournament has been pushed back.

TEAMS TO WATCH
South Plainfield, 3-5 at one point this season, is now 15-7 with a seven-game winning streak. The Tigers have outscored their opponents, 61-15, during the streak.
Mark Tomei, The Star-Ledger’s reigning Middlesex County Player of the Year and an All-State pick last spring, entered the season with over 100 career hits. He is making things happen in the leadoff spot and everyone else throughout the lineup is contributing, including Stephen Petriello, Taylor Born, Quinn Cochrane, A.J. Celantano and Ryan Marcoux.

GAMES TO WATCH
The Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament is in full swing with the first round Tuesday at the higher seed, the quarterfinals scheduled for Thursday at Community Park in North Brunswick and the semifinals Saturday at East Brunswick Tech.
The teams with the deepest pitching staffs will have the advantage since three rounds of games will have taken place in four days since the preliminary round was scheduled for yesterday.
The championship game will take place Wednesday, May 23, at East Brunswick at 7 p.m.

Thursday
First Round
(All games at 3:45)
(16) East Brunswick at (1) Sayreville
(18) J.P. Stevens at (2) Perth Amboy
(19) Bishop Ahr at (3) Middlesex
(12) Old Bridge at (5) Dunellen
(11) North Brunswick at (6) South Plainfield
(10) Monroe at (7) South Brunswick
(9) Edison at (8) Kennedy
Metuchen-Piscataway winner at (4) St. Joe's

MIDDLESEX COUNTY STAT LEADERS
For games reported to njschoolsports.com through May 13:
EXTRA-BASE HITS
Player, School, 2B-3B-HR-Total
Jeff  Puckett, Dunellen, 12-2-3-17
Chris Petiya, Middlesex, 5-1-10-16
Christian  Campbell, Sayreville, 7-5-4-16
Casey Wenzel, Dunellen, 12-1-1-14
Anthony Brocato, Rutgers Prep, 8-2-3-13
Jose Hernandez, Perth Amboy, 7-4-2-13
Stephen  Petriello, South Plainfield, 9-1-2-12
Nick Muha, South Brunswick, 5-4-3-12
Mark  Tomei, South Plainfield, 5-4-3-12

MIDDLESEX COUNTY TOP 10
1-Sayreville (19-1)
2-Perth Amboy (17-4)
3-Middlesex (21-2)
4-St. Joseph (15-8)
5-South Plainfield (14-7)
6-South Brunswick (15-6)
7-Dunellen (18-2)
8-Iselin Kennedy (11-7)
9-Monroe (11-8)
10-Edison 12-10

Alumni Update - Brandon Downes ('11)

Brandon Downes rounds 3rd after hitting his first career collegiate home run.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Brandon Downes (Fr., South Plainfield, N.J.) singled home Jared King (R-Jr., Radford, Va.) with one out in the eighth inning to lift the No. 21 Virginia baseball team to a 6-5 win over Georgia Tech Friday night in the opener of a three-game series at Davenport Field. Virginia (33-14-1, 15-10 ACC) notched its ninth-consecutive win, including its sixth straight in ACC play, and in doing so clinched a berth in the ACC Baseball Championship, slated for May 23-27 in Greensboro, N.C.
Downes led off the Cavaliers' half of the second with his first career home run, a long ball over the left-center field wall.
The Cavaliers moved ahead in the eighth. Fisher hit a high fly to lead off which dropped in between the left and center fielder and shortstop, with Fisher hustling all the way for a double. King then reached when Dove booted a hard grounder to third base, which allowed Fisher to move to third. Colin Harrington (R-So., Johnstown, Pa.) laid down a bunt in front of the plate, but Cruz made a nice play to scoop up the ball and tag Fisher before he touched the plate for the first out. Downes followed with a solid single to left, scoring King from second to give Virginia the lead once again.

Game #22 vs Briarcliff, NY at Staten Island

SOUTH PLAINFIELD 8, BRIARCLIFF 7 (8 inn.): Quinn Cochrane went 2-for-2 with a double, an RBI and a run for the Tigers in a game played Saturday night at Staten Island Yankees Stadium. Chris Kukuch contributed with two hits, a run and an RBI. Right fielder Patrick Boyle ended the game with a double play, throwing a runner out at home after making a catch. The Tigers have won seven straight.

Game #21 vs Metuchen

Metuchen (1) at South Plainfield (11)

Taylor Born (3) of South Plainfield steals second, beating the tag of Metuchen's Stephen Fortuna (13) during South Plainfield's 11-1 victory on Friday. - (Noah K. Murray/The Star-Ledger)

Ryan Marcoux (9, right) of South Plainfield is congratulated by teammate Taylor Born after scoring a run during their team's 11-1 victory over Metuchen on Friday. - (Noah K. Murray/The Star-Ledger)

Mark Tomei (32) of South Plainfield receives high fives from teammates after scoring against Metuchen at Frank Jost Field. South Plainfield, NJ 5/11/12 (Noah K. Murray -The Star Ledger)

Mike Hronich (21) of Metuchen runs into the tag of Ryan Marcoux (9) of South Plainfield during baseball game at Frank Jost Field. South Plainfield, NJ 5/11/12 (Noah K. Murray -The Star Ledger)  

John Haley, May 11, 2012 7:33 p.m.

Judging by its performance in a Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament tune-up with Metuchen, South Plainfield is a well-oiled machine. South Plainfield recorded an 11-1 triumph and raised its record from 3-5 at one point to 14-7 with its sixth straight victory on Friday in South Plainfield.
South Plainfield, which belted out 14 hits, including four doubles, has outscored its opponents 53-8 during its win streak.
Nine players had at least one hit, eight players had at least one RBI, and seven players scored at least one run in a total team effort. Pitcher Tim O’Leary made his first start a memorable one as he tamed a hot-hitting Metuchen team on two hits with two strikeouts, two walks, and a hit batter.
Stephen Petriello and A.J. Celantano led the barrage with two hits and two RBI each, while Taylor Born, Justin Marks, and Ryan Marcoux all had two hits.
“We’re finally playing the game the way it’s supposed to be played,’’ said South Plainfield head coach Anthony Guida. “We’re pitching, we’re catching the ball, we’re hitting and doing all the little things like running the bases. We’re playing a complete game right now, which is what you want to do this time of the season.’’
South Plainfield scored single runs in the first and second innings and led, 2-1, before breaking things open with four runs in the third and four more in the fourth to claim a 10-1 lead.
In the third, after an out, a hit by pitch, and a bloop single by Pat Boyle, South Plainfield scored on RBI singles by Marks and Marcoux, a sacrifice fly by Jeff Pellegrino, and an RBI single by Sal Esposito, the No. 9 batter.
In the fourth, a two-run single broke things open by Celantano, who was the first batter to face Metuchen ace Stephen Fortuna, who pitched two innings of relief (five hits, two runs).
“We hit from up and down in the order,’’ said Guida. “And Tim pitched great. He had pitched a handful of innings in relief, so he was nervous, especially against a good hitting team. They hit some shots, but right at people, and we made the plays.’’

Staff Report
SOUTH PLAINFIELD 11, METUCHEN 1 (5 inn.): Tim O’Leary finished with two strikeouts, one earned run while allowing two hits to lead the Tigers over the Bulldogs.
Justin Marks had a double and an RBI for South Plainfield while Jon Petrakakos had an RBI double for Metuchen.

Game #20 at Neptune

Tomei's homers help South Plainfield roll past Neptune

Staff Report

Senior Mark Tomei clubbed two homers, a two-run shot and a solo blast, and the South Plainfield High School baseball team pummeled Neptune 10-0 in five innings on Thursday.
Justin Marks went 3-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI to help the Tigers (13-7).
Junior lefthander Pat Boyle hurled a complete game one-hitter, allowing a double in the fifth inning.

South Plainfield Getting Big Time Experience

Posted on May 9, 2012 by Harry Frezza
South Plainfield will play Briarcliff (N.Y) Saturday night at Richmond County Stadium in Staten Island. Game time is 7 p.m.
Coach Anthony Guida said the trip is being footed by the South Plainfield youth league and director Mike Pellegrino.

Alumni News - Mark Benak ('10)

2012 NEW JERSEY COLLEGIATE BASEBALL ASSOCIATION DIVISION II/III 

JERSEY CITY, NJ – Rowan University third baseman Mark Benak (Soph. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) received All-State second team honors. Benak has a .353 batting average with 22 runs scored, 20 RBIs and six doubles.  He has a .421 on-base percentage.  Last season, he collected NJCBA All-Rookie Team honors.

Game #19 vs Monroe

Staff Report
SOUTH PLAINFIELD 5, MONROE 4: The Tigers rallied for four runs in the home seventh. After Stephen Petriello’s RBI single made the score 4-2, South Plainfield loaded the bases. An infield throwing error allowed two runs to cross before Nick Kukuch delivered a walk-off single. Taylor Born and A.J. Celentano each went 2-for-3 for the Tigers (12-7).
Vic Sorrento and Tyler Paquette (double and RBI) each went 3-for-4 for the Falcons (10-8). Mark Tomei leaped three feet over the right-center field fence to rob Frank D’Agostino of a homer in the top of the seventh.

                           FINAL

GMC STANDINGS - WHITE DIVISION
Place	Team	Win	Loss
1	Perth Amboy (16-3)	12	2
2*	South Plainfield (12-7)	10	4
3	JF Kennedy (10-7)	9	5
T4	Monroe (10-8)	8	6
T4	North Brunswick (10-9)	8	6
6	Woodbridge (8-8)	6	7
7	Colonia (3-16)	2	11
8	Carteret (1-19)	0	14

*Strong finish for our boys as they won their last 8 White Division games after a 2-4 start.

Game #18 vs Carteret

Staff Report
SOUTH PLAINFIELD 11, CARTERET 1 (5 inn.): Tommy Bowden allowed one hit and struck out five for the Tigers and Patrick Boyle drove in three runs while going 2-for-3. Justin Marks went 2-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI and Mark Tomei scored three runs while going 2-for-4 for South Plainfield (11-7). Erik Fruscella singled for the lone Ramblers’ (2-18) hit.

John Haley, For The Star Ledger
South Plainfield 11, Carteret 1: Tommy Bowden gave up one hit over five and Patrick Boyle drove in 3.

GMC STANDINGS - WHITE DIVISION
Place	Team	Win	Loss
1	Perth Amboy (16-3)	12	2
2	South Plainfield (11-7)	9	4
3	JF Kennedy (10-7)	9	5
4	Monroe (10-7)	8	5
5	North Brunswick (10-9)	8	6
6	Woodbridge (8-8)	6	7
7	Colonia (3-16)	2	11
8	Carteret (1-19)	0	14

MIDDLESEX COUNTY TOP 10
1-Sayreville (15-1)
2-Middlesex (19-1)
3-Perth Amboy (15-3)
4-St. Joseph (Met.) (13-7)
5-South Brunswick (12-5)
6-South Plainfield (10-7)
7-Dunellen (16-2)
8-Monroe (10-7)
9-Iselin Kennedy (9-7)
10-Edison (11-9)

Kean Claims 2012 NJAC Baseball Championship

Union, N.J. (5/6/12) – Junior Kevin Herget pitched a gritty eight inning performance to help the #11/14 Kean University baseball team to their third straight New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament Championship on Sunday afternoon as the Cougars topped Ramapo College, 3-0.
With the win, Kean (31-10) advances to the NCAA Division III Baseball Tournament, slated to begin on Wednesday, May 16th.  It will be the seventh straight season the Cougars have advanced to the regional tournament.

South Plainfield Tiger alum Dan Hansen ('11) enjoyed a fine Freshman season as he pitched 15 1/3 innings with a 2-0 record and a 3.52 ERA. Congratulations on being a part of a championship season at Kean!

Game #17 at Carteret

Staff Report

SOUTH PLAINFIELD 11, CARTERET 1: Ryan Hughes pitched the first four innings, allowing no runs and just one hit. Senior catcher Stephen Petriello had three doubles, two RBI and scored two runs. Sophomore Isaaiah Northington had a RBI single in a losing effort for Carteret (2-17).

Tigers roar for cause

Greg Tufaro

South Plainfield raised nearly $600 for the Teamwork Unlimited Foundation, which is a beneficiary of the GMC Autism Awareness Challenge involving 16 league members who competed in last weekend’s showcase.

Baseball players went to home rooms throughout the high school to heighten autism awareness and encourage students to donate to the cause.

“What I like is it gives the kids a sense of community,” South Plainfield coach Anthony Guida said.

GMC STANDINGS - WHITE DIVISION*
Place	Team	Win	Loss
1	Perth Amboy (15-3)	12	2
2	North Brunswick (11-8)	9	5
3	South Plainfield (10-7)	8	4
T4	Monroe (10-7)	8	5
T4	JF Kennedy (9-7)	8	5
6	Woodbridge (7-7)	5	6
7	Colonia (2-15)	2	13
8	Carteret (2-17)	0	13

*thru 5/5

Rankings

as of May 1
THE STAR-LEDGER BASEBALL TOP 20
1-Jackson (12-1)
2-Gloucester Catholic (13-2)
3-Seton Hall Prep (14-1)
4-Immaculata (13-0)
5-Washington Twp. (13-0)
6-Red Bank Catholic (10-2)
7-Don Bosco Prep (13-3)
8-St. Joseph (Mont.) (15-2)
9-Wall (11-2)
10-Steinert (14-2)
11-Gov. Livingston (12-3)
12-Cranford (11-2)
13-Toms River South (11-2)
14-Montclair (10-2)
15-Audubon (12-2)
16-Middlesex (15-0)
17-Sayreville (13-1)
18-Jackson Liberty (9-2)
19-Paramus (12-2)
20-Millville (10-3)

GROUP 3
1-Wall (11-2)
2-Cranford (11-2)
3-Jackson Liberty (9-2)
4-Paramus (12-2)
5-West Morris (11-3)
6-Hammonton (10-2)
7-Indian Hills (11-4)
8-West Milford (10-3)
9-Hamilton (12-3)
10-Millburn (9-4)

MIDDLESEX
1-Middlesex (15-0)
2-Sayreville (13-1)
3-South Brunswick (11-4)
4-Perth Amboy (12-3)
5-St. Joseph (Met.) (11-6)
6-Monroe (9-5)
7-North Brunswick (10-5)
8-South Plainfield (8-7)
9-Metuchen (10-3)
10-Woodbridge (7-7)

Today's game vs. Monroe has been postponed due to weather. New game date is Tuesday May 8th.

Game #16 at Monroe

Staff Report
SOUTH PLAINFIELD 5, MONROE 1: Winning pitcher A.J. Celentano allowed a run on five hits while striking out seven in a complete-game win. Stephen Petriello went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI for South Plainfield (9-7). Dan Marsh (4-1) tossed his fifth straight complete game, allowing four runs on eight hits and striking out six for Monroe (9-6).

GMC STANDINGS - WHITE DIVISION
Place	Team	Win	Loss
1	Perth Amboy (13-3)	10	2
2	North Brunswick (10-6)	8	3
3	South Plainfield (9-7)*	7	4
T4	Monroe (9-6)	7	4
T4	JF Kennedy (8-6)	7	4
6	Woodbridge (7-8)	5	7
7	Colonia (3-13)	2	10
8	Carteret (1-16)	0	12

*own tie-breakers over Monroe & JFK