Cranford squeezes out win over South Plainfield in North 2 Group III baseball

Written by
Brian Hartnett
Editorial Intern
Jun. 1, 2013 2:34 PM

CRANFORD - A pitcher’s duel turned into a game of small ball in the sixth inning of Friday’s NJSIAA North 2 Group III baseball finals, as top-seeded Cranford used a suicide squeeze play to break a 1-1 tie and emerge with a 5-1 victory over second-seeded South Plainfield.
Cranford (23-1) began the bottom of the sixth with two consecutive singles. Cranford senior pitcher Ryan Williamson then bunted down the third base line, and South Plainfield (23-7) failed to get the forceout at third, which loaded the bases.

Two batters later, Cranford senior catcher Chris Folinusz broke for home, and Cougars senior first baseman Alex Plick put down a bunt, scoring both Folinusz and pinch runner Bobby Bruns after an errant throw to first base.

“I think the book on Cranford is that they’re an excellent small ball team, and they’re going to do a lot of things right, which they proved again today,” South Plainfield coach Anthony Giuda said. “We prided ourselves on our defense all season and unfortunately, when you give a team like Cranford a couple of extra outs, they’re going to capitalize on it.”

The suicide squeeze play put Cranford up 3-1, and the Cougars extended their lead later that inning when junior left fielder Matt Ravitier lined a single to right field to plate two more runners.

South Plainfield went down in four batters in the top of the seventh, and Cranford, the defending Group III champion, earned its third sectional title in four years.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve been here, and we like the fact that we’re playing the best in the section,” Giuda said. “In order to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best, and we hung with them.”

The Tigers scored the game’s first run in the top of the second, as junior catcher Justin Marks lined a single up the middle to score senior left fielder Jeff Pellegrino.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20130601/NJSPORTS0130/306010028/Cranford-squeezes-out-win-over-South-Plainfield-North-2-Group-III-baseball?nclick_check=1