South Plainfield’s Kevin Penny pitches against Edison in the GMC Tournament semifinals on May 11, 2024. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
In just about any game where Jaxon Appelman is the starter for Edison, he would get the edge.
Kevin Penny of South Plainfield had other ideas Saturday afternoon.
The junior got the start in the GMC Tournament semifinals against the Eagles Saturday, and he was comfortable working with an early 4-0 lead that helped the top-seeded Tigers to an 8-3 win, earning a trip to next week’s conference championship game back here at Ray Cipperly Field.
The Tigers (18-3) got four runs in the first on just one hit, while Appelman walked one and hit two batters.
Dan Kapsch led off with a base on balls, the Zach Robinson and Jayden Alvarez were hit by pitches to load the bases. Brandon Bickunas doubled to score two. Nick Irizzarry grounded into a fielder’s choice to score the third run, and an error on right fielder Teddy Eyler on a ball hit by Aiden McCarthy drove in the fourth run.
Appelman seemed to settle in a bit, and Edison (13-8) got a run back in the third. Dom Innocenti drew a one-out walk, Teddy Eyler singled and Appelman drove in a run on a fielder’s choice.
But South Plainfield answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Bickunas reached on an E5 to lead off, then Irizzarry and McCarthy walked. Aftee Ryan Balent struck out, a Stephen Studlack walk drive in a run, and Aldo Pigna plated another with a groundout to make it 6-1 Tigers.
Edison would make it 6-2 in the fourth. Brody Ferrer led off with an infield hit, and two batters later, Shaun Garland knocked him in with an RBI single.
In the sixth, South Plainfield got two insurance runs. Zach Robinson hit a fly ball to right that was misplayed – Edison’s fourth error of the game – and Jayden Alvarez promptly belted a first-pitch two-run homer to right.
Kevin Penny pitched 6 1/3 innings, striking out five, and got the win to improve to 2-0. Jaxon Appelman fell to 4-2 with the loss, allowing six runs, four earned in four innings of work.
South Plainfield will meet Old Bridge in the GMC Tournament final next Saturday at 2 pm at Ray Cipperly Field, in a game that can be heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio. The two met in 2011, with Old Bridge taking the title.
Click below for postgame reaction presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:
Discover more from Central Jersey Sports Radio
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.