Penny, McCarthy lift South Plainfield by Cranford, into N2G3 semis
By Will Harrigan | For NJ Advance Media
Kevin Penny pitched six innings of one-run ball, powering third-seeded South Plainfield to a 5-2 victory over sixth-seeded Cranford in NJSIAA North 2, Group 3 quarterfinal action in South Plainfield.Now 16-10 on the year, the Tigers will face Millburn in a tough semifinal clash on Tuesday. South Plainfield struck for three in the third to seize control of this one.
Aiden McCarthy singled and drove in two to help spark the South Plainfield offense in this one.
Cranford, finishing at 14-11, had its runs driven in by Adam Kielczynskin and Quinn Smith.
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
R |
H |
E |
|
|
Cranford (14-11) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
South Plainfield (16-10) |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
5 |
7 |
2 |
LP: Gabe Arato
South Plainfield Batting
|
AB |
R |
H |
RBI |
1B |
2B |
3B |
HR |
BB |
HBP |
SB |
AVG |
SLG |
|
|
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
.500 |
.500 |
|
|
4 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.250 |
.250 |
|
|
4 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
.250 |
.250 |
|
|
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
.500 |
.500 |
|
|
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
.000 |
.000 |
|
|
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
.500 |
.500 |
|
|
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.333 |
.333 |
|
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
.000 |
.000 |
|
|
3 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
.000 |
.000 |
|
|
Totals: |
25 |
5 |
7 |
4 |
7 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
.280 |
.280 |
South Plainfield Pitching
|
PIT |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
K |
HB |
ERA |
|
|
Kevin Penny (WP) |
98 |
6 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
6 |
0 |
2.33 |
|
17 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0.00 |
|
|
Totals: |
115 |
7 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
8 |
0 |
2.00 |
TAPinto South Plainfield
South Plainfield Advances Past Cranford, 5-2, in State Tournament
By Guy Kipp
CRANFORD, NJ -- Despite surrendering the homefield advantage less than two hours before game time, the South Plainfield baseball team defeated Cranford, 5-2, to advance in the quarterfinal round of the NJSIAA North 2, Group 3 tournament on Thursday.
The game was scheduled to be played at South Plainfield's home field behind Jost Field. But, after moving the scheduled start time back from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. to allow more time to get the field dried after overnight rain, the decision was made in the afternoon to move the game to Cranford's turf field rather than push the game to Friday and play it in South Plainfield.
But the third-seeded Tigers shrugged off the idea of playing in enemy territory, as Kevin Penny and Jayden Jimenez combined on a two-hitter to lead South Plainfield to a 5-2 victory over sixth-seeded Cranford.
South Plainfield (16-10) will play at second-seeded Millburn on Tuesday in the semifinals.
Penny, a senior left-hander struck out six batters and walked three in six innings. He allowed two runs and only one hit. Jimenez, one of the best closers in Middlesex County and beyond this season, struck out two batters and allowed one hit in a scoreless seventh to earn the save.
South Plainfield took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Leadoff batter Nick Irizarry reached on a two-base error, went to third on Aiden McCarthy's single and scored on Dom Massaro's single. Dan Kapsch's sacrifice fly brought in the second run, and Massaro eventually came home on a passed ball for the third Tiger run.
Cranford (14-11) scored a run in the fourth inning, then South Plainfield scored two in the bottom of the sixth to take a 5-1 lead on a two-out, two-run single by McCarthy.
Jimenez came in to relieve Penny after Penny had issued a walk to a Cranford batter leading off the seventh.
North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3:
Third-seed South Plainfield (16-10) advanced with a 5-2 win over Cranford, played in Cranford instead of at home due to poor field conditions from Wednesday’s rain. The Tigers got three in the third, then gave up a run in the fourth, but picked up two more insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Aiden McCarthy was 1-for-4 with two runs batted in, while Kevin Penny was solid in a six-inning start, allowing just one of two Cranford hits, striking out six in the victory. The Tigers will face second seed Millburn on the road next Tuesday in the semis, after the Millers (14-15) blanked Somerville 1-0 at home. A run in the first was all they would need in the win.
(1) Colonia def. (8) Middletown North, 5-0
(4) North Hunterdon def. (12) Carteret, 3-2
(3) South Plainfield def. (6) Cranford, 5-2
(2) Millburn def. (7) Somerville, 1-0
Baseball Recap: Make It Three in a Row for South Plainfield
Baseball Recap: South Plainfield Tigers vs. Cranford Cougars
Two teams were on the hunt for playoff glory, but only South Plainfield walked away with it. They walked away with a 5-2 victory over the Cranford Cougars on Thursday. The win was nothing new for the Tigers as they're now sitting on three straight.
South Plainfield's victory bumped their record up to 16-9. As for Cranford, their defeat dropped their record down to 14-11.
