Tag: Blaze Iannetti

April 2, 2026April 2, 2026 by Mike Pavlichko

No. 4 Middlesex uses solid outing from Long, late offensive outburst to pick up 12-1 win, sweep season-opening series from Spotswood

It was no secret how good the Middlesex baseball team could be this year, coming off a state Group 1 championship with a vast majority of the team coming back.

And in the first two games of the season, the fourth-ranked Blue Jays lived up to that expectation, finishing off a two-game sweep of Spotswood Thursday with a 12-1 road win – heard live on Central Jersey Sports Radio to improve to 2-0 on the season.

The game was actually a tight pitchers’ duel for the first five innings. Middlesex took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, as Dylan Ianiero doubled to the warning track in left, then moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a second, which turned out to be ball four to starter Dom Long.

But at least through the fifth, that was it. The Jays threatened a couple of times, while Long no-hit the Chargers through the first five innings, retiring his all of the first 16 batters he faced.

Everything changed in the sixth inning. After a Chris Kozak pop up to short, Diego Marcano walked, and Anthony Melchiorre drove him in with a double to the wall in right. Leadoff hiter Lucas Blanco walked as well, and Dylan Ianiero knocked in Melchiorre with a single. Long walked to load the bases.

Sean Hughes came up and grounded one back to starter Leo Carone, who threw home to get the force. But catcher Dylan Melczer couldn’t handle the throw, it got by him, and two more runs came in to make it 5-0 Middlesex. And after a Marcus Lavornia walk, Devin Jackson knocked in two with an RBI single to make it 7-0.

Spotswood finally broke through in he bottom of the inning. With one out, Carone reached on an infield hit – a hard-hit ball behind the second base bag that Melchiorre fielded, but couldn’t get out of his glove in time to make a play at first – then nine-hitter Mike Palumbo doubled to move Carone to third. He later scored on a sac fly to center by leadoff man Gavin Romeo, but that was all they’d get.

With Carone out of the game for Spotswood, Middlesex added five more in the seventh, with the big highlight a two-run homer by Lucas Blanco, the first of his career.

Carone took the loss for Spotswood, going five innings, allowing eight hits and seven runs, four of them earned. He also struck out four. Long went six innings for Middlesex, allowing two hits and one earned run, striking out eight. Jackson finished off the seventh for the Jays.

Click below for postgame reaction from Middlesex head coach Blaze Iannetti and starting pitcher Dom Long, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:

April 2, 2026 by Mike Pavlichko

Coming off emotional Opening Day, Middlesex looks to return the favor, sweep Spotswood

To so the Middlesex baseball program – or even the entire town – had a difficult, trying, emotional off-season would be a hideous understatement, and words probably can’t even do it justice.

The death of teammate James Matula in November in a car crash in upstate New York shocked the community, the school, and the baseball program to its core.

Not that you ever put it behind you, but it was surely good to get back on the baseball field in the preseason, but many of those emotions came rushing back Tuesday as the fourth-ranked Blue Jays opened their 2026 season without No. 1, James Matula.

His family was there for an Opening Day ceremony to once again pay tribute to the young man who would have been a senior on a loaded Middlesex team looking to defend its Central Jersey and state Group One championships.

They got through it all, getting on the board early, in a 6-1 home win over Spotswood. Thursday afternoon, they will visit the Chargers for a 3 pm game you can hear on Central Jersey Sports Radio, with an eye on sweeping the season series, and turning the tables on a Spotswood team that was the only club to beat the Blue Jays twice last season.

You can hear the game live, with pregame at 2:45 and Mike Pavlichko on the call. Click here to listen.

Middlesex loses some key seniors, to be sure, mainly Dom Parenti and Owen Reynolds, but the vast majority of the lineup is back, including top returning hitter Dominc Long (.346, 16 RBI), who also will take the mound Thursday. Long, as a sophomore last season, led the team in innings pitched, and was 12-0 with a 1.37 ERA and 72 strikeouts.

He’s part of a 1-2 punch with Chris Kozak, who last season as a junior was 6-4, but with a 0.90 earned run average.

