Woodbridge 4, South Plainfield 2: Woodbridge freshman Nick Bradshaw made his first varsity start a memorable one, throwing a complete-game four-hitter. He gave up two runs in the seventh inning. Juan Penas had a homer for Woodbridge, while teammates James Rueb, Kyle Savoia, and Phil Temple all had two hits. South Plainfield’s Patrick Boyle allowed two earned runs on seven hits and a walk. He struck out six. Taylor Born had an RBI double and scored in the seventh for South Plainfield (3-3).

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20130410/NJSPORTS0130/304100073/HNT-baseball-Audett-s-no-hitter-lifts-McCarrick-victory

South Plainfield (2) at Woodbridge (4) - Baseball

Star-Ledger, April 10, 2013 10:16 p.m.

Nick Bradshaw pitched a complete game victory as Woodbridge defeated South Plainfield, 4-2, in Woodbridge.

Bradshaw allowed four hits and three walks with four strikeouts for Woodbridge. Phil Temple was 2-for-3 with two doubles and two runs. James Rueb went 2-for-3 with a run and RBI.

Taylor Born was 1-for-3 with a double, run and RBI for South Plainfield.

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-4146180904618943471/south-plainfield-2-at-woodbridge-4-baseball/



South Plainfield 8, Woodbridge 7: Jeff Pellegrino singled home the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift South Plainfield (3-2). Justin Henriquez scored twice and knocked in a run for Woodbridge (0-4).

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20130409/NJSPORTS0130/304090053/HNT-baseball-South-Brunswick-comes-back-from-7-0-down-wins-8-7-walk-off-home-run-by-Ken-Drost

Woodbridge (7) at South Plainfield (8) - Baseball

Star-Ledger, April 09, 2013 10:56 p.m.

Jeff Pellegrino's RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning pushed South Plainfield past Woodbridge, 8-7, in Woodbridge.

Rob Eggert went 1-for-3 with two RBI for South Plainfield. Nick Muglia had an RBI and three runs scored.

Justin Henriquez hit a solo home run for Woodbridge and scored two runs.

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-4146193904632943410/woodbridge-7-at-south-plainfield-8-baseball/

Indian Hills 6, South Plainfield 1:

 Aidan McDermott collected four hits and one RBI and Rob Eggert had two hits for South Plainfield (2-2).

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20130406/NJSPORTS0130/304060044/Rosa-Throws-One-Hitter-Perth-Amboy?nclick_check=1

Middlesex (13) at South Plainfield (5) - Baseball

 

Written by
Greg Tufaro
@MyCJ_Sports

MIDDLESEX — The problem opponents have when facing the Middlesex High School baseball team is there is almost no way to pitch around its potent lineup.
South Plainfield discovered that the hard way, squandering a sixth-inning lead en route to a 13-5 defeat on Thursday in which the Blue Jays racked up 16 hits, seven of which came when Middlesex batted around in the decisive final frame.
“With this lineup everybody can hit,” said cleanup batter Brennan Price, who raised his season RBI total to 14 with a three-run homer that produced the final margin. “There’s not really a weak spot to our lineup. Everybody is driving the ball. We really just feed off each other. We pick each other up.”
The first sight opponents witness when the team bus pulls into the Middlesex baseball complex is a batting cage erected in front of the field. Some Blue Jays are taking BP inside the cage. Others are hitting soft toss.
The steady ping of aluminum bats crushing balls reflects the team’s commitment to offense and ominously forebodes the sound opposing pitchers will soon hear.
The Middlesex hitting stars vary from day to day. Against South Plainfield, it was senior third baseman Walter Byleckie’s turn to shine.
After intentionally walking the previous batter to load the bases for Byleckie in the sixth, South Plainfield employed the same strategy in the seventh.
Both times, Byleckie made the Tigers pay dearly, accounting for a total of five RBI to turn the tide while leading Middlesex, ranked No. 1 in the Home News Tribune Top 10, to a resounding comeback.
“At first it’s almost like, “Wow! You really think I can’t hit?’ ” Byleckie said of stepping into the box following an intentional walk. “But then once you are up there, you’re like, now it’s time to bear down and see what you can do with men on base.”
After intentionally walking leadoff batter Tyler Heisch to set up a force at any base with two away in the sixth, Byleckie drilled a 1-0 fastball down the left field line for a bases-clearing triple that gave the Blue Jays a 6-5 lead.

