North Brunswick’s Zach Konstantinovsky will take the hill Saturday against Hunterdon Central after North Brunswick’s thrilling 1-0 first-round win over Hightstown Wednesday.
How would you like to throw a one-hitter, and lose the ball game?
That’s what happened to North Brunswick on Monday in the GMC semifinals. Zach Konstantinovisky hurled the kind of game that wouldn’t be called anything less than a gem. And yet, his 10th-seeded Raiders lost to 5th-seed South Brunswick 2-0 as part of the lowest scoring semfinals in conference history, which date to 1986.
But he’ll get another chance in the state tournament this weekend after North Brunswick – the 7th seed in Central Jersey Group 4 – escaped with a 1-0 walk-off win against 10th-seed Hightstown in the opening round of the NJSIAA playoffs Wednesday.
And how they did it was just as remarkable.
After the hard-luck loss on Monday, head coach Mark Blevins told his team he expected some good luck for a change.
You’ve heard of “I’d rather be lucky than good?” Well, North Brunswick didn’t need luck, and they were better than good.
Sean Anderson robbed one of Hightstown’s top hitters of a home run. Kyle Tarabokia hit Konstantinovsky – playing first base – with a perfect relay to nab a runner at the plate.
And Pat McCann delivered the game-winning hit in the bottom of the seventh: just a routine single.
You know: the kind with the bases loaded, two outs, and on a 2-2 pitch.
Now, the Raiders will travel to Flemington to take on 2nd-seed Hunterdon Central at 2:30 Saturday afternoon, a late start due to SAT day, according to Blevins.
Click below to hear North Brunswick coach Mark Blevins talk about the Raiders’ thrilling win over Hightstown, and preview Saturday’s matchup with the Red Devils: