Old Bridge shortstop John Smith hits a sac fly to center in the third-inning to give the Knights a 1-0 lead, the only run they would need in a 5-0 win over St. Joseph-Metuchen at Fred Cole Field on April 8, 2024. (photo: Mike Pavlichko)
It was enough that Frank Papeo was giving Old Bridge a solid outing on the mound, keeping St. Joseph-Metuchen off the board as his team clung to a 1-0 lead into the sixth, but then he helped the Knights on offense.
With two out and the bases loaded – and his team up 2-0 after John Smith drove in his second run of the game by sacrificing his body to a pitch – Papeo scorched a double to clear the bases and give Old Bridge a 5-0 lead.
He couldn’t finish the game in the top of the seventh, getting into a bit of trouble and running up against the 110 single-game pitch count, but he did get the win. Papeo is now 2-0 on the young season, having not surrendered a single run, earned or unearned, thus far.
And top-ranked Old Bridge swept the season series from No. 5 St. Joe’s with a 5-0 victory, outscoring the Falcons 9-0 in those two games.
After a scoreless first two innings, Old Bridge got on the board using some small ball. Justin Meyer walked to lead off the third. Christian Cavanaugh laid down a sac bunt to move him to second, then Meyer advanced to third on a passed ball. Smith then hit a sac fly to center to put the Knights up 1-0, and that was all they’d get until they blew it open in the sixth.
Papeo got the win, improving to 2-0 on the season. He pitched 6 and 1/3 innings, struck out seven, and scattered three hits as Old Bridge improved to 4-1.
Connor Walker took the loss in his first start of the season for St. Joseph, which is 0-3 for the first time in at least 17 years.
Click below for postgame reaction with Old Bridge pitcher Frank Papeo and head coach Matt Donaghue, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:
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