Coaches select 2024 All-Greater Middlesex Conference and division teams

Baseball Notebook

May 30, 2024 by Mike Pavlichko

South River’s Julius Rosado was named GMC Hitter of the Year, while Monroe’s Zack Wallace was named Pitcher of the Year, as the Greater Middlesex Conference unveiled its 2024 postseason awards Thursday.

Scott Gleichenhaus of Red Division Champion South Plainfield was named Coach of the Year.

Here are all the league awards, and division honorees, as chosen by the league coaches:

All-GMC:

• Cory Pascarella – Colonia
• Jaxon Appelman, Robert Roma – Edison
• Zack Wallace – Monroe
• Yomar Carreras – North Brunswick
• JT Meyer, Frank Papeo, John Smith, Justin Hascup – Old Bridge
• Bobby Bressler – Piscataway
• Ethan Fantel – South Brunswick
• Jayden Alvarez, Zach Robinson – South Plainfield
• Julius Rosado – South River
• Carter Cumiskey – Spotswood
• Drew Lukachyk, Eddy Nunez – Woodbridge
• Coach of the Year: Scott Gleichenhaus, South Plainfield
• Sportsmanship: St. Joseph-Metuchen
• Hitter of the Year: Julius Rosado, South River
• Pitcher of The Year: Zack Wallace, Monroe

All-Red Division:

• Lukas Meyer – East Brunswick
• Harrison Lollin, Zack Wallace – Monroe
• Yomar Carreras – North Brunswick
• Akhil Penkala, JT Meyer, Frank Papeo, John Smith, Justin Hascup – Old Bridge
• Bobby Christensen, Joseph Zammitti – St. Joseph-Metuchen
• Colin Perna, Ethan Fantel – South Brunswick
• Nick Irizarry, Jayden Alvarez, Zach Robinson, Daniel Kapsch – South Plainfield
• Coach of the Year: Scott Gleichenhaus, South Plainfield
• Sportsmanship: St. Joseph-Metuchen
• Player of the Year: Zach Robinson, South Plainfield

Greater Middlesex Conference unveils post-season awards, all-league and division teams – Central Jersey Sports Radio (cjsportsradio.com)

 Andy MendlowitzMyCentralJersey.com

After a thrilling season on the diamond, the Greater Middlesex Conference's baseball coaches selected the All-Conference and All-Division teams, as well as the Players and Coaches of the Year.

South River junior Julius Rosado was selected as the Hitter of the Year after hitting .594 (38-for-64) with 14 home runs, 35 RBIs and 44 runs scored.

Monroe senior Zack Wallace was named the Pitcher of the Year after having an 0.81 ERA and striking out 95 hitters in 60 2/3 innings.

ALL GMC

Jaxon Appelman, Edison, Sr.

Robert Roma, Edison, So.

Carter Cumiskey, Spotswood, Jr.

Zack Wallace, Monroe, Sr.

Julius Rosado, South River, Jr.

Yomar Carreras, North Brunswick, Sr.

Cory Pascarella, Colonia, Jr.

Jayden Alvarez, South Plainfield, Sr.

Zachary Robinson, South Plainfield, Sr.

Drew Lukachyk, Woodbridge, Sr.

Eddy Nunez, Woodbridge, Sr.

JT Meyer, Old Bridge, Sr.

Frank Papeo, Old Bridge, Sr.

John Smith, Old Bridge, Jr.

Justin Hascup, Old Bridge, Jr.      

Bobby Bressler, Piscataway, Sr.

Ethan Fantel, South Brunswick, Sr.

Hitter of the Year: Julius Rosado, South River

Pitcher of the Year: Zack Wallace, Monroe

Coach of the Year: Scott Gleichenhaus, South Plainfield

Sportsmanship: St. Joseph

ALL RED DIVISION

Bobby Christensen, St. Joseph, Jr.

Joseph Zammitti, St. Joseph, Sr.

Harrison Lollin, Monroe, Sr.

Zack Wallace, Monroe, Sr.

Lukas Meyer, East Brunswick, Sr.

Yomar Carreras, North Brunswick, Sr.

Nicholas Irizarry, South Plainfield, Jr.

Jayden Alvarez, South Plainfield, Sr.

Zachary Robinson, South Plainfield, Sr.

Daniel Kapsch, South Plainfield, Jr.

Akhil Penkala, Old Bridge, Jr.

JT Meyer, Old Bridge, Sr.

Frank Papeo, Old Bridge, Sr.

John Smith, Old Bridge, Jr.

Justin Hascup, Old Bridge, Jr.

Colin Perna, South Brunswick, So.

Ethan Fantel, South Brunswick, Sr.