In the top of the seventh, Heisch received another free pass to load the bases with one away. Byleckie responded yet again, this time with a two-run single to left that gave Middlesex a 10-5 cushion.
“I know Byleckie can hit but he’s 0-for-3 (in the game),” South Plainfield coach Anthony Guida said. “We had first base open again (in the seventh) and he’s 1-for-4 so we said “Let’s try it again” and it didn’t work.”
Unlike its two meetings against South Plainfield last season, during which Middlesex hurlers threw a mere 144 total pitches and yielded just one run, the Tigers proved to be more formidable Thursday at the plate.
South Plainfield registered 15 hits but stranded 12 runners – five in scoring position – and had three runners picked off.
The Tigers similarly received production throughout their lineup and chased starter Kris Fellin, forcing Middlesex to use Heisch, who was Friday’s scheduled starter.
South Plainfield rallied for three runs in the fifth to take a 5-3 lead. No. 8 batter Sal Esposito and No. 9 hitter Jeff Pellegrino, who left the bases loaded with one away in the second, would not be denied when an identical scenario presented itself in the fifth.
Esposito knotted the contest at 3-3 with an RBI single. Pellegrino, who botched a suicide squeeze earlier in his at-bat, redeemed himself three pitches later with a two-run double to left center.
South Plainfield’s lead, however, was short-lived thanks to the Byleckie’s heroics.
“For him to do it twice, you’ve got to give him a lot of credit,” Middlesex coach Mike O’Donnell said of Byleckie’s at-bats following the intentional walks. “That’s clutch. I’m proud of him.” 

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20130404/NJSPORTS0130/304040066/Middlesex-hammers-16-hits-beat-S-Plainfield
 

Star-Ledger, April 04, 2013 9:04 p.m.

 

Walter Byleckie went 2-for-5 with five RBI as Middlesex rallied for a 13-5 victory against South Plainfield in Middlesex.
Trailing 5-3 after five innings, Byleckie hit a bases-clearing triple in the top of the sixth to take the lead. Middlesex then scored seven in the seventh to seal the victory. Brennan Price drilled a three-run home run in the seventh to cap a 3-for-5, four RBI day for Middlesex. Jeff Pellegrino went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI for South Plainfield.

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-5146195904648943485/middlesex-13-at-south-plainfield-5-
baseball/

South Plainfield 9, Colonia 2: Sal Esposito went 3-3 and scored twice and AJ Celentano knocked in two runs to lead South Plainfield (3-0). Colonia (0-2) scored both of its runs in the top of the seventh inning.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20130403/NJSPORTS0130/304030071/J-P-Stevens-holds-beat-Westfield

Colonia (2) at South Plainfield (9) - Baseball

Star-Ledger, April 03, 2013 8:06 p.m.

Six South Plainfield players scored runs in their 10-6 victory over Colonia in Colonia.
Nick Muglia and Sal Esposito each scored twice foe South Plainfield while Justin Marks, Aidan McBermott, A.J. Celentano and Mike Polizzano all scored once.
Celentano recorded two RBI, along with Marks, Muglia, and Esposito who each batted in one run. Jeff Pellegrino and Patrick Boyle also recorded RBIs in their teams victory.


http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-2146179904611943405/colonia-2-at-south-plainfield-9-baseball/

Boyle's RBI double helps South Plainfield beat Colonia again

Pat Boyle’s RBI double in the top of the eighth inning helped the South Plainfield High School baseball team, ranked No. 6 in the Home News Tribune Top 10, complete a regular-season sweep of Colonia with Tuesday’s 4-3 victory. Boyle went 2-for-4 for the Tigers (2-0), while teammate Taylor Born doubled twice. Bryan Kopko went 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Patriots, while teammate C.J. Lehman had two RBI.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20130402/NJSPORTS0130/304020062/Boyle-s-RBI-double-helps-South-Plainfield-beat-Colonia-again

South Plainfield (4) at Colonia (3) - Baseball

Star-Ledger, April 02, 2013 10:42 p.m.

Patrick Boyle's walk-off RBI double in the eighth inning helped South Plainfield defeat Colonia, 4-3, in Colonia.
South Plainfield took an early 3-0 lead with runs in the first and second innings, but Colonia responded with a two-run inning in the fourth and another score in the fifth to tie it at 3.
Taylor Born recorded two hits in four at-bats for South Plainfield.

