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When Mike Anastasio convened his Old Bridge baseball team in early March, he asked them to write down their goals for the season.
One goal was universal.
"We wanted to put a banner in our gym," Anastasio said, noting there are no banners celebrating titles won by the baseball team on walls filled with banners for other sports. "We've got a chance of doing so so we're all geared up."
Old Bridge (17-10) will attempt to secure a banner emblematic of the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament championship Wednesday night at 7 in East Brunswick when it takes on South Plainfield (21-7), winner of 12 in a row heading into Tuesday's state tournament game against Mendham.
Old Bridge's quest for a state title was derailed by Hillsborough last week so this is its last chance to decorate the gym walls.
Anastasio got his first look at South Plainfield, which is ranked No. 20 in The Star-Ledger Top 20, when it erupted for seven runs in the sixth inning to finally subdue Perth Amboy, 11-5, in the second semifinal last Saturday, after Old Bridge relied on small ball to defeat St. Joseph of Metuchen, 6-1.
"I had heard all year that they have some good hitters," Anastasio said. "It's one thing to hear about but when you see it, wow. They swing the bat, it's pretty incredible."
When asked to compare the teams South Plainfield coach Anthony Guida referred to an old adage.
"Good pitching usually beats good hitting," Guida said. "They can pitch. We know we have our work cut out for us."
Anastasio doesn't necessarily feel that that adage is appropriate here.
"I may be biased but I think our pitching is better than good," Anastasio said. "And I think their hitting is a lot better than good."
Anastasio plans on starting Rutgers-bound senior Jon Young (8-2, 1.77) to tame a South Plainfield attack that is heating up at the right time. Young is batting .373, second on the team behind Vin Dacunto (.377), leads with four home runs and shares the RBI lead with Alejandro Diaz at 17.
South Plainfield boats five players with 20 or more RBI and each of them has been on fire lately. Dan Hansen had the first two-home run game of his career in Saturday's semifinals, Brandon Downes and Stephen Petriello have been on a tear at the 3-4 slots and lead-off hitter Mark Tomei is batting .505 with 56 hits, including 20 doubles, five triples and eight home runs.
"They mash. What we do, you can't call mashing," Anastasio said. "It's the slugger vs. the fighter. Those guys can knock you out, we're going to have to peck away."
One goal was universal.
"We wanted to put a banner in our gym," Anastasio said, noting there are no banners celebrating titles won by the baseball team on walls filled with banners for other sports. "We've got a chance of doing so so we're all geared up."
Old Bridge (17-10) will attempt to secure a banner emblematic of the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament championship Wednesday night at 7 in East Brunswick when it takes on South Plainfield (21-7), winner of 12 in a row heading into Tuesday's state tournament game against Mendham.
Old Bridge's quest for a state title was derailed by Hillsborough last week so this is its last chance to decorate the gym walls.
Anastasio got his first look at South Plainfield, which is ranked No. 20 in The Star-Ledger Top 20, when it erupted for seven runs in the sixth inning to finally subdue Perth Amboy, 11-5, in the second semifinal last Saturday, after Old Bridge relied on small ball to defeat St. Joseph of Metuchen, 6-1.
"I had heard all year that they have some good hitters," Anastasio said. "It's one thing to hear about but when you see it, wow. They swing the bat, it's pretty incredible."
When asked to compare the teams South Plainfield coach Anthony Guida referred to an old adage.
"Good pitching usually beats good hitting," Guida said. "They can pitch. We know we have our work cut out for us."
Anastasio doesn't necessarily feel that that adage is appropriate here.
"I may be biased but I think our pitching is better than good," Anastasio said. "And I think their hitting is a lot better than good."
Anastasio plans on starting Rutgers-bound senior Jon Young (8-2, 1.77) to tame a South Plainfield attack that is heating up at the right time. Young is batting .373, second on the team behind Vin Dacunto (.377), leads with four home runs and shares the RBI lead with Alejandro Diaz at 17.
South Plainfield boats five players with 20 or more RBI and each of them has been on fire lately. Dan Hansen had the first two-home run game of his career in Saturday's semifinals, Brandon Downes and Stephen Petriello have been on a tear at the 3-4 slots and lead-off hitter Mark Tomei is batting .505 with 56 hits, including 20 doubles, five triples and eight home runs.
"They mash. What we do, you can't call mashing," Anastasio said. "It's the slugger vs. the fighter. Those guys can knock you out, we're going to have to peck away."
THE STAR-LEDGER TOP 20
1-Don Bosco Prep (25-0)
2-Gloucester Catholic (26-2)
3-Red Bank Catholic (23-2)
4-Manalapan (25-2)
5-Jackson (20-3)
6-St. Augustine (22-3)
7-Westfield (22-4)
8-Seton Hall Prep (20-5)
9-Pope John (21-4-1)
10-Ramapo (21-5)
11-Millburn (22-5)
12-West Essex (19-2)
13-Gov. Livingston (22-6)
14-Voorhees (17-3)
15-Steinert (23-3)
16-Robbinsville (23-3)
17-Cranford (20-5)
18-Brick (20-4)
19-Hackettstown (19-1)
20-South Plainfield (20-7)
http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-8514885323479066793/a-look-at-the-state-baseball-tournament-don-bosco-prep-still-atop-top-20/
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