Brandon Bielak, Kyle Moroney honored with coaches' awards

Bielak (left) was voted Player of the Year and Moroney (right) Pitcher of the Year

(Photos from The Ledger archives)

By Connor Hughes/For The Star-Ledger
on May 23, 2014 6:36 p.m.

Coaches throughout the Greater Middlesex Conference gathered at Monroe High School on May 21 for the annual "GMC All Division, All County Meeting." The meeting selects the coaches' picks for the All Division and All County teams, along with their choice for "Pitcher of the Year" and "Player of the Year."
After tallying the votes, the GMC coaches voted South Plainfield's Kyle Moroney as Pitcher of the Year, and St. Joseph (Met.)'s Brandon Bielak as Player of the Year.
Please note, these votes have no impact on The Star-Ledger Honors released May 22.
This season, Brandon Bielak has been a force in nearly every facet of the game. The Notre Dame-bound senior is 7-1 on the mound and has struck out a county-high 76 players. In the batters box, Bielak is batting .400 with 19 RBI, seven doubles, two triples and two home runs.
"He's been a big part of our success in the three years since I've been here," St. Joe's coach Steve Bucchignano said. "He's a big contributor for us on the mound, in the field and at the plate. He's one of the guys we can credit with why we've been so successful."
Despite being known primarily as his school's quarterback, Kyle Moroney has thrust himself into the discussion as a top pitcher as well. The Rowan commit is 7-0 on the mound and has surrendered only two earned runs.
"It's always easy to win ball games when the other team doesn't score," South Plainfield coach Anthony Guida said. "He's been able to do that week in, and week out. He lets some guys get on base, but he finds a way to get out of the inning. We like when he's on the mound."
Moroney and Bielak will face each other in the GMC Tournament Championship on May 27 at TD Bank Ball Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:30pm.
The following were who the coaches selected for the "All County" team.

PITCHERS
Victor Dudka, East Brunswick
Zach Attianese, Old Bridge
Kyle Moroney, South Plainfield

CATCHER
Justin Marks, South Plainfield

FIRST BASE
Cody Burnham, East Brunswick

INFIELD
Brandon Bielak, St. Joe's
Mark Bobko, St. Joe's
Nick Logatto, Spotswood

OUTFIELD
Aidan McDermott, South Plainfield
Chris Hernandez, Monroe
Brandon Abdul, Old Bridge

AT LARGE
Ty Robinson, South Brunswick
Rob Eggert, South Plainfield
T.J. Polito, Edison
Nick Lavecchia, Old Bridge
Jeremy Corrente, Spotswood
Anthony Keri, Middlesex

COACH OF THE YEAR
Mike O'Donnell, Middlesex

SPORTSMANSHIP
Highland Park

CHECK OUT ALL OF THE MIDDLESEX BASEBALL ACTION
Connor Hughes: chughes@njschoolsports.com Twitter:@Connor_J_Hughes

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-214382274234803834/middlesex-baseball-brandon-bielak-kyle-moroney-honored-with-coaches-awards/

St. Joe's and South Plainfield will meet in the GMCT Championship

By Connor Hughes/For The Star-Ledger
on May 23, 2014 10:46 a.m.

The date is now locked in stone, St. Joseph (Met.) and South Plainfield will meet in the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament championship Tuesday, May 27 at 7:30 P.M. at TD Bank Ballpark
With the NJSIAA state tournament in full swing and running throughout the conclusion of the GMCT, the date of the championship was put into question. If South Plainfield or St. Joseph (Met.) advanced to the third round of the state playoffs, the GMCT championship would be pushed back.
In the first round of the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 playoffs, Summit defeated South Plainfield, 2-0. Last night, St. Joe's fell to Paul VI, 14-0, in the Non-Public South A bracket, thus eliminating such a scenario.
The GMCT championship will likely feature one of the better pitching match ups within the county. Rowan-commit Kyle Moroney (7-0) will take the mound for South Plainfield and St. Joe's will counter with Notre Dame-bound Brandon Bielak (7-1).
Moroney has struck out 46 batters and allowed only two earned runs in 44 innings pitched. Bielak has struck out a county-high 76 batters and allowed six earned in 51 2/3 innings pitched.
At the GMC end-of-year coaches' meeting last week, Bielak was named the coaches choice "Player of the Year" while Moroney its "Pitcher of the Year."

CHECK OUT ALL OF THE MIDDLESEX BASEBALL ACTION
Connor Hughes: chughes@njschoolsports.com Twitter:@Connor_J_Hughes

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/8564400285332391042/middlesex-baseball-gmc-tournament-championship-confirmed/

GAME #25 South Plainfield 6, Edison 4

By Star-Ledger
on May 20, 2014 8:44 p.m.

Justin Marks went 2-for-3 with three RBI as South Plainfield defeated Edison, 6-4, in South Plainfield.
Nick Polizzano earned the win on the mound pitching one inning. He allowed two hits, one earned run with no walks. Bryan Gillen went 1-for-4 with two runs and Rob Eggert went 4-for-4 with a run and double.

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-4674580985867269177/edison-4-at-south-plainfield-6-baseball/

 

South Plainfield 6, Edison 4: Rob Eggert was 4-for-4 with a run scored and double and Justin Marks went 2-for-3 with three RBI and Chris Graves was 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI for South Plainfield (18-7). Anthony Hernandez went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two doubles for Edison (10-16). Andrew Stivers was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2014/05/20/roundup-baseball-games-tuesday-may/2292418/

GAME #24 Summit 2, South Plainfield 0

By Star-Ledger
on May 19, 2014 8:44 p.m.

Sean Guida struck out 6 in 6 1/3 innings as Summit defeated South Plainfield, 2-0, in the first round of the Central Jersey, Group 3 tournament in South Plainfield.
Guida allowed two hits and walked five while going 3-for-4. Kyle Brown went 2-for-4 with a run. South Plainfield's Justin Marks went 1-for-3.

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-3674564985724268850/summit-2-at-south-plainfield-0-njsiaa-tournament-first-round-north-jersey-section-2-group-3-baseball/

GAME #23 South Plainfield 2, Old Bridge 0

By Connor Hughes/For The Star-Ledger
on May 17, 2014 7:53 p.m.

Kyle Moroney was tired of not being mentioned among Middlesex County's best pitchers.
So with South Plainfield facing Old Bridge and star pitcher Zach Attianese in the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament semifinals, Moroney knew this was his chance.
He responded by pitching a three-hit shutout as sixth-seeded South Plainfield surprised second-seeded Old Bridge, 2-0, in Old Bridge to advance to the GMCT championship game for the first time since 2011.
“This was my shot to prove to the state and the county how good of a pitcher I am,” Moroney said. “I knew I was facing Attianese and I was ready.”
Both pitchers were outstanding. Attianese allowed one earned run on five hits, walked one and struck out six in six innings. Moroney walked one and struck out four.
After South Plainfield’s Aidan McDermott drove in Bryan Gillen with a single in the first inning and Rob Eggert scored on an error in the second, Attianese matched Moroney with zeroes the rest of the way.
“I tell my team every game, all I need is one,” Moroney said. “You get me one run, I’ll pitch and make sure they don’t get one. I don’t worry about hits, they can get all the hits they want, but they won’t score a run.”
While Moroney was handling business on the mound, South Plainfield’s defense was nearly perfect in the field. After committing seven errors in a 12-11 victory over South Brunswick in the GMCT quarterfinals, South Plainfield had zero. McDermott and Nick Polizzano each made a diving catch in the outfield.
“What you saw against South Brunswick, that’s not us,” Moroney said. “We’ve been a sound defensive team all year.”
With Old Bridge looking to complete a comeback in the home half of the seventh inning, it was that defense that secured the victory. After walking Attianese to bring Chris Weber to the plate representing the tying run, Moroney wen tto a full count before Weber hit a grounder to Bryan Gillen at second base. Gillen quickly flipped the ball to Dickerson, who stepped on second for one, then fired to L.J. Scarpitto at first, who made a lunging grab to end the game.
“I saw that throw coming and I knew I had to get it,” Scarpitto said. “Once I caught it I looked right at the ump and he yelled, ‘Out!’ I was so happy.”
South Plainfield will face St. Joseph (Met.) in the GMCT final, tentatively scheduled for May 27.
After beating Old Bridge and Attianese, Moroney knows he now has a shot at going up against another one of the players on the top-pitching list: Notre Dame-bound Brandon Bielak, St. Joe's ace.
“As soon as we turned two, all I kept thinking was, I want Bielak,” Moroney said. “He’s a great pitcher, going to Notre Dame, I can’t ask for a better opportunity to show everyone what I’ve got.”