Click below to hear Middlesex head coach Blaze Iannetti talk about the season and Thursday’s game against Spotswood with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:

June 22, 2025June 21, 2025 by Mike Pavlichko

First-year skipper, Middlesex alum Blaze Iannetti named Central Jersey Sports Radio 2025 GMC Coach of the Year

One could look at the Middlesex roster of very talented baseball players, the support athletics gets from its administration, and the well-developed feeder program called the Middlesex Little League and see why the high school baseball team has had such success over the years.

The names may change, but the results, of late, have stayed the same. Five state Group 1 titles – not just sectional titles – since 2013, most of any school in that stretch other than Gloucester Catholic

But this year was extra special in Middlesex.

Under Justin Nastasi, the Blue Jays won titles in five of his nine seasons, from 2015 through 2021. But they had not won in three seasons prior to this one, falling to Point Pleasant Beach – the team they’d seem to beat every year – in back-to-back Central Jersey Group 1 finals, then again last year in the sectional semis.

Nastasi stepped down in the off-season, and up stepped Blaze Iannetti, a Middlesex alum who played for current AD Mike O’Donnell, and coached with Nastasi through most of that run. It seemed like a natural fit.

And it paid off dividends.

Though they didn’t win the GMC White Division title, they reached the semifinals of the Jim Muldowney GMC Championship tournament, falling 3-0 to Edison. And in the state tournament, their wheelhouse for the last decade or so, they went all the way.

Middlesex celebrates with the NJSIAA Group 1 championship trophy after a 3-1 win over Midland Park at the Wood-Ridge Athletic Complex on June 16, 2025. Head coach Blaze Iannetti is holding the trophy. (Photo: Alec Crouthamel)

Again, they beat Point Pleasant Beach in the CJ1 title game – four of their last six titles have come against the Garnet Gulls – and after a state semifinal walk-off at home against Schalick, they beat Midland Park Monday, 3-2, for the state Group 1 championship.

Managing a small school roster isn’t easy, especially when it comes to pitching. But Iannetti was a master this year, counting on his two stud arms in junior Dominic Long (the CJSR GMC Player of the Year) and sophomore Chris Kozak. (It’s also no surprise both had brothers on the 2021 team that won the Group 1 state championship.)

Click below to hear Middlesex head coach and 2025 Central Jersey Sports Radio GMC Coach of the Year Blaze Iannetti talk about the season with Mike Pavlichko:

June 16, 2025June 16, 2025 by Mike Pavlichko

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:

June 12, 2025June 13, 2025 by Mike Pavlichko

GMC’s last team standing, Middlesex aims for league record 7th state title Saturday when Blue Jays take on red-hot Midland Park in Hamilton

There has been nothing particularly spectacular this season about the Middlesex High School baseball team. And that’s a compliment.

There is no feared hitter batting over the .500 mark with eight home runs. There’s no pitcher with 100 strikeouts and a blazing fastball who’s going to a major Division 1 program.

Just, good, solid, consistent baseball players. Baseball players who have won 16 of their last 17 games and are a win away from their seventh state championship. Their current six trophies are more than any other GMC school – and even any other Skyland Conference school, for that matter, as well.

Granted, Dominic Long is 11-0 with a 1.31 ERA, and he will be expected to get the start Saturday against Midland Park (21-8-1) when the Blue Jays (22-5) face them in the NJSIAA Group 1 championship game at 1 pm at Bob DeMeo Field at Veterans’ Park in Hamilton.

Long gave Middlesex just what it needed Monday in the Group 1 semifinals against Schalick. Head coach Blaze Iannetti went to him in the eighth after starter Chris Kozak issued a four-pitch, one-out walk, and he got two strikeouts sandwiched around a two-out single to keep the game tied 3-3, giving the Jays a chance to win it in the bottom of the inning, which they did, on an RBI single by regular pinch-hitter Dalton Michael.

Long and Kozak have been awesome this year. Long hasn’t lost a game, while Kozak is 6-4 but with an even lower 0.84 ERA. They’ve been the only two pitchers to start in the state tournament – with Michael the only other pitcher who’s made an appearance, getting in two innings of work – combining to go 5-0 with a combined 0.90 earned run average.

In their five state tournament wins, Middlesex has pitched two shutouts, two one-run games, and the only time they gave up more was in their 4-3 win over Schalick.

And they’re tearing it up at the plate, too. Dalton Michael is 2-for-3 on pinch-hitting duty with three runs batted in, including a double and a single. First baseman Owen Reynolds is hitting .545, and Dom Parenti – who hit his second home run of the season Monday in the Group 1 semis, leading off the bottom of the first – has seven runs batted in, as does Dylan Ianiero.

Click below to hear Middlesex head coach Blaze Iannetti talk about the season and the Group 1 final against Midland Park with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:

June 9, 2025 by Mike Pavlichko

Jays, in a pinch! Dalton Michael’s walkoff conjures spirit of ’21 championship team as Middlesex drops Schalick, 4-3, in extras

With apologies to the great Mel Allen: Well, how about that?

Down 3-1 through two-and-a-half innings to Schalick at home in the Group 1 semifinals, Middlesex scored three unanswered runs – two in the bottom of the third to tie it and one in the eighth to win it – as they advanced to Saturday’s NJSIAA State Group 1 final with a 4-3, eight-inning win at Mountainview Park, as heard live on Central Jersey Sports Radio Monday afternoon.

The hero was Dalton Michael, who pinch hit for Sean Hughes with Marcus Lavornia on second, following a double. On a 2-2 pitch – Michael rocketed a single to left field. Lavornia made the turn and headed home. The throw from Evan Sepers in left sailed over the catcher, Lavornia stepped on home, and chaos ensued.

Click here to listen to Dalton Michael’s pinch-hit single to give Middlesex a 4-3 win in 8 innings over Schalick in the Group 1 semifinals.

It was eerily similar to 2021, when Middlesex – also trailing by two – won in the state semis on a walk off grand slam by Bobby Ulmer, Jr. And that year, the Blue Jays would go on to win the Group 1 title on another walk off, in 13 innings against New Providence.

Middlesex (22-5) got on the board first, in the bottom of the first, when Dom Parenti led off with a solo home run, his second of the year, and just the third of the season for the Blue Jays.

But Schalick (25-3) got three in the top of the third off starter Chris Kozak, who had only faced one above the minimum, seven batters, through the first two innings. With two out and a man on first, Ricky Watt singled to put two on, Evan Sepers doubled to score one, and starting pitcher Jamari Whitley doubled to plate two, giving the Cougars a 3-1 lead.

But the Jays got two back in the bottom of the inning. Dylan Ianiero walked to lead off the inning, and after a strikeout, Owen Reynolds singled. After a fly out, Marcus Lavornia reached on a ground ball misplayed at second, then Sean Hughes scored Ianiero with a single to cut it to 3-2. The game was tied with Kozak at the plate, when Reynolds came home on a wild pitch.

Neither team got much going the rest of the way, and both starters came out with the game tied.

Middlesex had just two baserunners since the third as the Blue Jays headeed into the bottom of the eighth, after Dominic Long came in from centerfield to pitch for Kozak, and got two Ks sandwiched around a walk to strand two.

Owen Reynolds struck out, and Luke Jones flied out to left. But Marcus Lavornia doubled, and it would have brought up Hughes, who already had an RBI single, probably all they would have needed at that point. But head coach Blaze Ianneti put in junior Dalton Michael, a regular pinch-hitter.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Long (11-1) got the win in relief for Middlesex, while the loss went to Schalick reliever Lucas D’Agostino (4-2).

Next up, Middlesex will face Midland Park – the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 1 champ, which blanked North 2 champion Brearley 4-0 at home Monday – in the state Group 1 championship game at Veterans’ Park in Hamilton. Game time is scheduled for 1 pm.

Click below for postgame reaction, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:

Middlesex pinch hitter Dalton Michael and starting pitcher Chris Kozak

Middlesex head coach Blaze Iannetti

June 5, 2025June 6, 2025 by Alec Crouthamel

Best served… hot and sunny? Middlesex gets revenge on Point Pleasant Beach, wins Central Jersey Group 1 title 7-1 for the first time since 2021

In a battle of elite offenses who can tally up runs in the blink of an eye, it had seemed like the Central Jersey Group 1 championship between top-seeded Middlesex and three-time defending champion Point Pleasant Beach – the seventh year in a row the two teams faced off in the sectional tournament – was headed for a barn-burner.

Even more so after one inning, where both teams put a run on the board in the near-ninety-degree weather in central New Jersey.

That’s where Blue Jays star pitcher Dominic Long stepped in.

After a shaky first inning, Long dazzled the Garnet Gulls, retiring fifteen straight batters at one point, finishing a complete game while allowing only one run, with two hits, one walk, and four strikeouts in seven innings to lead his team to a decisive 7-1 victory.

Point Pleasant Beach did some damage to start the game with its top of the order, with pitcher Tommy Conroy reaching on an error to lead off the game. Second baseman Brody Powers singled to advance Conroy to third, but was caught stealing second. Star catcher Daniel Lubach reached on a fielder’s choice to score Conroy, before Long struck out centerfielder Daniel Storch looking to end the inning.

The Blue Jays’ bats were revving to get started, and they did just that. Shortstop Dom Parenti drew a leadoff walk and stole second. After a flyout from right fielder Dylan Ianiero, Long stepped up to the plate and helped his own cause with a scorching RBI single down the third base line to score the Blue Jays’ first run of the game. Conroy eventually settled in, allowing another single before getting two flyouts to end the first inning.

It seemed like the offensive momentum would continue into the second inning, but Long shut that down immediately with a nine-pitch frame, punctuated by a strikeout looking.

Middlesex kept its offensive effort moving, this time with the bottom of the order. Centerfielder Chris Kozak singled, and left fielder James Matula reached on an error to put two runners on. After a flyout from Parenti, Ianiero went the opposite way with a flare shot to shallow right field to take the lead.

Like clockwork, Long retired the side in order yet again in an eight-pitch third inning with a lineout and two flyouts, putting the red-hot Middlesex offense right back at the plate. Conroy settled down in the bottom of the third, however, with only one batter reaching base with two outs before an inning-ending flyout.

After another eight-pitch frame from Long, the Blue Jays’ offense started humming once again. Kozak and Matula each singled to start the bottom of the fourth, followed by a hit-by-pitch from Parenti to load the bases and nobody out. Ianiero got plunked on the ensuing at-bat, bringing in a run and forcing Conroy out of the game.

Freshman pitcher Thomas Slobiski had a solid inning in relief, given the high-pressure situation he was put in. Kozak scored on a wild pitch, but Slobiski induced a ground ball from Long later in the at-bat, recording an out at the plate but keeping the bases loaded. First baseman Owen Reynolds launched a sacrifice fly to left field to score Parenti, and with runners on the corners with two outs, Long got caught stealing second to end the inning.

Can you guess what happened next?

Long retired the side, in order, once again, taking 11 pitches to do so in the top of the fifth.

Reliever and first baseman Noah Banick came into the game and walked two batters with two outs, before eventually escaping with a shutout frame.

In the top of the sixth, the Gulls finally got something to work off Long. Powers launched a fly ball to centerfield and over the head of Kozak, but a good recovery and throw back in limited Powers to only a single. Banick grounded out in the ensuing at-bat to keep the score at 4-1, with a fired-up Long racing back into the dugout to high-fives from his Blue Jay teammates.

Middlesex used that momentum and took its shot once again, scoring three insurance runs from the top of the order. Parenti, Ianiero, and Long all reached to load the bases with nobody out. Point Pleasant Beach made another pitching change, inserting shortstop Antonio Acevedo in a tough spot. Reynolds hit a ground ball to second base, but the throw home sailed over Lubach’s head to score a run. Designated hitter Luke Jones added a two-RBI single to push the lead to 7-1, all with one out.

In the top of the seventh, Long remained on the mound, looking to end the game and win the title.

Once again, he trusted his stuff and his defense, drawing two flyouts to Ianiero in right field, and a ground ball to third baseman Sean Hughes to clinch the title.

Remarkably, after the first frame that saw the Gulls put multiple runners and a run on the scoreboard, Long combined to throw just 54 pitches in the following six innings.

Conroy took the loss for Point Pleasant Beach, allowing four runs (all earned) in three innings with six hits, one walk, and two strikeouts.

Middlesex (21-5) advances and snaps the Gulls’ three-year championship streak, and will face South Jersey Group 1 champion Schalick in the Group 1 state semifinals. The Cougars upset top-seeded Audubon in Thursday’s sectional final.

Point Pleasant Beach ends its season at 20-8.

Click below for postgame reaction from Middlesex pitcher Dom Long, right fielder Dylan Ianiero, and head coach Blaze Iannetti, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:

Long and Ianiero

Head Coach Blaze Iannetti

May 15, 2025May 15, 2025 by Alec Crouthamel

Middlesex outlasts South Plainfield, pulls 5-4 upset in GMC Tournament quarterfinals

As the old adage in sports – and life – goes, “it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.”

