Game #3 South Plainfield 4 Colonia 0

 

 

By The Star Ledger
on April 10, 2017 8:39 PM

 

Jean Sapini pitched a two-hitter with eight strikeouts and two walks as South Plainfield defeated Colonia, 4-0, in South Plainfield.

Sapini also went 1-for-3 with one RBI while Mike Marrero went 1-for-2 with one RBI for South Plainfield, which had a total of nine hits and scored all four runs in the first inning. Dylan O'Connor went 1-for-2 with one double and one run while Niko Vasquez scored one run.

Nick Nielson pitched six innings, allowing seven hits, with one strikeout and one walk for Colonia.

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/3403694132904558568/colonia-0-at-south-plainfield-4-baseball/

Greg Tufaro ,
@GregTufaro
Published 7:10 p.m. ET April 10, 2017

South Plainfield 4, Colonia 0

Winning pitcher Jean Sapini fanned eight and allowed three hits in a complete-game shutout.

The Tigers scored all their runs in the home first. Sapini and Mike Marrero each had an RBI single. After two runners were forced out at home, South Plainfield scored on a throwing error. The Tigers’ second run crossed on a wild pitch.

Mike Stanczak singled and doubled for South Plainfield (3-0), while teammate Billy Keane went 2-for-3.

Hard-luck loser Nick Nielson went the distance. He allowed seven hits, fanned one and walk none.

The Patriots left seven on base and did not advance a runner past second.
Nick Michael, Frank Lehmann and Anthony Palmisano had Colonia’s hits.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2017/04/10/april-10-gmc-baseball-roundup/100282686/

Game #2 South Plainfield 2 Spotswood 1

Spotswood (1) at South Plainfield (2) - Baseball

By The Star Ledger
on April 08, 2017 5:32 PM

Jean Sapini singled and pinch runner TJ Massaro scored on David Tavarez’s pinch-hit single to left with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning to help lift South Plainfield to a 2-1 victory over Spotswood at Jost Field in South Plainfield.

Rob Gonzalez earned the win pitching two innings of relief for the Tigers, giving up only one hit while striking out three.

Six players in total picked up singles for South Plainfield.

For Spotswood, Vincent Guardiola went 2-for-3 and Mat Ciacco recorded the lone RBI.

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/3403699132921558557/spotswood-1-at-south-plainfield-2-baseball/

Greg Tufaro ,
@GregTufaro
Published 2:29 p.m. ET April 8, 2017

South Plainfield 2, Spotswood 1

Pinch runner TJ Massaro scored on David Tavarez’s pinch-hit single to left with two away in the home sixth to snap a 1-1 deadlock as the Tigers (2-0) won a crossover game with the Chargers (2-1).

Running for Jean Sapini, who singled to lead off the sixth, Massaro advanced to second on a sacrifice and took third on a fielder’s choice groundout.

Rob Gonzalez, a transfer from Dickinson, earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief. He fanned three and allowed one hit. Spotswood stranded the tying run at first base in the top of the seventh.

Spotswood starting pitcher Matt Vento scattered five hits over five innings for a no-decision. Matt Ciaccio, a 6-foot-7 lefthander, took the loss.

South Plainfield starter Chris Shine, a sophomore, lasted five innings. He scattered four hits, walked four and fanned four.

Nick Vincelli led off the second inning with a triple and scored Spotswood’s lone run on Ciaccio’s sacrifice fly. Mike Stanczak scored South Plainfield's first run on a wild pitch in the opening frame.

Spotswood was outhit 6-4. Vincent Guardiola went 2-for-3 for the Chargers. Six Tigers had one hit apiece.

“I feel good about it,” South Plainfield head coach Anthony Guida said about his team’s 2-0 start which includes an 8-1 victory over Sayreville.

“We’ve had two well-pitched games. They are playing great defense and we’ve been able to put the ball in play. I feel really good with 1 through 9. I’ve been really impressed with our pitching and defense.”