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-3674567985738268841/old-bridge-0-at-south-plainfield-2-greater-middlesex-conference-tournament-semifinal-round-baseball/

Greg Tufaro,
@GregTufaro   
8:45 p.m. EDT May 17, 2014

OLD BRIDGE – After watching the South Plainfield High School baseball team’s usually outstanding defense uncharacteristically collapse in the previous round of the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament, Kyle Moroney never lost confidence in his teammates.
The senior right-hander, throwing on three days’ rest for the first time in his career, pitched to contact, striking out just two batters but benefitting from spectacular defense, including two rally-killing double plays, as he outdueled Old Bridge ace Zach Attianese Saturday for a 2-0 victory.
South Plainfield advanced to the May 27 GMCT championship at TD Bank Ballpark against St. Joseph, which will likely throw ace Brandon Bielak in the tournament final.
Bielak, headed to the University of Notre Dame on a full baseball scholarship, and Attianese, who is committed to the University of North Carolina, are widely regarded among the best hurlers in the state.
Moroney, who improved to 7-0 while lowering his ERA to 0.32 by extending his scoreless innings streak to 17, is a team player who never wants to put the focus on himself but couldn’t help but pitch Saturday with a bit of a chip on his shoulder.
“I was mentally focused and ready for this game,” said Moroney, a first-team Home News Tribune All-Area selection at quarterback who is committed to play football at Rowan University. “I knew it was going to be one of the best matchups for me all year. It was my statement game. Simple as that. I came out ready to pitch against one of the best pitchers in the county, maybe the state. Hopefully, my name is in (that class) now.”
More important for Moroney, however, was helping the Tigers advance.
He pounded the strike zone, scattering three hits while walking just one batter and hitting another. Old Bridge mustered three one-out doubles – one each in the first, third and fifth innings – but advanced just one runner past second base all day.
Unlike Thursday’s dramatic 12-11 GMCT quarterfinal victory over South Brunswick in which the Tigers committed a season-high six errors while digging themselves an early four-run deficit, South Plainfield did not commit a single miscue in the semis.
The glove work of L.J. Scarpitto at first base was brilliant (as it has been all season) and the middle infield combination of second baseman Bryan Gillen and shortstop Kyle Dickerson was equally impressive. Not to be outdone, right fielder Mike Polizzano and center fielder Aidan McDermott each made a spectacular catch.
The Tigers recorded nine groundball outs including a 4-6-3 double play that fittingly ended the game with Scarpitto stretching to dig a ball out of the turf. Moroney helped himself, snaring a line-drive comebacker and doubling a pinch runner off second in the fifth.
“That last game was a fluke,” Moroney said of the quarterfinal. “That’s not us. That’s not the real South Plainfield. I go into every game I pitch and tell my team I just need one run. I got that early.”
After Gillen singled and stole second with one away in the first, he scored on McDermott’s single to center, staking Moroney to a 1-0 lead.
The Tigers added an unearned run in the second off Attianese, a sophomore left-hander who was also pitching on three days’ rest for the first time in his career. Rob Eggert drew a leadoff walk, took second on a sacrifice bunt, advanced to third on Scarpitto’s two-out infield single and scored on an infield error.
Attianese retired nine of the next 10 batters before allowing consecutive singles to McDermott and cleanup batter Justin Marks in the fifth. The Tigers mustered just four hits and stranded six runners. They compensated for a lack of timely hitting with glove work.
“We have pride in our defense,” South Plainfield coach Anthony Guida said. “It didn’t show (in the quarterfinals, but it did show today.”

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2014/05/17/defense-backs-moroney/2231924/

GAME #22 South Plainfield 12, South Brunswick 11

GAME #22 South Plainfield 12, South Brunswick 11

 

By Connor Hughes/For The Star-Ledger
on May 15, 2014 8:27 p.m.

Rob Eggert stood on the mound with his glove hand rested on his knee and the raindrops bouncing off his hat.
Having just watched two runs score on an error, bringing the tying run to third base in the seventh inning of South Plainfield’s Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament quarterfinal matchup with South Brunswick, Eggert needed to refocus.
“I just kept saying, you got this,” Eggert said.
The closer took a deep breath and fired a fastball at Ty Robinson, who sent it right back up the middle. Eggert fielded it off his chest and threw to first base to close out South Plainfield’s wild 12-11 victory over South Brunswick at North Brunswick Community Park.
“I blinked, it hit me in the stomach, then I wanted to throw up,” said Eggert, who pitched only the seventh. “I held it in and then it was all smiles.”
Eggert’s 1-3 putout capped a game that was filled with comebacks, offense, drama and more offense. South Plainfield initially jumped on top, 2-0, just to watch South Brunswick take a five-run lead thanks to a seven-run fourth inning.
Dan Tesser and Matt Cooney each hit a two-run double and three more runs scored on errors. South Plainfield coach Anthony Guida did his best to keep his team from unraveling.
“These kids have a lot of faith in each other, they believe in each other,” Guida said. “We know if we have outs, we’re gonna have an opportunity to score some runs.”
In the top of the fifth, South Plainfield began its comeback, loading the bases with none away. L.J. Scarpitto scored on a passed ball and Aidan McDermott followed with a two-run single.
“I just kept telling my teammates, if we’re making mistakes, they’re going to make mistakes,” said McDermott, who finished 4-for-5 with three RBI. “If we could hit it and get on base, we knew we’d pull through.”
South Brunswick answered with a run in the home half of the inning to make the score 8-5. South Plainfield’s offense then erupted in the six and seventh innings.
With runners at second and third, Bryan Gillen stepped to the plate for a bases-clearing triple. McDermott then drove home Gillen to tie the game. In the seventh, South Plainfield grabbed its first lead of the day on a two-run double from Chris Graves.
“I just kept thinking, hands to the ball,” Graves said. “See a strike and hit it as hard as I can. I saw it go through and thought, ‘Yes!’
One batter later, Kyle Dickerson added two runs of insurance when he hit a home run over the left-field wall.
“We both battled the whole time, it was a seesaw battle,” Guida said. “I thought that home run was a big cushion. I never thought that would turn out to be the game winner.”
As had been the case throughout, South Brunswick roared back. A sixth South Plainfield error with the bases loaded plated two runs and put runners at the corners. The winning run stepped to the plate before Eggert escaped the jam.
“This just feels great. You honestly get goosebumps,” Eggert said. “It was scary at first, not gonna lie, but I was confident in my team. We pulled this out together.”
South Plainfield advanced to the semifinals of the GMC Tournament on Saturday. South Plainfield hasn’t won a GMCT title since 1981.
“The past five years, all we’ve really had are records,” McDermott said. “We want a GMC title, we want a state title. We think we started that campaign today.”

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-2674560985728268844/south-plainfield-12-at-south-brunswick-11-baseball/

 

Staff Report   
6:24 p.m. EDT May 15, 2014

South Plainfield 12, South Brunswick 11: Aidan McDermott went 4-for-5 with three RBI to lead the sixth-seeded Tigers to a GMCT quarterfinal victory over the third-seeded Vikings. South Brunswick entered the home seventh trailing 12-9. After two runs scored on an error and the tying run moved to third, reliever Rob Eggert retired Ty Robinson on a comebacker to seal the win. The Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 lead but fell behind 7-2 in the fourth inning. Dan Tesser and Matt Cooney each had two-run doubles for South Brunswick. South Plainfield chipped away at the deficit. In the top of the fifth, L.J. Scarpitto scored on a passed ball and McDermott followed with a two-run single. In the seventh inning, South Plainfield tied the game at 8 on Bryan Guillen’s two-run triple and a McDermott RBI. South Plainfield scored four much needed runs in the top of the seventh on Chris Graves’ two-run double and Kyle Dickerson’s two-run homer. The Tigers will face Old Bridge/Edison in Saturday’s semifinals at East Brunswick Tech.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2014/05/15/roundup-baseball-games-thursday-may/2150012/

GAME #21 South Plainfield 8, Colonia 0

 