Player of the Year: Zachary Robinson, South Plainfield

Coach of the Year: Scott Gleichenhaus, South Plainfield

Sportsmanship: St. Joseph

NJ Baseball: All-GMC teams selected by the coaches (mycentraljersey.com)

2024 - Group 3 sectional semifinals baseball preview

 

By Luis Torres | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Kevin Minnick | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
PJ Potter | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

The first two rounds of the state tournament certainly produced their share of dramatic wins and standout individual performances.

Up next: sectional semifinals.
North 2 | Bracket

5-Colonia (19-6) at 1-South Plainfield (21-5-1)

When: Friday, 2

Coaches: Mike Scialfo, Colonia; Scott Gleichenhaus, South Plainfield

What to know about Colonia: 

Fifth-seeded Colonia is coming off of its second consecutive shutout of the state tournament when it defeated fourth-seeded West Morris in the quarterfinals. Colonia’s strength is its pitching staff, which has been phenomenal this season, posting a team ERA of 1.27, riding the arms of Cory Pascarella, Colin Kroner and Anthony Singh. The lineup has been able to string together enough hits to push runs across for Colonia, but will have to be productive with a berth in the sectional final on the line.

What to know about South Plainfield: 

Top-seeded South Plainfield, the No. 13 team in the NJ.com Top 20, is having a heck of a year under coach Scott Gleichenhaus. South Plainfield defeated Cranford in the quarterfinals to clinch a berth in the semifinals, where it will face a fellow Greater Middlesex Conference team in Colonia. South Plainfield has an athletic lineup, capable of putting up runs in bunches with the players like senior Zack Robinson. The lineup will have to contend with a really good Colonia pitching staff. South Plainfield’s pitching staff has been solid as well, posting a team ERA of 2.68.

Prediction: South Plainfield over Colonia

Group 3 sectional semifinals baseball preview: Unrelenting group leaves door open for all - nj.com

Top seeds Old Bridge, South Plainfield, Bridgewater-Raritan advance along with four others from CJSR area

Baseball Notebook

May 29, 2024 by Mike Pavlichko

Defending Central Jersey Group 4 champion Old Bridge joined two other top seeds from the Central Jersey Sports Radio coverage area – South Plainfield and Bridgewater-Raritan – in advancing to sectional semifinal play in the NJSIAA state tournament Wednesday afternoon.

Monroe, Colonia, Middlesex and Ridge also advanced, while South Brunswick, Sayreville, Carteret, South Amboy and Edison were eliminated.

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3:

It’ll be a GMC crossover matchup in the semifinals, with top-seed South Plainfield out of the Red Division taking on fifth-seed Colonia out of the White.

The Tigers (21-5-1) took a 6-2 decision from 8-seed Cranford Wednesday, as Zack Robinson had a monster game, 2-for-3 with three runs batted in on a double and a triple. Starting pitcher Kevin Penny held things down out on the mound, throwing 5 1/3, scattering five hits and allowing two earned runs, while striking out six.

South Planfield head coach Scott Gleichenhaus talks about the Tigers’ win over Cranford.

https://cjsportsradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/5-29-24-SCOTT-GLEICHENHAUS-after-Cranford-win-for-web.mp3

Below are results from all sections in which Central Jersey Sports Radio teams remain alive, followed by the complete upcoming schedule:

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29

Central Jersey Group 4
(1) Old Bridge def. (8) Sayreville, 4-0
(5) Monroe def. (4) South Brunswick, 3-0
(3) Jackson Memorial def. (6) Howell, 7-4
(2) Manalapan def. (7) Marlboro, 7-6

Central Jersey Group 2
(5) Bordentown def. (4) Carteret, 7-2

Central Jersey Group 1
(1) Pt. Pleasant Beach def. (8) Henry Hudson, 15-2
(5) Middlesex def. (4) South Amboy, 14-4
(11) Florence def. (3) South Hunterdon, 1-0
(2) Shore def. (10) Palmyra, 13-1

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4
(1) Bridgewater-Raritan def. (9) Edison, 3-0
(4) Westfield def. (5) Phillipsburg at, 2-1
(3) Ridge def. (11) Bayonne at, 7-1
(7) Hunterdon Central def. (2) Scotch Plains-Fanwood, 9-3

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3
(1) South Plainfield, def (8) Cranford, 6-2
(5) Colonia def. (4) West Morris, 3-0
(3) North Hunterdon def. (6) Summit, 1-0
(2) Randolph def. (7) Mendham, 3-2

THURSDAY, MAY 30

Non-Public North B
(5) Rutgers Prep at (1) St. Mary-Rutherford
(3) Gill St. Bernard’s at (2) St. Thomas Aquinas

Non-Public South A
(5) Immaculata at (1) Red Bank Catholic
(3) Christian Brothers Academy at (2) St. Augustine

FRIDAY, MAY 31

Central Jersey Group 4
(5) Monroe at (1) Old Bridge, 5 pm (Listen LIVE on CJSR)
(3) Jackson Memorial at (2) Manalapan

Central Jersey Group 1
(5) Middlesex at (1) Pt. Pleasant Beach, 4 pm
(11) Florence at (2) Shore

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4
(4) Westfield at (1) Bridgewater-Raritan, TBA
(7) Hunterdon Central at (3) Ridge, 4 pm

North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3
(5) Colonia at (1) South Plainfield, 2 pm
(3) North Hunterdon at (2) Randolph

SATURDAY, JUNE 1
Non-Public Sectional Finals (at higher seeds)

MONDAY, JUNE 3
Public Sectional Finals (at higher seeds)

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5
Public Group Semifinals (North 2 and South teams host

THURSDAY, JUNE 6
Non-Public State Finals (at Veterans’ Park, Hamilton)

SATURDAY, JUNE 8
Public State Finals (at Veterans’ Park, Hamilton)

Top seeds Old Bridge, South Plainfield, Bridgewater-Raritan advance along with four others from CJSR area – Central Jersey Sports Radio (cjsportsradio.com)

2024 - Game # 27 South Plainfield 6, Cranford 2 - NJSIAA Tournament, Quarterfinal Round, North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3

North 2, Group 3 quarterfinals, South Plainfield 6, Cranford 2

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Cranford (13-11)	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	2	7	6
South Plainfield (21-5-1)	0	0	6	0	0	0	0	6	6	0

By Tyler Duffy | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Zack Robinson had a triple, double, and three RBI to help give top-seeded South Plainfield, No. 13 in the NJ.com Top 20, a 6-2 victory over eighth-seeded Cranford in the quarterfinal round of the North 2, Group 3 tournament in South Plainfield.

Kevin Penny threw 5.1 innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out six for South Plainfield (21-5-1).

South Plainfield plated six runs in the third inning, and that is all it needed to get the win.

Brayden Fry went 3-for-4 and Sean Riley had an RBI for Cranford (13-11).

Top-seeded South Plainfield will face fifth-seeded Colonia in the semifinal round.

North 2, Group 3 quarterfinals - Baseball roundup, May 29 - nj.com

South Plainfield Batting

	AB	R	H	RBI	1B	2B	3B	HR	BB	HBP	SB	AVG	SLG
Dom Massaro	3	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	.333	.333
Dan Kapsch	2	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	.500	.500
Zack Robinson	3	1	2	3	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	.667	1.667
Jayden Alvarez	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000
Nick Irizarry	3	1	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.333	.333
Aiden McCarthy	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000
Steve Studlack	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000
Ryan Balent	3	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.333	.333
Dave Butrico	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000
Aldo Pigna	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000
Totals:	23	6	6	3	4	1	1	0	2	0	3	.261	.391

South Plainfield Pitching

	PIT	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HB	ERA
Kevin Penny	98	5.1	5	2	2	2	6	2	2.62
Chase Donovan	24	1.2	2	0	0	0	1	0	0.00
Totals:	122	7	7	2	2	2	7	2	2.00

Andy MendlowitzMyCentralJersey.com

No. 1 South Plainfield 6, No. 8 Cranford 2

Zack Robinson doubled, tripled and drove in three runs to continue his hot hitting as South Plainfield advanced to host Colonia in Friday’s semifinals.

Dom Massaro, Nick Irizarry and Dan Kapsch each singled and scored in the win for the Tigers (21-5-1), which put up six runs in the bottom of the third. Ryan Balent also had a hit.

Kevin Penny earned the win by allowing two runs in 5 1/3 innings with six strikeouts. Chase Donovan finished with 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

NJ baseball May roundup for GMC and area Skyland and Union counties (mycentraljersey.com)

Grand Poobah XXI Rumor has it our newest Poobah, was not thrilled with his prom swag. So he decided to hit a double, smoke a 3 base clearing triple & cap it off with some lights out defense to help advance his mates to the next round of the states & to get his mitts on the Poobah gear, which will be the envy of prom-goers statewide. For all of this, we Helmet Zach Robinson for the 3rd time this year.

Baseball Top 20, May 29

13-South Plainfield (20-5-1)
Last week: No. 14

Here’s why: South Plainfield slugged its way past Cliffside Park, 12-1, in the first round of North 2, Group 3 to clinch a spot in the quarterfinals. The win snapped a two-game losing streak for South Plainfield, which has a tricky matchup against Cranford on Wednesday with a spot in the semifinals on the line.

Baseball Top 20, May 29: Premier squads clamp down spot in rankings - nj.com