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2017/04/08/april-8-gmc-baseball-roundup/100211946/

Game #1 South Plainfield 8 Sayreville 1

South Plainfield (8) at Sayreville (1) - Baseball

By The Star Ledger
on April 03, 2017 10:03 PM

Jean Sapini pitched five innings, allowing two hits, with 10 strikeouts and three walks as South Plainfield defeated Sayreville, 8-1, in Parlin.

Sapini also went 1-for-4 with one run while Chris Shine went 1-for-3 with one double, three RBI and one run for South Plainfield, which had a total of eight hits and scored five runs in the sixth inning. Jared Marks went 2-for-3 with two doubles, one RBI and one run while Billy Keane went 1-for-4 with one double and one RBI.

Ryan Casano went 2-for-3 with one run while Jayson DeMild went 1-for-3 with one double and one RBI for Sayreville.

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/2403688132891558575/south-plainfield-8-at-sayreville-1-baseball/

 

Greg Tufaro ,
@GregTufaro
Published 7:07 p.m. ET April 3, 2017

South Plainfield 8, Sayreville 1: Chris Shine’s three-run double highlighted a five-run rally in the sixth inning when the Tigers built a 7-0 lead to put the contest out of reach.

Billy Keane followed Shine’s hit with an RBI double of his own. Sayreville’s Jayson DeMild answered with an RBI double in the top of the seventh to produce the final margin.

Leadoff batter Roberto Gonzalez, a transfer from Dickinson, went 2-for-5 with a two-out RBI single in the early going for the Tigers. Newcomer Connor Adams, who went 2-for-4, was the only other Tiger with a multiple-hit game.

South Plainfield built a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning, scoring one run on an error out of a first-and-third situation and plating another on Mike Stanczak’s sacrifice fly.

Winning pitcher Jean Sapini fanned 10 over five innings and allowed just one hit. Gonzalez and Dylan O’Connor each hurled an inning of relief.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2017/04/03/april-3-gmc-baseball-roundup/100001570/

South Plainfield High School vs. Middlesex High School - 04/01/2017 Cancelled

The Boys Varsity Baseball game between South Plainfield High School & Middlesex High School on 04/01/2017 has been cancelled.

2017 SP Tigers Baseball Preview

 

 

South Plainfield's Jean Sapini pitches in the 2015 NJSIAA Group III baseball semifinals against Mount Olive. (Photo: ~Mark R. Sullivan/Staff Photograp)

2017 SOUTH PLAINFIELD TIGERS

Coach: Anthony Guida, 9th season (156-75).

Last Year: 11-17 overall, 5-5 White Division.

2016 Scores: Click HERE.

2017 Schedule: Click HERE to view the schedule.

Twitter: Follow HERE.

 

Key Losses: Nick Polizzano (SS), Jake Alba (RHP), Jack Gillis (CF).

Probable Lineup: Jared Marks (Sr., C); Billy Keane (Jr., P-1B); Jean Sapini (Sr., P-1B); Chris Shine (So., P-INF); Roberto Gonzalez (So., P-INF); Michael Stanczak (Jr., INF); David Tavarez (Sr., P-INF-OF); Dylan O'Connor (Sr., P-OF); Ricky Pellegrino (Sr., OF); Kevin Soper (Sr. P-OF); Austin Feltham (Jr., P-INF); Donald Grabinsky (Jr., OF).

Pitchers: Jean Sapini (Sr., RH); Kevin Soper (Sr., RH); Billy Keane (Jr., LH); Chris Shine (So., RH); Roberto Gonzalez (So., RH); David Tavarez (Sr., RH); Dylan O'Connor (Sr., RH).

Top Reserves: Connor Adams (Jr., OF); TJ Massaro (So., OF); Niko Vasquez (Jr., C); Luke Tamburro (Jr., C); Mike Marrero (So., INF).

 

South Plainfield's Jean Sapini (left) and Jared Marks (Photo: ~file photo)

 

Outlook: A year after winning the Group III championship with a senior-laden club, the young and injury-plagued Tigers remained competitive and gained valuable experience. South Plainfield batted just .237 as a team and its 25 extra-base hits were all doubles.

 

Guida must replace leading hitters Polizzano (.384 with a team-high 16 RBI) and Gillis (.321 with a team-best 25 runs). The duo combined for 54 hits. Stanczak (16 hits) is the only returning starter to bat over .250 last season.

The Tigers will also miss Alba (3-4, 3.23 ERA, 43 IP), who is now at Stony Brook, on the mound. South Plainfield returns a veteran staff with 81 innings pitched. Injuries to Keane (broken cheekbone) and Sapini (meniscus) provided opportunities for underclassmen to get work at the varsity level. Sapini returned to regain his state championship form, compiling a 3-2 record with a 1.35 ERA including 28 K and just 9 BB over 26 IP. Keane finished 2-2 with a 3.85 ERA over 20 innings. The transfer of Gonzalez from Dickinson will bolster South Plainfield’s formidable staff. He cracked Dickinson’s starting lineup as a freshman at second base last season. O’Connor succeeds Gillis in centerfield. Pellegrino, Grabinsky, Soper, Adams and Massaro are competing for the two other outfield spots. Marks, a gifted defensive backstop who committed just one error in 173 chances last season, remains entrenched behind plate. He also is among the team’s top returning hitters with 13 singles and a double.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2017/03/28/gmc-baseball-2017-white-division-preview-package/99487734/

GAME # 28 Cranford 8 South Plainfield 1

South Plainfield (1) at Cranford (8), NJSIAA Tournament, Quarterfinal Round, North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3

By The Star Ledger
on May 26, 2016 9:37 PM

Garrett Forrestal went 2-for-3 with a triple, four RBI and two runs as fourth-seeded Cranford defeated 12th-seeded South Plainfield, 8-1, in the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 quarterfinals in Cranford.

Brian Oblachinski was 3-for-4 with two RBI for Cranford, which scored five runs in the bottom of third inning and will host eighth-seeded Nutley in the semifinals on Tuesday. Joseph Norton went 2-for-3 with two runs, Michael Smith went 2-for-4 with a RBI, Ryan Bakie went 2-for-4 and Matthew Perino scored two runs. Gordon Graceffo pitched a three-hitter, striking out three and walking two.

South Plainfield's Nick Polizzano went 2-for-3 and Jack Gillis added a run and a RBI.

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/78794733434491191/south-plainfield-1-at-cranford-8-njsiaa-tournament-quarterfinal-round-north-jersey-section-2-group-3-baseball/

 

 

Cranford 8, South Plainfield 1

Greg Tufaro,
@GregTufaro
9:53 p.m. EDT May 26, 2016

Nick Polizzano went 2-for-3 and Jack Gillis scored the Tigers’ lone run as South Plainfield was eliminated from the North 2 Group III playoffs.

The Tigers were outhit 12-3. Jake Alba and Jean Sapini combined to allow eight runs on 12 hits and seven walks.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2016/05/26/may-26-gmc-baseball-roundup/84975046/

GAME # 27 South Plainfield 3 Summit 2

 

South Plainfield (3) at Summit (2), NJSIAA Tournament, First Round, North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3

 

By The Star Ledger
on May 24, 2016 8:11 PM

 

Twelfth-seeded South Plainfield used two runs in the top of the fifth inning to take the lead for good and defeat fifth-seeded Summit, 3-2, in the first round of the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 tournament in Summit.

Jake Hoffman and Jack Gillis each scored in the inning for South Plainfield, which will play at fourth-seeded Cranford in Thursday's quarterfinals.

Robby Faris and Grant Douglas both went 2-for-4 with a run scored for Summit.

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-921209266565508825/south-plainfield-3-at-summit-2-njsiaa-tournament-first-round-north-jersey-section-2-group-3-baseball/



NJSIAA TOURNAMENT

North 2 Group 3 first round
South Plainfield 3, Summit 2

Daniel LoGiudice,
@danny_logiudice
9:11 p.m. EDT May 24, 2016

Dylan O'Connor laid down a suicide squeeze bunt in the fifth inning to give 12th-seeded South Plainfield (11-16) the lead over No. 5 Summit. Jared Marks tied the game 2-2 also on a suicide squeeze. Jack Gillis scored twice and Nick Polizzano had an RBI-single. Jean Sapini pitched two innings of relief for the win. South Plainfield, which had eight stolen bases, will face No. 4 Cranford in the quarterfinals.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2016/05/24/gmc-baseball-roundup-tuesday-may-24/84878016/

RAIN DELAY - GAME SUSPENSION 5/23 South Plainfield vs. Summit

No. 12 South Plainfield vs. No. 5 Summit

 Greg Tufaro,
@GregTufaro
10:21 p.m. EDT May 23, 2016

The game was suspended due to rain. It will resume on Tuesday with Summit leading 2-1 and South Plainfield batting with a runner on second and none away and a 1-2 count on the hitter.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2016/05/23/may-23-gmc-baseball-roundup/84768082/

Baseball playoffs 2016: North Jersey Section 2 Group 3 preview

During South Planfield's 4-2 win against Cranford in the N2G3 Varsity Baseball Finals at Memorial Field in Cranford, NJ 5/29/15 (Alex Remnick | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

By Richard Greco
NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
on May 22, 2016 2:20 PM

NORTH JERSEY, SECTION 2, GROUP 3

BRACKET
SEEDS: 1-Mendham; 2-Somerville; 3-Gov. Livingston; 4-Cranford; 5-Summit; 6-Warren Hills; 7-Snyder; 8-Nutley; 9-Carteret; 10-Colonia; 11-Matawan; 12-South Plainfield; 13-Orange; 14-Barringer; 15-Chatham; 16-Voorhees

FAVORITE: Top-seeded Mendham is battle tested heading into states. It has faced Morristown, Delbarton, Hunterdon Central, Montgomery, Roxbury and Seton Hall Prep during the regular season. Jack Donlon and Thomas Koide will handle a bulk of the pitching for the Minutemen, while Jack Chernow and Tyler Hoops lead the offense. Mendham is outscoring opponents 100-49 this season.

South Plainfield SS Nick Polizzano (25) tags out Pat Knight (8) of Cranford during South Planfield's 4-2 win against Cranford in the N2G3 Varsity Baseball Finals at Memorial Field in Cranford, NJ 5/29/15 (Alex Remnick | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

CONTENDERS:
Second-seeded Somerville has some tough losses and some good wins much like most of the teams in Skyland Conference this year. Andrew Prescott has pitched well for the Pioneers and Chris DiCostanzo, JoJo Mosca and Preston Scott key the offense.

Third-seeded Gov. Livingston get hot in the Union County Tournament and is hoping to ride that momentum into states. The Highlanders are averaging five runs per game and have proven they can win clutch games. Josh Katz came up with the game-winning hit in extra innings during GL’s Union County Tournament semifinal win over Westfield and Vin Doren pitched a gem in the final.

After advancing to the sectional final last year, fourth-seeded Cranford is looking to get back there this season. The Cougars have wins over Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Westfield, Randolph, Bridgewater-Raritan, Gov. Livingston and St. Mary (Ruth.). Cranford has the pitching to go on run with Chris Librera and Gordon Graceffo leading the group.
Sixth-seed Warren Hills will be able to make some noise when Anthony Veneziano takes the hill. The big question will be whether or not Warren Hills uses Venziano against Matawan in the first round of save him for a potential meeting with Gov. Livingston in the second round.

Jake Alba (1) pitches for South Plainfield during South Planfield's 4-2 win against Cranford in the N2G3 Varsity Baseball Finals at Memorial Field in Cranford, NJ 5/29/15 (Alex Remnick | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)



DARK HORSE: 12th-seeded South Plainfield, the defending champs, have had a rough season, but are hoping to make some noise in the state tournament. Jake Alba was the winning pitcher in last year’s extra inning triumph over Cranford in the sectional final and will be key in any run for the Tigers. Jack Gillis and Nick Polizzano also were key players in last year’s Group 3 championship team.

South Plainfield SS Nick Polizzano (25) flings the ball to first during South Planfield's 4-2 win against Cranford in the N2G3 Varsity Baseball Finals at Memorial Field in Cranford, NJ 5/29/15 (Alex Remnick | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Anthony Condito, Nutley; Garrett Forrestal, Cranford; Chrystian Walker, Orange; Anthony Veneziano, Warren Hills; Mike Wilson, Colonia; Thomas Moore, Warren Hills; Peter DeMaria, Chatham; Will Schaffer, Summit; Jojo Mosca, Somerville; Jack Donlon, Mendham; Jason Juarez, Orange.

South Plainfield C Chris Graves (27) tags out Joe Norton (32) of Cranford during South Planfield's 4-2 win against Cranford in the N2G3 Varsity Baseball Finals at Memorial Field in Cranford, NJ 5/29/15 (Alex Remnick | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

THE PICK: Gov. Livingston over Mendham
The Highlanders have proven they can win the big games. Although the road to the sectional final will not be easy, Gov. Livingston has two solid starters in Nick Cocchia and Vin Doren that can bring it to the final. If this sectional final pits these two together a duel between Cocchia and Donlon would be a lot of fun.

During South Planfield's 4-2 win against Cranford in the N2G3 Varsity Baseball Finals at Memorial Field in Cranford, NJ 5/29/15 (Alex Remnick | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/6701171825851097197/baseball-playoffs-2016-north-jersey-section-2-group-3-preview/

GAME # 26 Scotch Plains-Fanwood 5 South Plainfield 4

South Plainfield (4) at Scotch Plains-Fanwood (5)
 
By The Star Ledger
on May 21, 2016 6:59 PM

George Leichtling drove in two and Tyler O'Brien scored twice as Scotch Plains-Fanwood edged South Plainfield, 5-4, in Scotch Plains.

Jake Canavan was 2-for-3 with a double and a run and Jack Defouw and Marc Occhipinti each drove in runs for Scotch Plains, which took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Nick Stone allowed three runs (two earned) in 4 2/3 innings pitched before being relieved by Defouw, who pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings to pick up his fifth win of the season.

Nick Polizzano was 2-for-3 with two runs and Dylan O'Connor and Kyle Bythell each had RBI for South Plainfield.

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/-2921230266594508742/south-plainfield-4-at-scotch-plains-fanwood-5-baseball/

 

 

Scotch Plains-Fanwood 5, South Plainfield 4

Daniel LoGiudice,
@danny_logiudice
9:19 p.m. EDT May 21, 2016

Nick Polizzano went 2-for-3 with two runs while Dylan O’Connor and Kyle Bythell each drove in one run for South Plainfield (10-16).

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2016/05/21/gmc-baseball-roundup-saturday-may-21/84705178/

Scotch Plains-Fanwood 5, South Plainfield 4

Tyler O’Brien went 2-for-4 with two runs while George Leichtling drove in two runs for Scotch Plains-Fanwood (16-11). Nick Polizzano went 2-for-3 with two runs while Dylan O’Connor and Kyle Bythell each drove in one run for South Plainfield (10-16).

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2016/05/21/courier-news-baseball-roundup-saturday-may-21/84704722/

GAME # 25 South Plainfield 2 Metuchen 1

 

South Plainfield (2) at Metuchen (1)

 

By The Star Ledger
on May 18, 2016 10:27 PM

 

Ricky Pelligrino scored what proved to be the winning run in the top of the fifth inning as South Plainfield defeated Metuchen, 2-1, in Metuchen.

Chris Shine pitched two scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win and Nick Polizzano earned the save after a scoreless seventh inning.

Metuchen's Mike Lapczynski went 2-for-3 and Alex Brooks pitched a four-hitter in defeat.

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/3082420937962386888/south-plainfield-2-at-metuchen-1-baseball/


 

NO REPORT FILED



GAME # 24 South Plainfield 2 Bishop Ahr 1

 

Bishop Ahr (1) at South Plainfield (2)

 

By The Star Ledger
on May 18, 2016 6:06 PM 

 



Jake Alba pitched six innings, allowing one run while walking three and striking out seven in South Plainfield 2-1 win over Bishop Ahr in South Plainfield.

Jack Gillis and Rickey Pellegrino scored one run apiece for South Plainfield, which scored single runs in the first and third to take a 2-0 lead.

Nick Polizzano came on in relief for Alba, pitching one inning and striking out one.

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/4082438937970386879/bishop-ahr-1-at-south-plainfield-2-baseball/

South Plainfield 2, Bishop Ahr 1

Alyssa Davis,
@AlyssaM_Davis 
8:27 p.m. EDT May 17, 2016

Nick Polizzano went 1-for-2 with an RBI double while Dave Tavarex went 2-for-3 with a single and a double for South Plainfield. Winning pitcher Jake Alba notched six strikeouts, walked two and scattered five hits in six innings. Polizzano pitched a 1-2-3 seventh for the save. Andrew Brazicki went 2-for-3 for Bishop Ahr. Rich Albrecht pitched six innings with eight strikeouts, two walks and one hit batter.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2016/05/17/may-17-gmc-baseball-roundup/84514836/

GAME # 23 Freehold Township 7 South Plainfield 2

South Plainfield (2) at Freehold Township (7)

By The Star Ledger
on May 14, 2016 10:10 PM

Ryan Ford went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI in Freehold Township's 7-2 victory over South Plainfield in Freehold.
 
Freehold Township, which had nine hits, scored five runs in the second inning. John Carroll had two RBI and scored a run. Pete Nielsen allowed seven hits, two earned runs, no walks and struck out four in five innings.

South Plainfield's Dylan O'Connor went 2-for-2 with a double and an RBI, while Jack Gillis doubled and scored a run.

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/6082444937989386942/south-plainfield-2-at-freehold-township-7-baseball/

 

 

Freehold Township 7, South Plainfield 2

 Greg Tufaro,
@GregTufaro
8:11 p.m. EDT May 14, 2016

Dylan O'Connor had an RBI for the Tigers. Teammate Jack Gillis singled and scored a run.

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2016/05/14/may-14-gmc-baseball-roundup/84387882/

GAME # 22 Perth Amboy 15 South Plainfield 8

Perth Amboy (15) at South Plainfield (8), Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament, Preliminary Round 

By The Star Ledger
on May 12, 2016 10:47 PM

Jordanny Nunez drove in three runs and Devin Rodriguez plated two runs to lead Perth Amboy to a 15-8 win over South Plainfield in the preliminary round of the Greater Middlesex County Tournament in South Plainfield.

Sergio Ramos, Darius Diaz, and Jahzeel Espiritusanto each had one RBI and Chris Brito allowed three hits over five innings with six strikeouts and one walk to earn the win.

Nick Plate, Dylan O'Connor, and Dave Tavarez each had two RBI for South Plainfield.

http://highschoolsports.nj.com/news/article/7082555938627387793/perth-amboy-15-at-south-plainfield-8-greater-middlesex-conference-tournament-preliminary-round-baseball/

Brito leads Perth Amboy in GMC Tournament

Greg Tufaro,
@GregTufaro
12:58 a.m. EDT May 13, 2016

As the lowest seeded team still alive in the Greater Middlesex Conference Baseball Tournament, don’t expect 22nd-seeded Perth Amboy High School to be intimidated.
The Panthers advanced with an impressive 15-8 preliminary-round victory on Thursday over defending Group III champion South Plainfield as Chris Brito, the lone pitcher out of a combined eight for both teams to take the mound with any sustained success, retired 13 of the final 15 batters.

Brito, better known as an incumbent Home News Tribune first-team All-Area selection and one of the league’s best-hitting infielders, was brilliant in relief as South Plainfield, which squandered an 8-6 third-inning lead, was blanked over the final four frames.

“They believe in me,  and I believe in them, so as a captain, I’ve got to come in when they (pitching staff) are having a bad day,” Brito said, noting he wanted to give his team a chance to chip away at the deficit. “I’ve got to step up my game and pitch however I have to pitch to put my team in a winning situation.”

The game quickly became a battle of attrition for South Plainfield, as the pitching-depleted Tigers (8-14) did not have ace Jake Alba (he pitched Monday and only throws one day a week according to South Plainfield head coach Anthony Guida), No. 2 starter Jean Sapini (Guida said Sapini has not thrown a bullpen session since April 28 because of  arm soreness), No. 3 starter Ryan Stankan (he pitched six innings on Tuesday) or No. 4 starter Billy Keane (who was injured six days ago) available.

On a day when South Plainfield’s defense obviously needed to rise to the occasion, the Tigers endured a complete meltdown, committing a season-high 11 errors that led to 12 unearned runs. In perhaps a fitting coincidence, Guida said his pen literally ran out of ink midway through the game, so he stopped keeping score of the miscues.

“I really don’t know what to say about our team today,” Guida said. “It was one of the most frustrating and aggravating games I’ve ever been a part of.”

The Panthers weren’t handed a victory. They pounded out a season-high 18 hits and have now scored 32 runs in their last two games including a 14-0 drubbing of Wardlaw-Hartridge in the GMCT play-in round.

Perth Amboy advanced to Monday’s first round, where it will play sixth-seeded Edison for the third time 11 days. The Eagles swept the regular-season series between the schools, winning 6-4 and 5-2.

The Panthers, who have lost 10 games by a total of 17 runs, are clearly better than their deceptive 6-15 record. With just two seniors in the starting lineup, Perth Amboy is built for the future, but it may be ahead of schedule.

“We know we can battle with anybody,” Perth Amboy head coach Alex Perez, a former New York Yankees farmhand said, noting that as a Red Division member the Panthers were well-prepared for the postseason.

“We knew going in (to the tournament) we are not a 22 seed team but we put ourselves in that situation. I told my guys, forget about the seed. It’s been that type of year. We just knew if we give our guys opportunities, positive results are going to happen. We have a good shot at making a nice run here.”

Jordanny Nunez, one of the two aforementioned seniors, snapped an 8-8 deadlock with a two-run single in the top of the fifth. He scored on Jahzeel Espiritusanto’s suicide squeeze as the Panthers built an 11-8 lead they would not relinquish.

“We know he has a good bat and was going to come around,” Perez said of Nunez (3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs), who had been struggling at the plate. “For a senior to have that big hit at that moment is definitely huge for him and for us.”

Every Perth Amboy player recorded at least one hit except Brito, who reached on three errors and scored each time. After leaving the bases loaded in each of his two previous at-bats, cleanup hitter Darius Diaz capped a three-run rally in the sixth with an RBI triple to give the Panthers a 14-8 advantage.

Speedy leadoff batter Sergio Ramos (2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored) excelled at the plate, as did Devin Rodriguez (plated two runs with a suicide squeeze and a single) and Anjeury Peralta (2-for-5 with a run). No. 9 batter Elvis Iglesias singled and scored three times.

“We’ve been struggling (offensively),” Perez said, noting the Panthers scored more than three runs just once in their last five regular-season games. “All we talked about was having better approaches and seeing the ball come out of the pitcher’s hand.”

Freshman right-hander Chris Shine yielded three runs to Perth Amboy in the first inning on a walk, two errors, two stolen bases, an infield single and a fielder’s choice. The Tigers parlayed three walks and three consecutive singles into a three-run rally of their own, knotting the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the frame.

Six South Plainfield batters who either walked or were hit by a pitch came around to score. David Tavarez had a two-run single for the Tigers, while teammates Dylan O’Connor and Nick Plate each had an RBI single. Mike Stanczak and Plate each had a sacrifice fly. O’Connor plated a run with a suicide squeeze.

Undaunted by the state championship banner hanging from the backstop at South Plainfield’s diamond, Perth Amboy made itself right at home. The Panthers played with enthusiasm from the first pitch to the final out and made incessant noise in the dugout during at-bats. They ran the bases as well as they ran their mouths with positive chants emanating from the bench.

“I knew they were good enough to beat us,” Guida said. “I told the kids right off the bat, this team is expecting to win this game. They know they’re good enough to win this game, and they went out and proved it today.”

http://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/sports/high-school/baseball/2016/05/12/baseball-brito-leads-perth-amboy-gmc-tournament/84271484/