Written byGreg Tufaro
@MyCJ_Sports

SOUTH PLAINFIELD — As Kyle Moroney continues to impress on the mound, an increasing number of observers are telling the senior right-hander he should consider playing college baseball.
Moroney, a Home News Tribune first-team All-Area selection at quarterback, has already made a nonbinding commitment to continue his football career at Rowan University.
But after raising his record to 6-0 and lowering his White Division-leading ERA to 0.38 in an 8-0 Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament third-round victory over Colonia on Tuesday, Moroney is contemplating becoming a two-sport athlete at the next level.
“I always knew I had something with baseball but I never thought I would be this good,” said Moroney, who was used sparingly in relief last season.
“I was originally (committed for) just football. I didn’t think I was going to do this well this season. But seeing the people that are looking at me right now and seeing my talent unfold in front of me, I’m definitely going to have to weigh my options.”
Moroney, who hurled a complete-game three-hit shutout of Colonia in the season opener, blanked the Patriots over six innings on Tuesday, striking out seven and allowing just one hit – an infield single to Vinnie Ferrentino to lead off the game.
He faced just three batters over the minimum. C.J. Lehman walked as the only batter to whom Moroney pitched more than two balls and Mike Wilson reached on an infield error.
Pinch hitter Xavier Wilson’s clutch two-run single with two away in the seventh off reliever Lehman produced the final margin and helped the sixth-seeded Tigers advance to Thursday’s quarterfinals against third-seeded South Brunswick.
South Plainfield (15-6) parlayed a hit batsman, three infield hits and Aidan McDermott’s RBI single into a three-run rally in the second inning. The Tigers also scored runs in the game on a balk, a wild pitch and a swinging third strike in the dirt that would have been the third out of an inning.
Leadoff batter Kyle Dickerson went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored, while catcher Justin Marks singled, doubled, walked and scored a run. Reliever Rob Eggert struck out the side in the seventh to preserve the victory.
Moroney, whose fastball a college scout clocked at 88 mph earlier this season, threw 68 pitches, only 21 of which were out of the strike zone. Excluding a couple of 59-foot curveballs, he had excellent command of three pitches including his fastball and changeup.
At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, Moroney, who just turned 17 in December, has tremendous upside due to his athletic build and youth.
“Every time he’s out there, we’ve got people who are noticing what he’s doing,” South Plainfield coach Anthony Guida said. “You would have to not know baseball to not understand what he doing out there. There hasn’t been much (discussion about pitching at the next level) because the word has been that he’s playing football, but his success now is making them think that maybe he’s going to play some baseball in college.
“He’s only going to get better. He’s got everything you need to pitch at the next level.”
Colonia coach Vinny Esposito, a former Rutgers University star who the Toronto Blue Jays drafted, said he believes Moroney could develop in college.
“I think he’s a big, strong kid, which from the college level, and more important, for the next level, they really look for,” Esposito said. “So he projects high. At this level (high school), the reason he’s so successful is he can throw two pretty good pitches for strikes (fastball and curve) on any count. He throws with a downward plane. As a high school hitter, it’s tough to get any plan against him.
“I definitely think he has potential. I was wondering where he is going. I think he’s got a shot. If I was his dad or I was his brother, I’d tell him to do both – go play football and baseball at a place like Rowan. Why make a decision now.”
 
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20140513/NJSPORTS0130/305130054/Moroney-pitches-South-Plainfield-GMCT-baseball-win-over-Colonia?nclick_check=1


 

 

 

Kyle Moroney of South Plainfield pitched the Tigers to a third-round win over Colonia in the GMC baseball Tournament on Tuesday. 

By Star-Ledger
on May 13, 2014 8:23 p.m.

Kyle Moroney pitched six innings, allowing one hit, no runs and one walk with seven strikeouts to lead South Plainfield to an 8-0 victory over Colonia in the first round of the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament in South Plainfield.
Kyle Dickerson was 2-for-3 with two runs for South Plainfield and Adam McDermott and L.J. Scarpitto both had a hit and an RBI.

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-2674561985737268823/colonia-0-at-south-plainfield-8-greater-middlesex-conference-tournament-first-round-baseball/

GAME #20 South Plainfield 7, Metuchen 0

By Star-Ledger
on May 09, 2014 7:43 p.m.

Bryan Gillen came up with a triple, two RBI and run while Brandon Rickert allowed just four hits in South Plainfield's 7-0 victory over Metuchen in South Plainfield.
Rickert struck out three and walked two in a complete game. Aidan McDermott had a double and an RBI while Chris Graves had an extra base hit and a run scored. Mike Polizzano went 2-for-2 with a triple and a double and two runs.

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-674568985826269054/metuchen-0-at-south-plainfield-7-baseball/

Winning pitcher Brandon Rickert went the distance, scattering four hits and fanning three. Mike Polizzano went 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Bryan Gillen went 2-for-4 with two RBI.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20140509/NJSPORTS0130/305090039/Baseball-roundup

Middlesex baseball: Overall records And Tournament Seeds (Through May 7)

By Connor Hughes/For The Star-Ledger
on May 08, 2014 7:30 a.m.

The season is another week older as we take a look at where each team stands within the county. Below you will find each teams respective record.
Please note, records are updated through May 7

RED DIVISION
South Brunswick (14-5)
East Brunswick (14-6)
Old Bridge (15-3)
J.P. Stevens (10-11)
Piscataway (3-15-1)
Edison (7-13)
Perth Amboy (2-14)
Sayreville (9-9)
St. Joseph (Met) (14-6)

WHITE DIVISION
South Plainfield (13-6)
North Brunswick (11-7)
Monroe (11-4)
Woodbridge (7-9)
Colonia (8-7)
JFK (2-15)

BLUE DIVISION
Spotswood (13-6)
Bishop Ahr (6-6)
New Brunswick (2-12)
Metuchen (8-6)
Middlesex (12-6)
South River (7-10-1)
Carteret (9-11)

GOLD DIVISION
South Amboy (12-1)
Cardinal McCarrick (11-4)
Highland Park (9-6)
East Brunswick Tech (10-6)
Dunellen (8-11)
Timothy Christian (3-12)
Piscataway Tech (4-12)
Wardlaw-Hartridge (9-5)
Perth Amboy Tech (1-16)

GMCT SEEDS:

1- East Brunswick
2- Old Bridge
3- South Brunswick
4- St. Joseph (Met.)
5- Monroe
6- South Plainfield
7- Middlesex
8- South Amboy
9- Spotswood
10- Edison
11-Colonia
12- Sayreville
13- Woodbridge
14- North Brunswick
15- J.P Stevens
16- Metuchen
17- Carteret
18- Bishop Ahr
19- South River
20- Cardinal McCarrick
21- Perth Amboy
22- Piscataway
23- East Brunswick Tech
24- Iselin Kennedy
25- Wardlaw-Hartridge
26- Highland Park
27- Dunellen
28- New Brunswick
29- Timothy Christian
30- Piscataway Tech
31- Perth Amboy Tech

CHECK OUT ALL OF THE MIDDLESEX BASEBALL ACTION
Connor Hughes: chughes@njschoolsports.com Twitter:@92Hughes92

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-5537943914895994150/middlesex-baseball-overall-records-through-may-7/

Coach Bill Mosca Flagpole Dedication

 

 

Bob Pasternak Doing the Finishing Touches

 

 

 

The Mosca Family is Introduced

 

 2014 SP Tigers Look On During The Dedication

Pre-Game Flag Raising

Coach Anthony Guida

Tom McCreesh - Master of Ceremonies



Bill Mosca Flag Pole Dedication

 Reminder........Friday, May 9th will be the formal dedication of the Bill Mosca Flagpole at the South Plainfield Varsity Baseball field prior to the 4:00 p.m. game against Metuchen.  Come on out and show your support and share memories of the coach.

GAME #19 Spotswood 8, South Plainfield 5

Nick LoGatto went 3-for-4 with two runs and two doubles as Spotswood defeated South Plainfield, 8-5, in Spotswood.
Chase Fee scored two runs and Ryan Walker went 1-for-3 with two runs and two RBI. Tom Hagerty earned the win, pitching 5 1/3 innings. He scattered six hits with two earned runs, one walk and one strikeout.

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-674571985948269360/south-plainfield-5-at-spotswood-8-baseball/

 

Ryan Walker went 1-for-3 with two RBI, while Nick LoGatto, Jeremy Corrente, Matt Krause and Jake Ryan each drove in a run to lead Spotswood (13-6). Nick Polizzano and Rob Eggert each had two RBI for South Plainfield (13-6) in the loss.

 

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20140507/NJSPORTS0130/305070047/Baseball-roundup-games-from-Wednesday-May-7

 

GAME #18 South Plainfield 15, Perth Amboy 1

Vincent Pellegrino threw five one-hit innings, striking out two and walking one for South Plainfield. Aidan McDermott went 3-for-3 and Justin Marks went 4-for-4 for the Tigers.  Rob Eggert went 2-for-3

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20140506/NJSPORTS0130/305060042/Baseball-roundup

GAME #17 South Plainfield 11, JFK Iselin 1

By Star-Ledger
on May 05, 2014 8:22 p.m.

Rob Eggert scored two runs while going 3-for-3 and Justin Marks scored three runs to lead South Plainfield past Iselin Kennedy, 11-1, in Iselin.
Kyle Moroney gave up one run on two hits while walking one and striking out five for South Plainfield. Ryan Kelly scored a run while Sam Stolz had an RBI for Iselin Kennedy.

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/325436014177730957/south-plainfield-11-at-iselin-kennedy-1-baseball/

GAME #16 South Plainfield 14, Linden 3

No media coverage available

GAME #15 South Plainfield 8, JFK Iselin 7.

By Star-Ledger
on April 29, 2014 8:58 p.m.

Justin Marks beat out a throw home as South Plainfield defeated Iselin Kennedy in walk-off fashion, 8-7, in South Plainfield.
In the home half of the eighth inning, Marks hit a single into left field. Nick Polizzano and Rob Eggert then each put down bunt singles to load the bases. Sean Erhardt then stepped to the plate and hit an infield single to drive home Marks.
Bryan Gillen finished 2-for-2 with a run, three RBI and a triple for South Plainfield. Chris Graves earned the win striking out three in four innings. He allowed two earned runs and walked three.

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/2325443014058730686/iselin-kennedy-7-at-south-plainfield-8-baseball/

GAME #15 South Plainfield 8, JFK Iselin 7.

By Star-Ledger
on April 29, 2014 8:58 p.m.

Justin Marks beat out a throw home as South Plainfield defeated Iselin Kennedy in walk-off fashion, 8-7, in South Plainfield.
In the home half of the eighth inning, Marks hit a single into left field. Nick Polizzano and Rob Eggert then each put down bunt singles to load the bases. Sean Erhardt then stepped to the plate and hit an infield single to drive home Marks.
Bryan Gillen finished 2-for-2 with a run, three RBI and a triple for South Plainfield. Chris Graves earned the win striking out three in four innings. He allowed two earned runs and walked three.

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/2325443014058730686/iselin-kennedy-7-at-south-plainfield-8-baseball/

GAME #14 Jackson 2, South Plainfield 0

By Connor Hughes/For The Star-Ledger

Standing in left field with Jackson nursing a two-run lead in the bottom of the seventh inning, Joe Demaio played every possible scenario over in his mind. No matter what happened, if the ball came his way, he’d be prepared.
“I just wanted someone to hit me the ball so I could make a play,” Demaio said.
So when South Plainfield’s Kyle Dickerson swung and lifted one high to right field, Demaio knew exactly what to do.
The Jackson outfielder camped underneath it for one out, then fired home to catch a tagging Rob Eggert. The 7-2 double play secured a 2-0 Jackson victory in the Autism Awareness Challenge in North Brunswick.
“When it left the bat I ended up going back because I thought it was gonna be deeper than it was,” Demaio said. “I ended up having to run in on it. That gave me a running start when I let it go.”
The double play ended South Plainfield’s best chance for a run on the day. Throughout the majority of the contest, Jackson, No. 16 in The Star-Ledger 20, watched as starting pitcher Ryan Takacs took over.
Through 6 1/3 innings, the righty allowed three hits, walked two and struck out four.
“I was feeling it,” Takacs said. “I was a little around the strike zone, but I was getting the job done. Then I just lost it a little in the seventh."
Eggert led off the game’s final frame with a single before stealing second. Takacs then hit the next two batters to load the bases. The situation pulled coach Frank Malta out of the dugout for a pitching change.
Out came Takacs and in came Chris Hawryluk.
“Ryan really battled to get us to that point,” Malta said. “Bringing Chris in wasn’t something we anticipated in that situation. Chris is a sophomore and Ryan is a junior. We know those two can be very effective.”
Hawryluk threw just one pitch before Demaio’s double play.
“That last play was pretty nice,” Takacs said. “I thought it was actually going to drop, but (Demaio) came running in, he got momentum and he got the out.”
On the other side, South Plainfield starter Vincent Pellegrino matched Takacs in a pitching duel. The right-hander went the distance, allowing four hits, one earned run and no walks while striking out one.
A passed ball in the third and sacrifice fly in the seventh were the lone runs that came across under his watch.
“He did a great job on the mound,” Malta said. “They’re a very good team. It was a great test for us today. You can see with the way they all play the game they do a great job.”
It was Jackson's first year at the Autism Awareness Challenge. For the last seven years, teams across the state have come together to raise autism awareness. The tournament is run and organized by Colorado Rockies scout Mike Garlatti.
“I’ve known Mike for a while and I was very honored when he asked us to play,” Malta said. “To be able to explain to our guys what these games and showcases are all about is a great thing.
“Mike had a dinner for us and we got to bring a few kids up and they heard him speak and they got a little more respect when it comes to people dealing with autism.”
Eggert finished 2-for-3 for South Plainfield. Mike Petrizzo and Brandon Janofsky scored the lone runs for Jackson.

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/3325451014080730658/south-plainfield-0-at-jackson-2-baseball/

GAME #13 South Plainfield 12, Immaculata 5

By Star-Ledger
on April 25, 2014 9:15 p.m.

Aidan McDermott had three hits including one double and three RBI to lead South Plainfield past Immaculata, 12-5, in Flemington. Rob Eggert had three runs for South Plainfield. Brandon Rickert pitched for five innings and had two strikeouts for South Plainfield. Derek Walker had two runs for Immaculata.

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/3325457014216730948/south-plainfield-12-at-immaculata-5-baseball/

Baseball: Autism Awareness Challenge preview

By Connor Hughes/For The Star-Ledger
on April 25, 2014 8:42 a.m.                   

Seven years ago, 16 Greater Middlesex County teams got together to play eight game with one common goal. For one afternoon, all put aside the "win at all costs" mentality for the sole purpose of bringing awareness to the illness Autism.

"It was just about getting the word out, getting people some information," Colorado Rockies scout Mike Garlatti said. "And we wanted to use baseball as the avenue to do that."
This coming Saturday, 26 teams across seven counties will play 13 games at three different locations with that same common goal. The afternoon, which has earned the name "The Autism Awareness Challenge," has ballooned to something even Garlatti didn't imagine when he began it so many years ago.
"I really never thought it was going to get this big," Garlatti, who has a son who suffers with autism, said. "Not that it has to be that big, but we've added some things to it. We've got some bigger named and ranked schools, it's intriguing to fans."
Garlatti's baseball career began as a former catcher at both the University of Tampa and Ramapo College. Later, he worked underneath Fred Hill on Rutgers University's coaching staff before he created the "Baseball Warehouse," a baseball school helping kids of all ages.
It was during this time that Garlatti wanted to create something to bring attention to Autism.
"You see how in the majors they do the pink bats for breast cancer and the NFL makes everything pink," Garlatti said. "I wanted to bring awareness and I got a lot of help from the local high school coaches. It's really grown."
One of the teams that has been involved for the last five years is North Brunswick High School.
"The whole point of it isn't even really baseball," North Brunswick coach Ryan Lillis said. "It's a fun day where everyone is at one spot. There's some good competition, everyone is talking about it and Mike usually sets up a table. It's designed to spread the word."
This year, all athletes will be taking an additional step in spreading the word. For the first time, each team will go to school on Friday in a different, extravagant colored jersey with the hope fans, parents, teachers and fellow students ask what it's for.
"All of the kids have been versed on how to explain it to them," Lillis said. "After they do, the hope is it will reach thousands and thousands of kids during the day. Those kids go home and explain it to their parents and it spreads."
While in the past games have been played at one location, this year they will be played at three: North Brunswick Community Park, East Brunswick High School and Myrtle Field in Metuchen. Below you will find the complete schedule for The Autism Awareness Challenge.

NORTH BRUNSWICK COMMUNITY PARK: 

Field One:
North Brunswick vs Montgomery, 10am
Steinert vs St. Joseph (Met), 1 pm
Edison vs Elizabeth, 4pm
Millburn vs Red Bank Catholic, 7pm

Field Two: South Plainfield vs Jackson Memorial, 10:30am
Spotswood vs New Brunswick, 1:30pm
Somerville vs Sayreville, 4:30pm
CBA vs Pope John, 7:30pm

MYRTLE FIELD Plainfield vs Dunellen, 2pm
Bernards vs Middlesex, 4:30pm
Metuchen vs Barnegat, 7:30pm

EAST BRUNSWICK HIGH SCHOOL Ridge vs East Brunswick, 1:30pm
Weehawken vs South River, 4:30pm

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-7839117519703551037/baseball-autism-awareness-challenge-and-preview/