A good start certainly helps, however.

That is exactly what 10th-seeded Middlesex got, using a four-run second inning to take a lead it never relinquished to upset second-seeded South Plainfield 5-4 in the GMC Tournament quarterfinals at North Plainfield High School.

The Blue Jays also got a vintage performance from top pitcher Dominic Long, as he threw all seven innings and helped secure the win.

They got the scoring started to open the game in the first inning, with leadoff batter Dom Parenti reaching second base off an error in left field after a fly ball Parenti rocketed near the fence. A sacrifice bunt and another ground ball later, Parenti had scored on an RBI fielder’s choice from first baseman Owen Reynolds.

Long allowed two baserunners in the bottom half of the inning with a walk and a single with two outs, but got out of the frame clean.

Then the floodgates opened.

Middlesex ripped off four straight hits, followed by two consecutive walks from the bottom half of the lineup, scoring three runs before an out was even recorded. The Tigers prevented a run throwing home with the bases loaded on a ground ball to record the first out, but the Blue Jays added another the very next batter after the throw bounced to the plate and past the catcher.

Middlesex left the bases loaded after a lineout and groundout, but the damage had already been done.

Two more scoreless innings followed, before South Plainfield took its shot in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Similar to the Blue Jays’ scoring outburst, the Tigers kick-started their rally with production from the bottom of the order. Four consecutive batters smacked a hit before an out was recorded, and all of a sudden, South Plainfield had drawn to within two runs after an RBI groundout from leadoff batter Nick Irizarry.

The ensuing batter caught the courtesy runner for catcher Stephen Studlack, who had laced a double into the right-center gap to bring in a run, in a rundown to get a much-needed second out after a multitude of defensive errors from Middlesex. Dom Massaro flew out to right field to end the inning.

From there, it was a battle of defenses.

Long retired the side in order in the fifth and sixth innings – the first 1-2-3 inning for either team at that point – while South Plainfield pitcher Kevin Penny continued his strong stretch of pitching after the second. Standout reliever Jay Jimenez replaced Penny for the seventh inning, after the starter recorded six innings, allowing five runs (three earned) with five hits, two strikeouts, and seven walks.

Jimenez retired the side in order with two groundouts and a strikeout to give the Tigers one last chance in the bottom of the seventh, with the top of the order due up down 5-3.

Irizarry crushed a 1-1 fastball from Long, putting it in the right-center gap for a leadoff triple. Shortstop Dan Kapsch reached on an error, holding Irizarry at third to put runners on the corners with nobody out, and Massaro as the go-ahead run. He lined a single right in front of left fielder James Matula to score a run, putting runners at first and second down 5-4 and nobody out.

Aiden McCarthy nearly put one in the seats, but the ball harmlessly fell in the glove of centerfielder Chris Kozak for the first out.

South Plainfield left fielder Dave Butrico stood in next, and lined a fastball towards right fielder Dylan Ianiero. It looked like it was about to drop in for another hit, but Ianiero squeezed the ball in his glove and, noticing Massaro had gotten off the bag, fired a laser to Reynolds at first base, doubling up the Tigers and ending the game to secure the upset.

Long finished his complete game, throwing seven innings with five strikeouts and three walks while allowing seven hits and four runs. He battled the Tigers – and a rising pitch count – to keep the tournament run alive.

The Blue Jays (15-4) will face off against 11th-seeded Edison in the semifinals, after the Eagles upset third-seeded St. Thomas Aquinas 9-1 in the opposite quarterfinal, on Saturday at East Brunswick Magnet High School in a game you can hear on Central Jersey Sports Radio. Alec Crouthamel and Mike Pavlichko will be on the call.

South Plainfield drops to 13-9.

Click below to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Alec Crouthamel speak with Middlesex pitcher Dominic Long and head coach Blaze Iannetti talk about the win, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen!

May 12, 2025May 12, 2025 by Mike Pavlichko

Middlesex wins pitchers’ duel, tops Colonia 3-1 behind solid Kozak in GMC 1st Round

Knowing that Middlesex beat Colonia this year 2-0 and Colonia got ’em back with a 1-0 win, the conventional wisdom was that their third meeting – this time in the GMC Jim Muldowney Championship Tournament’s first round would be a good one, and it was.

