Finally! Two days after they started, Middlesex finishes off Midland Park, 3-2, in NJSIAA Group 1 final to give Blue Jays GMC record 7th state title

It took them three days, but it was well worth it for the Middlesex baseball team.

The Blue Jays won their GMC-record seventh NJSIAA state championship Monday afternoon, beating Midland Park in the state Group 1 Final at the Wood-Ridge Athletic Complex in Bergen County, as heard live on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

The Blue Jays got three runs in the third, and needed all of them, hanging on for a 3-2 win.

The game was a continuation from Saturday, where the final was called after the top of the first due to heavy rain at Hamilton’s Veterans’ Park. But the game was moved from there to North Jersey after a full Saturday and Sunday of rain left Bob DeMeo Field unplayable.

Starter Dominic Long had thrown 15 pitches and faced four batters in the first, and picked up right where he left off Saturday, getting though his first (next) four innings of work without giving up a run.

And he was given a 3-0 lead in the third, thanks in part to two walks – and an intentional base on balls – from Midland Park starter Connor Detrick.

With two-out, Dylan Ianiero reached with a walk, and so did Long. The Panthers intentionally walked Owen Reynolds to get a force at any base – and to avoid pitching to one of the Jays’ best hitters – but DH Luke Jones made them pay with a single to right field, making it 2-0. Then, Marcus Lavornia hit a hopper to short that Ryan Fleming could only barehand. With no throw, Reynolds scored from third on the play making it 3-0.

And Middlesex would need every run they got, when Long got into some trouble in the sixth, loading the bases on an infield hit from nine hitter Jason Vivino, a single from Fleming, and a walk to Chase Shortway. A sac fly brought in Vivino to make it 1-0, then a flyout to right by Connor Shortway brought up Anthony Correa.

He lined a ball that Chris Kozak couldn’t get on a dive in short centerfield, but he recovered. And though Fleming came home from third – after tagging on the Shortway flyout – Chase Shortway’s courtesy runner Logan Russell was thrown out trying to advance to third on the play.

With Long out of the inning, he was sharp coming out for the seventh, getting a groundout to first, allowing a walk, but then getting a K and a flyout to right to win it, and set off a wild celebration.

The win was the seventh state title for Middlesex (23-5), which has won more than any other program in the Central Jersey Sports Radio coverage area, including the GMC and Skyland Conference.

They join Audubon, Steinert and Pennsville with seven titles, the most among public schools in the state. Bishop Eustace and Seton Hall Prep each have eight, while Don Bosco Prep – which beat CBA Wednesday for the Non-Public A title – has nine. Gloucester Catholic has a state record 22 titles after their Non-Public B win last week.

Long went the distance and got the win, improving to 12-0, tying a school record for wins, with four of those coming in the state tournament. He gave up just four hits, walked three and struck out five, allowing two earned runs in seven innings pitched.

Detrick took the loss for Midland Park (21-9-1) to fall to 8-4.

Click below for postgame reaction with winning pitcher Dominic Long and head coach Blaze Iannetti, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen: