Game # 24 Old Bridge 3 South Plainfield 2

 

By The Star Ledger
on May 17, 2017 11:03 PM

Joe Papeo allowed two earned runs on eight hits with eight strikeouts and four walks over 7 1/3 innings for 12th-seeded Old Bridge in its 3-2 extra-inning victory over fourth-seeded South Plainfield in the quarterfinal round of the Greater Middlesex Tournament in North Brunswick.

Jalen Hernandez hit a solo home run for Old Bridge, which led 2-0 after six innings. Rob Laconti added a hit and a run scored in the victory.

Mike Stanczak drove in two runs for South Plainfield. Billy Keane had two hits and allowed two earned runs on three hits with seven strikeouts and one walk over seven innings. Old Bridge will play the winner of top-seeded St. Joseph (Met.)and ninth-seeded Colonia in the semifinals Saturday at TD Bank Park. 

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-8113588378776405255/old-bridge-3-at-south-plainfield-2-greater-middlesex-conference-tournament-quarterfinal-round-baseball/

 

Greg Tufaro ,
@GregTufaro
Published 6:23 p.m. ET May 17, 2017
 
Old Bridge 3, South Plainfield 2

Winning pitcher Joe Papeo snapped a 2-2 deadlock with a two-out RBI single in the top of the eighth and Connor Freel recorded the final two outs for a save as the 12th-seeded Knights advanced to the semifinals with a quarterfinal round victory over the fourth-seeded Tigers.

Papeo's game-winning hit came off South Plainfield reliever Roberto Gonzalez.

South Plainfield’s Mike Stanczak belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings. His blast scored Connor Adams, who led off the inning with a single. Papeo bounced back to fan the next two batters.

In the top of the eighth, TJ Angstadt legged out an infield single. He was forced at second on a failed sacrifice attempt. After Ryan Perez popped out to first, Rob Dacunto was hit by a pitch. Papeo followed with his clutch RBI single.

After Jean Sapini doubled with two away in the home eighth, Freel retired the No. 9 batter to preserve the victory.

Old Bridge took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on Jalen Hernandez’s leadoff home run. The Knights built a 2-0 advantage in the top of the sixth when Perez, who reached on an error, scored from first on Rob Dacunto’s single, which the outfielder misplayed.

Papeo scattered eight hits, walked four, fanned nine and allowed two earned runs over seven and a third innings.

South Plainfield’s Billy Keane pitched seven innings. He allowed four hits and three runs (two earned). He fanned seven and walked one.

Old Bridge will play top-seeded St. Joseph in the semifinals.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2017/05/17/gmc-baseball-tournament-quarterfinals-coverage/101792004/