Eric Reardon went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI to lead North Brunswick to a 6-3 win over South Plainfield in North Brunswick. Reardon gave up three runs (two earned) on seven hits, struck out four, and walked four over six innings to earn the win. Dylan Martin pitched a scoreless seventh inning to close it out. Roger Gomez and Justin Garcia each hit RBI singles, while Neal Gaeta went 2-for-4 with a double and a run.
Greg Tufaro, @GregTufaro 10:34 p.m. EDT April 6, 2016 North Brunswick 9, South Plainfield 1 (GAME 1): A two-run single from Felix Diaz, an RBI double from Justin Garcia and an RBI single from Neal Gaeta highlighted a five-run fifth inning that enabled the Raiders to pull away from the defending state Group III champions. Roger Gomez collected five RBI for North Brunswick (2-0), whose other victory is over reigning state Group I runner-up Middlesex. Gomez belted a three-run homer in the third and laced an RBI single in the sixth. Winning pitcher Eric Vasquez (1-0) went the distance, allowing one earned run on six hits. He fanned three and walked one. Jesse Scher (2-for-3) helped fuel the offense for North Brunswick, which received at least one hit apiece from eight players. Eric Reardon, a Rutgers signee, was held hitless but reached base twice and scored two runs. Losing pitcher Dylan O’Connor lasted four innings. He walked two, fanned one and allowed three runs. The Tigers (1-2) were outhit 11-6.
Nick Polizzano went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI and Mike Stanczak, Nick Plate and Billy Keane also drove in two as South Plainfield defeated Middlesex, 11-1, in Middlesex. Jack Gillis and Jared Marks each scored three runs for South Plainfield, which broke through with five runs in the third to take a 6-0 lead. Keane tossed five scoreless innings to pick up the win by scattering five hits and a walk while striking out six. Mike Lavenia finished 2-for-3 with a run scored for Middlesex.
South Plainfield traveled to Monroe for a varsity baseball game vs. Monroe High School. South Plainfield's # 25-Nick Polizzano makes the catch of a pop up hit by Monroe's # 4-Willie Levier. (not seen).(Photo: Mark R. Sullivan)
By Greg Tufaro, @GregTufaro 6:08 p.m. EDT April 2, 2016
Senior shortstop Nick Polizzano went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI to lead the South Plainfield High School baseball team to an 11-1 victory over Middlesex on Saturday.
The Tigers (1-1), who were shut out in a season-opening loss to Old Bridge on Friday, scored five runs in the third inning to build a 6-0 lead.
Winning pitcher Billy Keane struck out six, scattered five hits and walked one. Teammates Mike Stanczak (2-for-3) and Nick Plate (2-for-4) had two RBI apiece.
Middlesex (0-2) spoiled South Plainfield’s shutout bid in the sixth on Mike Salerno’s RBI. The Blue Jays were outhit 9-7 and committed three errors.
Mike Lavenia collected two hits for the second consecutive game, while five Blue Jays each recorded a hit. Lavenia scored his team’s only run.
Three Middlesex pitchers combined to allow nine earned runs and walk seven batters while hitting an eighth.
The contest pitted the defending Group III champions against the Group I runners-up.
By Joe Zedalis NJ Advance Media for NJ.com on April 01, 2016 6:42 PM
OLD BRIDGE -- A healthy Zach Attianese flashed the form that made him the New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year in 2014 Friday, striking out nine and allowing two hits over six innings and led Old Bridge to a 6-0 victory over South Plainfield in an Opening Day meeting of Greater Middlesex Conference heavyweights.
South Plainfield won the Group 3 title last spring and Old Bridge was the Central Jersey Group 4 winner.
The North Carolina-bound Attianese, who was shut down late last season with arm soreness, threw 88 pitches. He featured a buzzing fastball and wicked breaking stuff. Attianese struggled with command -- mostly with his fastball, which missed up at times. "My breaking ball was the better pitch today," Attianese said. "My command wasn't what I wanted it to be, but for the first day it wasn't too bad."
"Zach threw harder than he did all spring," said Old Bridge head coach Jimmy Freel. Nick Polizzano had both hits for South Plainfield (0-1). He had a lead off double down the left field line in the fourth and an infield chopper over the third base bag for an infield single in the sixth.
Attianese threw six groundball outs in the game. He also helped himself by picking off two South Plainfield runners.
Old Bridge scored all of its runs during an 11-batter third inning. South Plainfield starter Jake Alba, who is usually a strike-throwing machine, threw 43 pitches in the inning.
Old Bridge (1-0) got the first two runners on in the third, then a dropped flyball allowed Sam Allen to score and opened the flood gates. Pete Marottoli drove in a run with an infield single and then an infield throwing error allowed two more runs to score. The Knights also scored a run on a bases loaded walk. Connor Romano also had an RBI hit during the rally.
Attianese was able to summon his best stuff in critical situations. With a runner on third with one out on the fourth, he induced a ground ball then struck out the final two hitters of the inning.
An anticipated pitchers’ duel between two of the conference’s top hurlers unraveled when a routine fly ball that should have resulted in nothing more than a sacrifice fly was dropped, leading to a six-run rally that propelled the Old Bridge High School baseball team to a 6-0 victory over defending state champion South Plainfield on Friday. Senior lefthander Zach Attianese, who has signed with the University of North Carolina, made the third-inning outburst stand, scattering two hits – including an infield single – while striking out nine and walking three over six innings. CHECK IT OUT: Read all about the GMC's other season-opening games Counterpart Jake Alba, headed to Stony Brook University, was the hard-luck loser, as all the runs scored off him, when the Knights sent 11 batters to the plate in the third, were unearned. South Plainfield reliever David Tavarez closed with three hitless innings, but the Tigers were never able to solve Attianese or touch closer Joe Papeo, whose impressive changeup resulted in a perfect seventh inning.
“It’s like any of these games where you’ve got two aces going, whose going to crack the armor first,” Old Bridge head coach Jimmy Freel said of his team reaching Alba. “They misplayed one ball, and it opened the floodgates. It could have happened to us the same way. The kid (Alba) is a great pitcher. He competed his tail off. But to get to a kid like that and get a few runs on him is huge, especially with our guy (Attianese). You give him six runs, you should win the game.”
After Alba issued a one-out walk to Sam Allen (and threw over to first base five consecutive times before offering to the next hitter), No. 9 batter Papeo laced an opposite-field single to right-center, putting runners on the corners. Don Dugan followed with a fly ball to center, which was deep enough for a sacrifice fly to score Allen, who crossed the plate easily when the ball was dropped. Attianese walked on four consecutive pitches, loading the bases for cleanup hitter Paul Marottoli, who barely beat out a slow-roller to shortstop on a 3-2 pitch to score the second run of the inning. Rob Dacunto walked on four consecutive pitches to force home a run. Tom Giasi reached on an infield error for a 4-0 lead before Connor Romano capped the rally with a two-run single up the middle. Alba, who retired the game's first seven batters on 21 pitches, needed 42 pitches to escape the third inning.
Romano, a 1,000-point scorer on the hardwood, played baseball as a freshman at Old Bridge, but spent the next two years focusing exclusively on basketball. With his high school career now complete in that sport, he returned to the diamond, joining his best friend Attianese and filling a void left by the graduation of Tyler Hopman. “I wanted to focus on basketball and work hard to get better at that,” Romano explained. “Once it (the end of hoops season) came around, I wanted to come back to the diamond, work hard and play with my best friend Zach.”
With defending Central Group IV champion Old Bridge having graduated more than 70 percent of its offensive production, Romano was a welcomed addition to a team that may struggle to score runs during the early part of a brutal schedule that features 17 games in 31 days.
“It’s a pleasure to have (Romano) back and be so good,” Freel said. “I personally didn’t think he would have as much of an impact not playing in three years, but he’s just a great athlete. He’s got great tools and he makes it work. He competes in whatever he plays and that makes him a great player. He’s a brilliant kid. He’s the smartest kid on the field, and at all times he’s kind of an energetic leader for us. He communicates with everybody else and he gets us going.”
With the exception of two four-pitch walks – each of which he couldn’t get his fastball down in the zone – Attianese was brilliant. His 12-to-6 curveball was tight and looked as good as he has thrown the deuce throughout his career.
“I felt I had all right stuff,” said Attianese, whose fastball topped out at 87 mph. “My fastball command wasn’t its best. I was missing everything high. I couldn’t really get it down. I felt my curveball was pretty good. I had a good defense behind me.”
After allowing two runners aboard with one away in the first – an inning which has traditionally proved to be difficult for the southpaw – Attianese fanned the next two hitters to escape the jam.
He faced just two batters over the minimum the rest of the way, largely because he erased the two batters he walked on pickoffs at first base, the second of which bordered on a balk but was brilliant in its execution.
Senior shortstop Nick Polizzano, who was stellar defensively, recording five assists, led off the fourth with a double down the third-base line for South Plainfield. He took third on cleanup batter Dylan O’Connor’s groundout but was stranded as the next two batters fanned on a total of seven pitches, mostly curveballs.
“A lot of our guys look fooled on it,” South Plainfield head coach Anthony Guida said of Attianese’s deuce. “He threw it well and he owned it. A guy like that, we tried to break his rhythm (Tigers such as Jared Marks skillfully stepped out of the box) and we couldn’t. It was a well-pitched game on his end.”
Old Bridge assistant coach Matt Donaghue, who stealthily provided the Knights with some key batting tips during the third-inning rally, reminded the team, which did not register a hit in any other inning, that it needs to be more productive offensively.
“One bad play,” Guida lamented, noting that the third-inning miscue changed the entire complexion of the contest. “That’s all it was. They capitalized and exploited that one (misplay). They tacked on runs and made a 1-0 game into a 6-0 game.”
Coach: Anthony Guida, 8th season (145-58). Last year: 24-8 overall, 8-2 division. 2016 schedule: Click HERE to view the schedule. Twitter: Follow South Plainfield baseball
Key losses: LJ Scarpitto (1B), Bryan Gillen (2B), Chris Graves (3B), Tommy Dunn (LF), Sean Erhardt (RF), Chris Marrero (C), Vincent Pellegrino (RHP), Wilfredo Rivera (RHP-INF), Kyle Dickerson (DH), Brandon Rickert (P).
Returning lettermen: Nick Polizzano (Sr., SS); Jack Gillis (Sr., CF); Jared Marks (Jr., C); Nick Plate (Jr., 1B-3B-P); Dylan O’Connor (Jr., OF-P); Brian Cullen (Sr., OF); Jean Sapini (Jr. P-1B-3B), Jake Alba (Sr., P).
Top newcomers: Billy Keane (So., 1B-P), Nick Peterson (Jr., 2B); Nick Plate (Jr., 1B-3B-P); David Tavarez (3B-P); Mike Lampasona (Jr., 3B); Michael Stanczak (So., 3B-P); Dillon Harris (Jr., OF), Ricky Pellegrino (Jr., OF), Kyle Bythell (Jr., OF); Kevin Soper (Jr., OF-P).
Pitchers: Jake Alba (Sr., RH); Jean Sapini (Jr., RH); Nick Plate (Jr., RH); Ryan Stankan (Jr., RH); Dylan O’Connor (Jr., RH); Kevin Soper (Jr., RH); David Tavarez (Jr., RH); Billy Keane (So., LH); Michael Stanczak (So., RH).
Outlook: Graduation decimated the defending state Group III champions, who must replace six players – Erhardt (24 hits), Gillen (46 hits), Graves (37 hits), Dickerson (26 hits), Dunn (23 hits), Scarpito (33 hits) – who combined for 189 hits. The outstanding glovework of Scarpito at first base and the stellar defense of Marrero, who split time with an equally talented catcher in Marks last season, will also be missed.
South Plainfield’s pitching is expected to keep the Tigers in games until the club’s offense develops. The team must compensate for the graduation of Pellegrino (5-2, 2.93), who led South Plainfield with 55 innings pitched. The transfer of Rivera to a school in Pennsylvania creates another void. With Stony Brook signee Alba (6-2, 2.64) and Sapini (4-0, 2.21) back on the hill, the Tigers have two outstanding starters. Sapini earned wins against Millburn, St. Peter's Prep, Roxbury and Mount Olive. He went the distance in the sectional and state semifinals. Sapini had no-decisions against Montgomery and Paramus. Alba closed out the sectional and state championship games. Opponents batted just .270 against South Plainfield pitching last season. The Tiger staff fanned 183 batters while walking just 97. Offensively, the Tigers were a small ball team. They parlayed 52 stolen bases, 26 sacrifices and 291 hits (only three of which were homers) into 186 runs.
South Plainfield jumped on opponents early, outscoring teams 37-8 in the first inning. South Plainfield boasted a stellar .960 fielding percentage, committing just 40 errors in 31 games. Polizzano (.247) returns as the club’s second-leading run-producer (18 RBI) behind the graduated Graves (30 RBI). Gillis (.366), who was fourth on the team with 30 hits, is also back. Fellow returners Marks, O’Connor, Cullen and Sapini combined for 19 hits.
The team’s out-of-division (Central Group IV champion Old Bridge, GMCT runner-up Sayreville, Group I finalist Middlesex) and nonconference schedule (Watchung Hills, Montgomery, Notre Dame, Paramus, Westfield, Millburn, St. Peter’s Prep, Somerville, St. Mary’s-Rutherford, Freehold Township) remains ultra-competitive.
2015 division scores: Click HERE to see how team fared against division opponents last spring.
MyCentralJersey.com’s 2016 Greater Middlesex Conference baseball previews continue today with our All-Division and All-Conference selections. Follow sports writer Greg Tufaro on Twitter for links to future previews and for complete coverage all season.
Please consider bookmarking this page as links to the aforementioned preview items will be added to it throughout the week. A list of last year's top hitters in the division can be found HERE, while a list of last year's All-Conference selections can be found HERE.
RHP
Robbie Peto
Monroe
LHP
Eric Heatter
Monroe
C
Anthony Tagliaferro
Monroe
1B
Eric Reardon
North Brunswick
2B
Kyle Daly
Monroe
SS
Mike Wilson
Colonia
3B
Shawn Eldridge
Monroe
OF
Jack Gillis
South Plainfield
OF
Rico Viani
Monroe
OF
Jordy Mora
J.F. Kennedy
DH
Trevor Cykowski
Woodbridge
UP
Jake Alba
South Plainfield
UP
Harry Rutkowski
Woodbridge
4. South Plainfield (24-8): The defending state Group III champions return two outstanding pitchers in Stony Brook signee Jake Alba (6-2, 2.64) and Jean Sapini (4-0, 2.21).
South Plainfield, however, must replace six starters who combined for 189 hits. Jack Gillis (.366) is among the conference's best outfielders, while Justin Marks is an experienced catcher.
Shortstop Nick Polizzano returns as the club's second-leading run producer (18 RBI).
The Tigers impressed with a .960 fielding percentage.
By Joe Zedalis | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com on June 08, 2015 9:32 AM, updated June 08, 2015 4:14 PM
2015 GREATER MIDDLESEX CONFERENCE ALL-STARS (Selected by Greater Middlesex Conference coaches) ALL-GMC Pitcher Justin Wills St. Joseph (Met.) Pitcher Harry Rutkowski Woodbridge Pitcher Eric Heatter Monroe Catcher Tyler McNamara East Brunswick First Base Eric Reardon North Brunswick Infield Chris Brito Perth Amboy Infield Tyler Hopman Old Bridge Infield Bryan Gillen South Plainfield Outfield Nick Johnson St. Joseph (Met.) Outfield James Gabriel Old Bridge At Large Zach Attianese Old Bridge At Large Zach Marzano J.P. Stevens At Large Pete Soporowski Sayreville At Large Robbie Peto Monroe At Large Chris Graves South Plainfield Coach of the Year: Anthony Guida South Plainfield Sportsman Award: Perth Amboy
ALL-GMC RED DIVISION Pitcher Justin Willis St. Joseph (Met). Pitcher Pete Soporowski Sayreville Pitcher Victor Dudka East Brunswick Catcher Tyler McNamara East Brunswick First Base Zach Marzano J.P. Stevens Infield Chris Brito Perth Amboy Infield Tyler Hopman Old Bridge Infield Juan Guarnera Sayreville Outfield Nick Johnson St. Joseph (Met.) Outfield James Gabriel Old Bridge Outfield Juan Ganzaroli East Brusnwick At Large Frank LoGuidice J.P. Stevens At Large Zach Attianese Old Bridge At Large Vinny Donofrio Old Bridge At Large Nolan Rivera Sayreville At Large Nolan Rivera Sayreville At Large Luke Jacobi J.P. Stevens At Large Brandon Radd Edison Coach of the Year: Scott Gleichenhaus Piscataway Sportsmanship Award: Perth Amboy
ALL-GMC WHITE DIVISION Pitcher Harry Rutkowski Woodbridge Pitcher Eric Heatter Monroe Pitcher Robbie Peto Monroe Catcher Anthony Tagliaferro Monroe First Base Eric Reardon North Brunswick Infield Bryan Gillden South Plainfield Infield Mike Wilson Colonia Infield Chris Graves South Plainfield Outfield Tom Sharfetz Iselin Kennedy Outfield Steven Bloyed North Brunswick Outfield Rico Vianni Monroe At Large Kyle Dickerson South Planfield At Large Vincent Pellegrino South Plainfield At Large LJ Scarpitto South Plainfield At Large Steve Cornish Monroe At Large Chris Hernandez Monroe At Large Trevor Cykowski Woodbridge Coach of the Year: Anthony Guida, South Plainfield Sportsmanship Award: Iselin Kennedy
ALL-GMC BLUE DIVISION Pitcher Daulton Dougherty South River Pitcher Cooper Cisco Spotswood Pitcher Tristan O’Connor Middlesex Catcher Mike Lavenia Middlesex First Base: Matt Krause Spotswood Infield Dan Fackina Bishop Ahr Infield Nick Lepore South River Infield Micky LoGatto Spotswood Outfield Chase Fee Spotswood Outfield Matt Leviton South River Outfield Matt Carvollano Middlesex At Large VJ Makris Bishop Ahr At Large Mike App Carteret At Large Mason White Spotswood At Large Kyle Harry Metuchen At Large Tyler Higgins South River At Large Stewart Lester Middlesex At Large Andrew Brazaicki Bishop Ahr Coach of the Year: Justin Nastasi Middlesex Sportsmanship Award Metuchen
ALL-GMC GOLD DIVISION Pitcher John DiNola East Brunswick Tech Pitcher David Johnson Dunellen Pitcher Jayson Oliveras South Amboy Catcher Keith Warzecha South Amboy First Base Tim Kales South Amboy Infield Ryan O’Dhea Highland Park Infield Josue Arias Perth Amboy Tech Infield Josh Brody East Brunswick Tech Outfield Riley Rone South Amboy Outfield Richy Valentin Piscataway Tech Outfield Mike Romos East Brunswick Tech At Large Paul Appleton Dunellen At Large Chris Salvatore East Brunswick Tech At Large Mike Kovalchik Highland Park At Large Kyle Chaney Cardinal McCarrick At Large German Pimental Piscataway Tech At Large Mike Hesionka Wardlaw Hartridge Coach of the Year: Dan Poulsen Timothy Christian Sportsmanship Award Timothy Christian
FIRST TEAM: Serafino Brito, Indian Hills Alex Busby, Roxbury Anthony Condito, Nutley Kyle Gerace, Mainland Bryan Gillen, South Plainfield Chris Grillo, Mount Olive Patrick Knight, Cranford Darnell Maisonet, Winslow Sean Mooney, Ocean City Adam Rapp, Northern Burlington Ryan Remo, Mahwah Ryan Shinn, Northern Burlington Matt Tsukroff, Montville Dan Wondrack, Wall
SECOND TEAM: Anthony Bartolomei, Ocean Township Sean Boyle, Steinert Nick Droboniku, Mainland Albert Gargiulo, Cranford Greg Gasparro, Hopewell Valley Ryan Jasiecki, Roxbury Alex Kokos, Wayne Valley Craig Lawson, Warren Hills Dom Magliaro, West Essex Austin Markowski, Somerville Tyler O’Dell, Northern Burlington Anthony Peroni, Steinert Jake Ryan, Toms River South Jean Sapini, South Plainfield
THIRD TEAM: Hunter Abdalla, Northern Highlands Jake Alba, South Plainfield Anthony Arneth, Central Regional Kyle Brown, Summit Brock Caudill, Montville Tommy Githens, Mendham Gregor Helmlinger, Mount Olive Jake Lentz, Paramus Scott Marshall, Roxbury Chris Pezzuti, West Essex Erik Rano, Somerville Steven Yeling, River Dell Sam Yuhas, West Milford Johnny Zega, Middletown South
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