The tenth-seeded Blue Jays topped the seventh-seeded Patriots on the road in the rubber match, 3-1, Monday afternoon at Colonia High School. The deciding runs came in the sixth inning of a 1-1 game.

Leadoff hitter Dom Parenti started the inning with a walk, and Dylan Ianiero followed with a single to center that bounced off Nick Minue’s glove and went behind him. With the left fielder backing up the play on one side, the ball bounded away from him, and by the time he got to it, Parenti had scored and Ianiero was on third with a triple. A single by Own Reynolds knocked him in to make it 3-2.

Middlesex starter Chris Kozak went the distance, allowing a leadoff single in the bottom of the sixth, but getting the next six hitters out in order to close the game. He scattered five hits, walked one and struck out five in improving to 3-3 on the year. Kozak took the loss in the 1-0 regular season defeat to Colonia.

The Patriots (14-4) got on the board In the bottom of the first. Picture Corey pascarella singled, and moved up to second on a sac bunt by Dylan Chiers, then advanced to third on a fly ball to center by Colin Kroner, and came home on a wild pitch to Matt Fasulo.

Middlesex (14-4) tied it at one in the third. With one out, Dom Parenti reached on an infield hit. Then Dylan Ianiero singled to right, which sent Parenti to third. On the throw in, Ianiero tried for two, and as the ball was fumbled after the tag, Parenti used the decoy to come home and even the score.

The Blue Jays now move on to Wednesday’s GMCT quarterfinals against second-seed South Plainfield, which easily dispatched of 15th-seed Perth Amboy 11-0 Monday afternoon. Game times and field assignments for the quarters – which are set for North Brunswick Community Park at with two games at 4 and two games at 7 pm – will be determined by the GMC after Monday’s games are finished.

Click below for postgame reaction from Middlesex starting pitcher Chris Kozak and head coach Blaze Iannetti, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:

April 29, 2025 by Mike Pavlichko

Kozak shines for Middlesex as Blue Jays “walk off” Sayreville 10-0 for fourth straight win

The recipe for the Middlesex baseball team this season has been good hitting and solid pitching.

They got both Tuesday afternoon in a 10-0 Greater Middlesex Conference White Division home win over Sayreville, heard live on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

Chris Kozak threw six scoreless innings, scattering four hits and striking out seven, walking just one – only his second base on balls issued in 33 innings pitched this season. He picked up his second win of the year against three losses.

Meanwhile, Middlesex scored early and often, then walked it off with four in the bottom of the sixth to activate the ten-run rule.

The Blue Jays sent eight to the plate in the bottom of the first en route to a 3-0 lead. Dom Parenti led off with a walk, and Dylan Ianiero hit one back to the pitcher to move Parenti to second. After an Owen Reynolds flyout to left, Dominic Long scored him with a single, moving to second when the throw to the plate was in the dirt and went to the backstop. Then there was a Luke Jones walk, and another from Marcus Lavornia to load the bases, before Sean Hughes made it 3-0 with a ground rule double to center field.

In the second, Middlesex sent seven to the plate. Parenti drew a one-out walk, Ianiero singled and Reynolds drove in one with a double. Long did the same with a single, and Jones drove in the third run of the inning with another single, making it 6-0.

That was all for Sayreville starter Logan Kaufman, who was 3-0 with a 1.20 ERA coming in, and just four earned runs allowed all season in 23 1/3 innings entering the game. He took the loss, going just two innings, allowing seven runs on six hits with three walks and one K.

Bryan Girodano came in and threw the next three innings for the Bombers, keeping them in the game and the Jays off the scoreboard. He scattered four hits, walked one and struck out one.

But Middlesex got to Tyler Yan in the sixth. With one out, he walked Long. And after Jones grounded to Yan – who won a foot race to the bag for the second out, he walked Lavornia and Hughes. That’s when Kozak made his excellent day at the mound an even better day at the plate.

He laced a shot to centerfield that Sayreville’s Jimmy Kehoe dove for and missed, allowing the ball to go almost all the way to the outfield wall. By the time left fielder Andrew Provenza got to it and got the ball in, Kozak might have had an in-the-park home run, but he was held at third and settled for a three-RBI triple to make it 9-0.

The finishing touch came from left fielder James Matula, who singled home Kozak with the tenth run, ending the game.