Montgomery will open play in the Somerset County Tournament Thursday. Manville will do the same Monday.
But before that, the two squared off for a game on the big boys’ field, at TD Bank Park in Bridgewater, home of the Somerset Patriots, and the SCT semifinals and finals.
And Montgomery won at least its fourth straight against the Mustangs – in their first meeting in eleven years – 5-2, thanks in large part to a complete game effort from Cougars’ starter Jake Hayes.
The junior went seven innings, scattering six hits and two runs, while striking out seven.
Montogmery scored first, getting two across in the top of the second. After a leadoff strikeout, Liam McDonnell walked, Alex Bender singled, and Dominic Walker brought in McDonnell with a single. After a walk by Michael Englert loaded the bases, a grounder to third by Mason Neufield brought in the second run.
They would add another in the fourth. After a leadoff walk by Bender, he stole second, moved to third on a groundout.
Manville didn’t have many chances until the fourth, when they loaded the bases with one out on an infield hit by Aidan Johnson and singled by Brandon Shimp and Tyler Johnson. Collin Shimp knocked in Aidan Johnson with a sac fly to center, but a lineout to short stranded two and ended the inning.
The Mustangs got within one in the sixth, Brandon Shimp led off with a double – the only extra base hit of the game – and Evan Canica moved him to third with a single. After a groundout, Colin Shimp knocked in his brother with a single to make it 3-2, but that was as close as they would get.
Up one, Montgomery needed some insurance – and got it. Englert led off with a single, then after a pop up to third, Kenta Komatsu laid down a sac bunt to the pitcher that moved Englert to third. After an intentional walk to Donahue, Henry Maddox singled and drove in Englert, but the ball was bobbled in the outfield, bringing home Donahue to make it 5-3.
In the bottom of the seventh, Hayes found something extra, and sandwiched two groundouts to second around a strikeout to pitch a 1-2-3 inning and end the game, improving to 3-1 on the season. Evan Canica took the loss for Manville, falling to 2-2.
Montgomery – now 4-11 – is the 12-seed in the SCT and will play 13-seed Pingry at 4:30 pm Thursday at Diamond Nation in Flemington in the opening round. Manville travels to Whippany Park Thursday; the Mustangs fall to 9-6.
Click below for postgame reaction from Montgomery starting pitcher Jake Hayes and head coach Peter Mueller, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen: