Red-hot Faigin, Mangano lead equally red-hot Monroe into GMC Tourney final against even hotter Old Bridge squad

It’s been a topsy-turvy season for Monroe, dropping 11-of-14 after a 5-1 start to limp into the Jim Muldowney GMC Tournament as the No. 9 seed. But with county supremacy on the line, the Falcons kicked it into high gear.

Three consecutive upsets – Colonia, Edison, and South Plainfield – has Monroe (13-13) in the finals, where they will third-seeded Old Bridge (17-8) for the Jim Muldowney GMC Tournament Championship Saturday afternoon at Rutgers University’s Bainton Field in Piscataway. You can hear it live on Central Jersey Sports Radio by clicking here, or you can watch it live on our YouTube channel. (The rain date is set for next Saturday, May 30, at noon at East Brunswick Magnet School’s Ray Cipperly Field.)

Junior Ben Faigin – currently committed to play college baseball at Rutger – has set the tone. Amidst a stellar season (6-1, 1.27 ERA), he has done his best work in the GMC Tournament. 

In the first round against Colonia, he struck out 13 in a complete game two-hitter, allowing just a couple runs. Pitching again last week in the semifinals at East Brunswick Magnet – in a 1-0 win over five-seed South Plainfield – he was even better: a complete game, one-hit shutout with 13 more strikeouts.

That’s 26 strikeouts and just three hits allowed over 14 innings.

Expect Faigin to take the mound again Saturday with the GMC trophy on the line.

Faigin’s battery mate, senior Justin Mangano, has been Monroe’s catalyst on offense. Hitting .402 in a terrific senior year, Mangano has also been at his best in the GMC Tournament. He is 8-for-13 with 4 RBIs, collecting multiple hits in every game. The shining moment so far? The go-ahead RBI double with two outs in the 7th inning against South Plainfield, ultimately sending the Falcons to the GMC title game.

It’s Monroe’s first trip to a GMC title game since 2017 – a loss to St. Joe’s. Monroe’s last GMC championship was in 2015, a 1-0 win over Sayreville.

There is some rain in the forecast, but for now, first pitch is scheduled for 2:00 from Bainton Field at Rutgers on Saturday. Coverage begins at 1:40 with Mike Pavlichko and Justin Sontupe on the call.

Click below to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Justin Sontupe talk with Monroe head coach Sean Field: