Frankie Sanchez – Central Jersey Sports Radio

Starter Joey Tuttoilmondo struck out 12 North Brunswick hitters in 5 innings of work, and Frankie Sanchez came in to close out the final two innings, as 5th-seeded South Brunswick beat the 10th-seeded Raiders 2-0 Saturday afternoon in the GMC TOurnament Semifinals on Central Jersey Sports Radio, presented by Bellamy & Son Paving.

Third baseman Justin Gallagher had the lone South Brunswick hit, a solo home run with one out in the fifth that carried down the left field line. The hoer was Gallagher’s first extra base hit of the season.

That gave the Vikings a 1-0 lead, which was all they would need, though they would pick up an insurance run in the sixth.

The win gives South Brunswick its second straight GMC finals appearance. The Vikings are 2-1 in title games all time, but lost in 2019 to Old Bridge by a 2-1 score.

They’ll face the winner of today’s 3:30 semifinal between 6th-seed Edison and 2nd-seed St. Joseph-Metuchen.

Click below to hear postgame reaction from South Brunswick pitchers Joey Tuttoilmodono and Frankie Sanchez, as well as head coach C.J. Hendricks:

South Brunswick starting pitcher Joey Tuttoilmondo and reliever Frankie Sanchez

South Brunswick head coach C.J. Hendricks

South Brunswick had not beaten Middlesex in four meetings heading into Tuesdays quarterfinal matchup in the GMC Tournament.

Jared Lauri and Frankie Sanchez made sure the streak didn’t continue.

Down 1-0 after Middlesex starter Stephen Young led off the bottom of the first with a first pitch home run, South Brunswick exploded for four decisive runs in the top of the fourth inning, in a game heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio, powered by Bellamy & Son Paving.

After back-to-back singles by Neel Telidevara and Frankie Sanchez, Pete Cortez tied the game with an RBI single.

Then Lauri launched a homer to left about 315 feet.

That gave the Vikings the runs they would need, but Sanchez kept the Blue Jays off balance the rest of the afternoon.

He struck out 12, tying a season best, and allowed only five hits in seven innings of work.

The 5th-seeded Vikings will go on to play 9th-seed North Brunswick Saturday in the semifinals. The Raiders topped 16th-seed JFK 8-2 in the other quarterfinal.

Click below to hear postgame reaction from South Brunswick’s win over Middlesex in the GMC Tournament quarterfinals: