Game # 31 South Plainfield 3 Mt. Olive 1

 

South Plainfield (3) at Mount Olive (1), NJSIAA Group Tournament, Semifinal Round, Group 3 - Baseball

By The Star Ledger
on June 03, 2015 7:36 PM
Matt Bove | For NJ Advance Media

UNION -- South Plainfield advanced to the Group 3 state final behind the outstanding pitching of sophomore Jean Sapini as it defeated Mount Olive, 3-1, in the NJSIAA/Star-Ledger/Parisi Group 3 semifinals on Wednesday at Kean University.

Sapini went pitch-for-pitch with Mount Olive's Greg Helminger and managed to keep Mount Olive off the scoreboard, except for one run in the fourth inning. Sapini pitched a five-hitter with four walks and two strikeouts.

"Jean has pitched like that our entire season," said South Plainfield coach Anthony Guida. "He’s been our Saturday pitcher, and now with games a little more spread out he’s been getting the ball more. He’s been throwing with a lot of confidence and the kids play with a lot of confidence behind him. He goes out there and attacks the plate with multiple pitches he can throw for strikes."

"My changeup was working best for me today," said Sapini. "I didn’t have good control of my fastball and my curve was working a little bit, but I went to my changeup almost every time I needed a big pitch."

South Plainfield will face Northern Burlington for the Group 3 championship on Saturday in Toms River.

Sapini allowed his defense to help him out. Catcher Chris Marrero laid out with a full dive to catch a bunt that was popped up behind him. It was a big out with the tying run on first and one out in the bottom of the sixth inning. Sapini induced nine outs in the air and nine outs on the ground.

"Defense wins championships," said Sapini. "It was just great knowing my defense would make every play and I never doubted them."

"You want a pitcher who can pound the strike zone," said Guida. "You can’t be expecting him to strike everybody out. When you have a solid defense behind you, especially with the seniors in our infield, it’s a comforting feeling for our pitchers to be able to throw strikes, throw the ball where it’s supposed to be pitched and let them swing the bat. We have pitchers who like to pitch to contact. Jean allowed them to hit the ball and thankfully they hit them right at us and we were able to make the plays."

Even though Sapini didn't get many strikeouts, perhaps his biggest out of the game came on one. He struck out Mount Olive cleanup hitter Brandon Boyle with the tying run on second and two outs in the bottom of the fifth.

"I just knew I had to get that out, said Sapini. "It was a 3-2 count and I had enough confidence to go with a curve to be able to get it."

Shortstop Nick Polizzano led the way for South Plainfield offensively with three singles and two RBI. He drove in Bryan Gillen on a single between short and third in the top of the fifth to make it 2-1. He added another RBI single for an insurance run in the top of the seventh.

South Plainfield's first run came on a suicide squeeze bunt by center fielder Jack Gillis in the top of the fourth. It came after a failed suicide squeeze by Mount Olive in the previous inning.

"Their pitcher was throwing real well and was getting a lot of first-pitch strikes," said Guida. "I decided to take a chance with a runner on third and less than two outs to get the bunt down, and once we did that I felt pretty good that we would score."

Mount Olive scored its lone run to tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth as Helmlinger doubled to drive in Chris Grillo. Helmlinger went six innings on the mound, allowing two runs on seven hits with one walks and no strikeouts.

South Plainfield next will face Northern Burlington, No. 7 in the NJ.com Top 20.

"Being able to advance to the championship game is amazing," said Sapini. "I’m only a sophomore, so all of this is new to me. It’s just a great feeling for me and my team."

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-2444201407914872748/south-plainfield-3-at-mount-olive-1-njsiaa-group-tournament-semifinal-round-group-3-baseball/

South Plainfield baseball bests Mount Olive, advances to first Group 3 final

Daniel LoGiudice, @danny_logiudice
6:40 p.m. EDT June 3, 2015

UNION – It was the underappreciated aspects of the game, pitching and defense, which helped the South Plainfield baseball team to a semifinal win on Wednesday afternoon.

South Plainfield defeated Mount Olive 3-1 in the Group 3 semifinal at Kean University. The Tigers (23-8) will play Northern Burlington in the final on Saturday, marking their first appearance in the state final.

“It’s a wonderful feeling,” South Plainfield coach Tony Guida said. “The kids are pumped for it.”

Sophomore Jean Sapini pitched a great game for the Tigers, pitching a complete game with five hits, one run, four walks and two strikeouts.

“My curveball was ok and I was losing control with my fastball, but my changeup helped me get through that game,” Sapini said. “I worked with my catcher and he helped me through it.”

Sapini pitched to contact and allowed the Marauders (21-11) to put the bat on the ball, but his stellar defense backed him the entire game. They didn’t commit an error and the game was highlighted by a diving catch behind home plate by catcher Chris Marrero on a bunt that was popped up in the sixth inning.

“I let them hit it and I know my defense will make the plays,” Sapini said. “I belive in them out there.”

Mount Olive starter Greg Helmlinger also pitched a solid game, but it just wasn’t enough. He pitched six innings, gave up two runs, one of which was earned, on seven hits and one walk.

The Tigers opened the scoring in the top of the fourth inning on a suicide squeeze bunt from Tommy Dunn. With Helmlinger dominating to that point, Guida felt it was time for the squeeze.

“I felt like we might not have many more opportunities,” Guida said. “With a runner on third, let’s take a chance.”

Mount Olive tied the score in the bottom half of the inning on a RBI double by Helmlinger, but the Tigers responded in the top of the fifth on a RBI single by Nick Polizzano.

The Marauders had a couple opportunities the rest of the way, but Sapini was simply too good and they were unable to get another run across the plate.

“He hit his spots and made big pitches when he had to,” Mount Olive coach Jim McDermott said. “We had a couple guys on a few times, but we didn’t get them in.”

The loss ends Mount Olives’ season, a season in which they won their second consecutive sectional title. The first Marauder team to do so, McDermott is nothing but proud of his team.

“Right now it’s going to hurt a little, but what they’ve done for baseball has never been done before at Mount Olive,” McDermott said. “It speaks to the character and senior leadership we’ve had.”


Staff writer Daniel LoGiudice: dlogiudice@njpressmedia.com

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2015/06/03/south-plainfield-baseball-bests-mount-olive-advances-first-group-final/28438941/