Web link

GMC H.S. baseball teams at a glance

South Plainfield High School Tigers
Staff report

Coach: Anthony Guida, 5th season, (78-35).

Last year: 19-9 overall, 10-4 GMC White Division.

Key Losses: Stephen Petriello (C), Mark Tomei (CF), Ryan Hughes (RH).

Probable Lineup: Nick Muglia (Sr., C-OF), Justin Marks (Jr., C-OF); Pat Boyle (Sr. 1B-OF); Jeff Pellegrino (Sr., 1B-OF); Tim O'Leary (Sr., 1B); A.J. Celentano (Sr., 1B); Taylor Born (Sr., 2B); Sal Esposito (Sr., SS); Rob Eggert (Jr., 3B); Quinn Cochrane (Sr., OF); Aiden McDermott (Jr., OF).

Pitchers: A.J. Celetano (Sr., LH), Pat Boyle (Sr., LH), Kyle Moroney (RH), Tim O'Leary (Sr., RH), Brandon Shaw (RH), Rob Eggert (Jr., RH).

Top reserve: Mike Polizzano (Jr., INF).

Outlook: The Tigers are looking to reclaim the division title, return to the conference tournament final and make a run at a sectional championship. They have two quality southpaws, a veteran infield and a pair of competent catchers to help replace Petriello (.471, 41 hits, 31 runs, 19 RBI). Celentano (5-3, 2.46 57 IP) and Boyle (3-1, 4.74, 21 IP) anchor the pitching staff. All but one of the possible starters saw significant varsity time last season. Celentano (.341), Born (.304), Cochrane (.297) and Boyle (.295) are the top returning hitters.

As we prepare for the 2013 High School season...We give a shout out to the SPHS Alumni playing college ball this spring. Good luck and continue to show them all where you came from!

CLASS OF 2012

29 Nick DeMarco 
Fr. P
New Jersey City University

15 Ryan Marcoux 
Fr. 2B/SS
Penn State Altoona

30 Stephen Petriello 
Fr. C
Rowan University

32 Mark Tomei 
Fr. OF
Mercer County College

CLASS OF 2011

10 Brandon Downes 
So. C/OF
University of Virginia

19 Dan Hansen   
So. P
Kean University

26 Charlie Huber 

So. P
Penn State - Abington

CLASS OF 2010

12 Mark Benak  Jr.  
INF/OF
Rowan University

2  Dylan Papa  
Jr. P
Montclair State

22 Rob Pasternak 
Jr. 2B
William Paterson University

13 Carlos Ruiz  
Jr.  RHP
Rowan University

CLASS OF 2009

16 Mike Muglia 
Sr. LHP
East Stroudsburg Univ

Please let us know if anyone is missing from this list.

We are all proud of our alumni and wish them all the BEST!

All State Baseball

ALL STATE - 3rd TEAM

Stephen Petriello, South Plainfield

ALL GROUP 3 - 1st Team
Ryan Williamson, Cranford
Luke Cahill, Monmouth Regional
Kurt Rutmayer, Cranford
Austin Solecitto, Indian Hills
Chris Folinusz, Cranford
Stephen Petriello, South Plainfield
Nick Maguire, Mendham
Kevin Bradley, Hopewell Valley
Jon Kristoffersen, Jefferson
John Avedissian, Wayne Hills
Mark Tomei, South Plainfield
Cody Stashak, Oakcrest
Matt Holtz, Freehold Borough
Jon Gonzalez, Winslow Twp.

Stephen Petriello, South Plainfield, 5-10, 180 pounds, Senior
An outstanding catcher, Petriello also was one of big reasons South Plainfield went from a 4-5 start to a 19-9 finish. Petriello hit .417 with an on-base percentage of .566, scoring 31 runs with 41 hits, including 16 doubles, and driving in 19 runs. Will play for Rowan.
Mark Tomei, South Plainfield, 5-10, 180 pounds, Senior
A leadoff batter who came into the year with over 100 career hits, the center fielder hit .411 with an on-base percentage of .517. Tomei scored 36 runs, collected 39 hits, including 18 for extra bases, and had 18 RBI. Will play at Mercer.

All-Area Team 2012

Mark Tomei 
The senior outfielder belted a team­leading 18 extra-base hits including eight doubles, seven triples and three homers. Despite batting leadoff, Tomei finished third on the club with 18 RBI. He fanned just six times in 116 plate appearances. To­mei blended power with speed, stealing a team-high nine bases in 12 attempts. He scored 39 runs. The South Plainfield star also had five outfield assists.

Stephen Petriello 
South Plainfield’s senior was widely re­garded among the state’s best defensive catchers. He tallied 13 assists and commit­ted just four errors in 134 chances. Petriello was no slouch at the plate, leading the Ti­gers with a .471 average and 41 hits. He boasted a .566 OBP with 15 walks. Petriello had a .747 slugging percentage with 16 doubles, a triple and two homers. He was second on the team with 31 runs and 19 RBI.

FIRST TEAM 
Pos. Name School Yr.
P Casey Wenzel Dunellen Junior 
P Brandon Bielak St. Joseph Soph.
P Stephen Fortuna Metuchen Senior
P Jose Hernandez Perth Amboy Senior
C Stephen Petriello South Plainfield Senior 
1B Chris Petiya Middlesex Senior
2B Fernando Rosa Perth Amboy Senior
SS Christian Campbell Sayreville Junior
3B Vin D’Acunto Old Bridge Senior
OF Mark Tomei South Plainfield Senior 
OF Tommy Marcinczyk Middlesex Junior
OF Nick Muha South Brunswick Senior
DH Matt Rivera Sayreville Senior
UTILITY JeffPuckett Dunellen Senior

HONORABLE MENTION 
South Plainfield : Ryan Marcoux, Ryan Hughes, Pat Boyle, A.J. Celantano

GMC Senior All Star Game

Stephen Petriello & Mark Tomei at the GMC Senior All-Star game in East Brunswick, June 13, 2012.
Jason Towlen/Staff Photographer

NJSBCA Senior All-Star Game

Congratulations to Stephen Petriello, Mark Tomei & Coach Anthony Guida for being selected to participate in the Senior All-Star game!

By James Kratch/For The Star-Ledger
The New Jersey Scholastic Baseball Coaches Association senior all-star games will be held Thursday night at Diamond Nation in Flemington at 7 p.m.
The Central team is playing the South team and the Northwest squad collides with the Northeast team.
Here is the roster for the Central team:
PITCHERS
Mark Maksimow, Notre Dame
Sam Burum, Robbinsville
Rich Ferguson, Immaculata
Placido Torrez, North Brunswick
Joe Serrapica, Manalapan
Jose Hernandez, Perth Amboy
CATCHERS
Chris Reynolds, St. Rose
Stephen Petriello, South Plainfield
FIRST BASE
Mark Blajsa, Watchung Hills
Andrew Ramey, Gill St. Bernard's
INFIELDERS
Brock Podgurski, Steinert
Kevin Bradley, Hopewell
R.J. Fanelli, Hillsborough
Brett Bonn, Hunterdon Central
Brett Matzen, Ridge
Evan Klimchak, Hunterdon Central
OUTFIELDERS
James Locklear, Steinert
Narcisso Crook, Trenton
Nick Muha, South Brunswick
Jeff Puckett, Dunellen
Mark Tomei, South Plainfield
Brett Ender, Montgomery
DESIGNATED HITTERS
Chris Petiya, Middlesex
Mike Roethke, Immaculata
COACHES
Marty Kenney, Christian Brothers Academy
Ryan Lillis, North Brunswick
Norm Hewitt, Hillsborough
Anthony Guida, South Plainfield
Chris Kenney, East Brunswick
Chris Banos, Dunellen

GMC stars get two chances to shine

Written by Greg Tufaro
Chris Petiya, the state’s leader with 13 home runs, has a penchant for performing on the big stage.
The senior designated hitter/first baseman from Middlesex High School has two more chances to shine before continuing his playing career at Raritan Valley Community College next spring. Petiya is one of seven Greater Middlesex Conference players who will represent their respective schools in both the GMC and New Jersey state baseball coaches association’s senior all-star games.
All proceeds from the GMCBCA Senior All-Star Game benefit Robert Wood Johnson University Children’s Hospital in New Brunswick. The contest will be played 7 p.m. today at East Brunswick High School.
The NJSBCA Senior All-Star Game pits a squad from Central Jersey, featuring GMC players, against counterparts from South Jersey. The contest will be played 7 p.m. tomorrow at Diamond Nation in Flemington. North Brunswick’s Placido Torres, South Brunswick’s Nick Muha, Dunellen’s Jeff Puckett, Perth Amboy’s Jose Hernandez, and South Plainfield’s Mark Tomei and Stephen Petriello will join Petiya in both games. Petiya ended his three-year varsity career with 28 homers. He homered in three of the Blue Jays’ four GMC Tournament games while leading his team to the league championship.
“Anybody that’s going to be clutch has to have the ability to zone in when the situation calls for it,” Middlesex coach Mike O’Donnell said, noting that Petiya fits that description.
Petiya’s walk-off homer lifted the Blue Jays to a 5-2 victory over Monroe in the GMCT semifinals.
He followed that three-run homer up with a solo homer off Sayreville ace Christian Campbell in Middlesex’s 10-4 GMCT championship win. “It’s good for him,” O’Donnell said of Petiya, who led the Blue Jays with 44 RBI, being selected to participate in two all-star games. “I think those experiences are good for him and he will represent the school well.”

All GMC Coaches White Division

Posted on June 7, 2012 by Harry Frezza
PITCHERS
Jose Hernandez Perth Amboy
Adonis Hernandez – JFK
Fernando Rosa – Perth Amboy

Catcher

Stephen Petriello – South Plainfield

Infielders

Victor Sorrento – Monroe
Andrew Neich – Colonia
Zach Buchholz – JFK
Rob Borwegean – Edison
Nick Reinson – North Brunswick

Outfielders

Mark Tomei – South Plainfield
Frank D’Agostino – Monroe
Dan Kacsmar – Woodbridge

DH

Erik Fruscella – Carteret

AT LARGE

Danny Marsh – Monroe
Wonder Ortega – Perth Amboy
Placido Torres – North Brunswick
A.J. Celentano – South Plainfield
Eric Giordano – JFK
Junior Fernandez – Edison
Tom Trela – Colonia

Coach of Year

Ernie Kregeloh – Perth Amboy

Sportsmanship

Carteret

Group III - 2nd Round vs Morristown

John Haley, for the Star Ledger

Morristown 2, South Plainfield 1

Pat Murphy hit a solo homer in the top of the seventh to lift Morristown in a game played at North Plainfield High. Each team scored in the first, South Plainfield on a Mark Tomei leadoff triple, followed by an infield hit by Taylor Born. 

South Plainfield outhit Morristown, 8-5, as A.J. Celantano was the tough-luck loser. He struck out one and walked one. Born and Ryan Marcoux had two hits each for South Plainfield, which ended the game with a man on first.

Staff Report
MORRISTOWN 2, SOUTH PLAINFIELD 1: Pat Murphy’s solo home run in the top of the seventh in­ning for 12th-seeded Mor­ristown broke a 1-1 tie. Tay­lor Born went 2-for-3 in­cluding an RBI single in the first inning for the fourth­seeded Tigers (19-9) to tie the game, scoring Mark To­mei, who led off the inning with a triple. A.J. Celentano went the distance for South Plainfield, allowing two earned runs on five hits.

Group III - 1st Round vs Warren Hills

South Plainfield Advances On Bowden Gem
Posted by Harry Frezza
SOUTH PLAINFIELD 1, WARREN HILLS 0: Senior righty Tommy Bowden (3-2) threw a complete-game shutout Wednesday night and senior catcher Stephen Petriello scored on a fourth-inning infield error to lift fourth-seeded South Plainfield (19-8) at Krausche Field in North Plainfield. Bowden’s 72 pitch effort included three strikeouts, one walk and five hits. Petriello went 2-for-3 with a single and double. The Tigers will play host to 12th-seeded Morristown Friday at a time and site to be announced. [Editor's note: As of last night--game is Friday, 1pm at home.]

Other Results:
NORTH 2, GROUP III

Cranford 5, Ferris 0
Scotch Plains 10, Barringer 0
Morristown 4, Nutley 3
South Plainfield 1, Warren Hills 0

Millburn 3, Parsippany Hills 2
Mendham 3, Chatham 2
Iselin Kennedy 2, Somerville 1
West Morris 10, Belleville 0

Today's 1st round sectional game vs. Warren Hills has been postponed due to weather. New game date is Wednesday May 23^rd at 3:45pm.

GMC 2nd Round vs Middlesex

Middlesex-5, South Plainfield-0
The Tigers will now look towards the NJ State Sectional Tournament beginning Monday as we host Warren Hills at 4pm.

NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 2
GROUP 3
16-Ferris at 1-Cranford
9-Scotch Plains-Fanwood at 8-Barringer
12-Morristown at 5-Nutley
13-Warren Hills at 4-South Plainfield
14-Parsippany Hills at 3-Millburn
11-Chatham at 6-Mendham
10-Somerville at 7-Iselin Kennedy
15-Belleville at 2-West Morris

Click on bracket to enlarge

South Plainfield's Tigers roaring at just the right time

Greg Tufaro
Just as it did a year ago, the South Plainfield High School baseball team, which advanced last spring to the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament final, is peaking at the right time.
The Tigers enter today’s 2 p.m. GMCT quarterfinal against Middlesex with a nine-game winning streak.
Other quarterfinal contests pit Sayreville against Edison and St. Joseph against Dunellen at 11 a.m. The fourth quarterfinal is between Monroe and Perth Amboy at 2 p.m.
All quarterfinals are at North Brunswick’s Community Park.
South Plainfield dropped a 5-1 decision to Middlesex in an April 28 regular-season meeting. The Tigers have been rolling since.
“Baseball is a game of momentum,” Middlesex coach Mike O’Donnell said, “so obviously they have some momentum.”
Junior lefthander Kris Fellin pitched the first game against South Plainfield, throwing a mere 60 pitches.
“They were getting themselves out early in the count sometimes,” O’Donnell said of South Plainfield’s hitters. “It’s going to be a different situation (today) because he’s unable to pitch anyway.”
Tommy Marcinczyk will likely start for Middlesex today.

Game #24 at Edison
SOUTH PLAINFIELD 5, EDISON 2: Mark Tomei finished a homer shy of the cycle with two RBI for South Plainfield (17-7). Torre Manfre went 3-for-3 for Edison (14-11).

GMC TOP 10
1. Sayreville 20-1
2. Middlesex 21-2
3. Perth Amboy 18-4
4. St. Joseph 16-8
5. South Plainfield 17-7 
6. Dunellen 20-2
7. Monroe 13-8
8. Edison 13-10
9. Metuchen 16-5
10. South Brunswick 15-7

GMC Tourney 1st Round

Staff Report
SOUTH PLAINFIELD 3, NORTH BRUNSWICK 2: Sophomore A.J. Celentano’s two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the seventh lifted sixth-seeded South Plainfield into a Saturday quarterfinal matchup with third-seeded Middlesex. Stephen Petriello, who was intentionally walked, moving Taylor Born and the winning run to second, walked three times and had a hit. South Plainfield is 17-7.

Saturday - Quarterfinals
At Community Park, North Brunswick
11 a.m.
(9) Edison vs. (1) Sayreville, Field 2
(5) Dunellen vs. (4) St. Joe's, Field 1
2 p.m.
(10) Monroe vs. (2) Perth Amboy, Field 2
(6) South Plaifield vs. (3) Middlesex, Field 1

By John Haley/For The Star-Ledger 

South Plainfield 3, North Brunswick 2

South Plainfield, which had lost to North Brunswick twice during the season, looked like it would fall for a third time and it looked as though an eight-game winning streak would come to an end.
But in you believe in baseball Gods, then they were on the Tigers' side in this one.
Here's how close they came to losing:
Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh, South Plainfield had a man on first with two outs and an 0-2 count on Taylor Born.
But Born managed to single just in front of the center-fielder to put runners on first and third to keep the inning alive.
When Stephen Petriello had a 3-0 count on him, North Brunswick decided to intentionally walk him, putting the winning run on second base.
On the first pitch thrown to him, A.J. Celantano hit a line drive to center. The center-fielder made a dive for the ball, according to South Plainfield coach Anthony Guida, but he could only get his glove on it as it dropped in for the game-winning hit as two runs scored.
Wow!

STATE TOURNAMENT PAIRINGS
The NJSIAA Thursday announced the pairings for the state baseball tournament that will begin Monday. Games will be played at the sites of the higher-seeded teams. Seedings precede the teams.
The six state championship games -- four public school groups and two non-public groups -- will be played Saturday, June 9.

NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 2

GROUP 3
16-Ferris at 1-Cranford
9-Scotch Plains-Fanwood at 8-Barringer
12-Morristown at 5-Nutley
13-Warren Hills at 4-South Plainfield
14-Parsippany Hills at 3-Millburn
11-Chatham at 6-Mendham
10-Somerville at 7-Iselin Kennedy
15-Belleville at 2-West Morris