Grand Zayle! St. Joseph wins Jim Muldowney GMC Championship, 7-4 over Edison, on walk-off grand slam by JP Zayle

From the moment the ball left JP Zayle’s bat, there was no doubt about it, the game was won. Though it was quite a different feeling from the St. Joseph-Metuchen dugout in the top of the first inning.

Edison (15-10) scored four times in the first off Falcons’ starter Rich Zangara, but the senior starter buckled down after that, only allowing one hit the rest of the way until he came out with one out in the seventh, and gave his team a chance to win.

And win they did, victorious in their final at bat in their last six games, winning all four GMC Tournament contests in walk-off fashion, in the most recent one, thanks to JP Zayle’s walk-off grand slam to send the fifth-seeded Falcons (15-6) past 11-seed Edison, 7-4, for its ninth all-time GMC title, a new league record.

But this one was the most dramatic comeback of all.

Edison’s first inning saw the first run come in on an infield hit by Connor Murphy, then a two-RBI double by Sam Kentos, and another infield hit by Brody Ferrer.

Joe’s got two back in the third. With two on, Joseph Barca singled up the middle, bringing in Bobby Christensen. Pinch-runner Damian Pipitone tried to score, too, but was thrown out at home. But then, the umpires conferred, and ruled catcher Brody Ferrer blocked the plate, and the run counted, making it 4-2.

Fast forward to the seventh – after both pitchers looked locked in late – and like last week’s semifinals against Spotswood, the bottom of the order was coming up. Again, the opposition couldn’t get them out.

Owen Krulikowski led with a walk, and Kris Almanzar beat out an infield hit deep in the hole to short. Walter Christian laid down a sac bunt, but no one was covering first immediately for Rob Roma to throw to, loading the bases.

Pinch-hitter Matthew Febrer grounded to short, driving in a run to make it 4-3, bringing the Falcons back to the dreaded (by the opposition) top of the order. Bobby Christensen was intentionally walked, bringing up Zayle.

And the rest, as they say, is history.