Game # 30 South Plainfield 4 Cranford 2 (8 Innings) State Sectional Championship

South Plainfield (4) at Cranford (2), NJSIAA Tournament, Final Round, North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 - Baseball

By The Star Ledger
on May 29, 2015 9:28 PM

Richard Greco | For NJ Advance Media

CRANFORD -- There is something about playing with its back against the wall that brings the best out of South Plainfield.

After being held scoreless through the first six innings, the third-seeded Tigers rallied to score two runs in the top of the seventh to force extra innings and scored two more in the top of the eighth.

With two runs in hand, Jake Alba closed the door with a perfect bottom of the eighth to lead South Plainfield over top-seeded Cranford, 4-2, in the championship game of the NJSIAA/Star-Ledger/Parisi North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 tournament on Friday at Memorial Field.

South Plainfield advances to face Mount Olive, a 3-2 winner over River Dell in the the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 3 final, on Tuesday at Kean University in Union.

"We've always been that team that comes back late," Kyle Dickerson, who scored the game-winning run, said. "We are never out of the game. That's just been our team motto. It keeps us in the game. It keeps us knowing that we're always going to be in the game. It keeps us knowing that we're always going to be competing with the other team."

The Tigers' late rally started when catcher Chris Marrero walked to start the top of the seventh. A single from Dickerson, who finished the day one for three with two runs, advanced him to second base and he scored when Cranford error on a sacrifice bunt from L.J. Scarpitto, who had a hit, a run scored and two RBI.

Scarpitto was safe at first and Dickerson advanced to third, where a single from Bryan Gillen, who had two hits, allowed him to score to tie the game at 2-2.

It was Scarpitto and Dickerson again in the eighth that propelled South Plainfield. With two outs Dickerson walked, stole second and advance to third on a wild pitch to be singled home by Scarpitto. Following his teammates' footsteps, Scarpitto stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and came home on a passed ball to put South Plainfield ahead, 4-2.
"It was frustrating for a little bit," Scarpitto said. "We just stayed even keeled. We know how we can play and we knew sooner or later we were going to get some runs."

A two run lead was all that Alba needed. He allowed one hit in four innings of work, striking out four in the process. The bottom of the eight was his with some help from shortstop Nick Polizzano, who recorded the first two outs on grounders and caught a pop up to solidify South Plainfield's sectional championship.

"In the bottom of the eighth inning, with that lead, there were some questions as if I was going to go back in," said Alba, who came in relief for stater Vincent Pellegrino in the fifth inning. "There was no doubt that I was going to go back in. I talked to both coaches and I think they knew that I wanted it as much as anybody else on this team."

Cranford got to work early on South Plainfield and jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Patrick Knight singled in Garrett Forrestal in the top of bottom of the first. The Cougars extended their lead to 2-0 when Mike Smith scored on a pass ball.

Chris Librera started for Cranford, allowing no earned runs on three hits and striking out four through 3 2/3 innings. Knight came on in relief and gave up four runs on three hits and five walks through 4 1/3. He struck out four.

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-4444214407935872744/south-plainfield-4-at-cranford-2-njsiaa-tournament-final-round-north-jersey-section-2-group-3-baseball/

 

Baseball: Late rallies lead South Plainfield’s to first sectional title since 1975

Harry Frezza, @thefrez56 
8:26 p.m. EDT May 29, 2015

CRANFORD – Few baseball programs in the state can match what Cranford High School has done. That resume -- highlighting Union County, division, sectional and state titles -- is posted clearly on blue and gold banners on the outfield fences and behind home plate at Memorial Field.

As a South Plainfield booster remarked Friday afternoon as the North 2 Group III final progressed between the Tigers and Cougars, the place can be intimidating for visiting teams.

But third-seeded South Plainfield (22-8) never allowed any of it to distract it from the manner at hand and the focus resulted in a dramatic 4-2, eight-inning victory. The Tigers won their second sectional title and first since 1975. South Plainfield also spoiled the Cougars (21-5) quest to win a program-best fourth straight section title. The Tigers will play North 1 champ Mount Olive in a state semifinal Tuesday at Kean University where the boys’ soccer team won the program’s first state title last fall.

Two runs in the seventh and two more in the eighth gave the Tigers the winning runs. Designated hitter Kyle Dickerson, who scored the tying run in the seventh, scored the go-ahead run on an infield error in the eighth with two outs.

“It was a heckuva effort,’’ said South Plainfield coach Tony Guida, whose team lost a sectional final to Cranford on the same diamond two years ago. “Cranford is a team that doesn’t make many mistakes. They are a powerhouse for a reason. They hit the ball, are a very well coached team, and to win a sectional title here....’’’

Cranford ace lefty and Rutgers commit Pat Knight got two groundouts to start the eighth. But Dickerson walked, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. He then scored the go-ahead run when LJ Scarpetto’s grounder was booted. Scarpetto came home on a wild pitch, making it 4-2 with a head first slide.

The Cougars had a 2-0 lead in the seventh, just three outs from a fourth straight title. South Plainfield catcher and No. 9 batter Chris Marrero worked a leadoff walk. Guida then sent in pinch runner Jake Hoffman. Dickerson followed with a bunt single with Hoffman moving to second. That was followed by LJ Scarpetto’s bunt that was thrown past first baseman Albert Gargiulo, allowing Hoffman to score to make it 2-1. Dickerson scored on Brian Gillen’s sharp single to left.

“I felt we needed to put some runners in the motion, I was hoping somebody would throw it away, and we got that in the seventh,’’ said Guida.

Two starting players on South Plainfield’s first-ever soccer state title last fall, played big roles.Junior righty Jake Alba, a starting defender last fall, pitched four scoreless innings and got the win in relief of Vin Pellegrino. Junior shortstop Nick Polizzano, who scored the Tigers’ first goal in a 4-3 victory over Princeton last fall in the state Group III final win, led an outstanding Tigers’ defense. In the bottom of the seventh with two outs and two runners going, Sophomore Ryan Bakie hit a grounder that Polizzano had to short hop. He made the throw to first and the Tigers had an eighth inning.

“I have been playing baseball my whole life, and that’s just gut instinct for me, I saw the huge hope, I knew I was going to get a short hop, but I knew it would be right there in my glove,’’ said Polizzano. “I had no other play. If I had stayed back on it I wouldn’t have made the play, I promise you that.’’

Alba kept the game in reach. Cranford led 1-0 and looked ready to extend the lead as Mike Smith led off the fifth with a single and Liam Duffy followed with a double to left. Guida brought in Alba. Smith scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-0, but Alba struck out the No. 1 and 2 batters in the Cougar order, using a very good curveball. He ended the inning by getting Knight on a groundout to second.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to get outs,’’ said Alba. “Team work makes it. We never had any doubts.’’

“Jake wants the ball, we thought about Polizzano, he won a state title in soccer and I really felt comforable with him on the mound and I knew he’d get the job done for us,’’ said Guida’

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/high-school/2015/05/29/baseball-late-rallies-lead-south-plainfields-first-sectional-title-since/28186895/