Tag: semifinals

by Mike Pavlichko

Instant Replay: Surprise homer, solid pitching, send South Brunswick to GMC Finals

Fifth-seed South Brunswick rode a lights-out pitching performance from the tandem of Joey Tuttoilmondo and Frankie Sanchez to a 2-0 victory over 10th-seed North Brunswick in the GMC Tournament Finals Monday afternoon on Central Jersey Sports Radio, presented by Bellamy & Son Paving.

Tuttoilmondo – the starter – went five innings and struck out 12 Raiders while allowing just one hit, in getting the win.

Then Sanchez – who was dominant in his last start Tuesday in a quarterfinal win over Middlesex – fanned four more over the final two innings to get the save.

The Vikings’ got on the board in the fifth when shortstop Justin Gallagher skied a ball down the left field line that just stayed fair as it cleared the left field fence for a home run. It was Gallagher’s first extra base hit all season.

They added a run on a sac fly by Pete Cortez, allowing Tony Chegus to score from third, although it ended up as a 7-5-4 double-play when courtesy runner David Rybinski was caught well off second base as the throw came in from left field.

The Vikings will take on second-seed St. Joseph of Metuchen in the GMC Tournament’s championship game next Sunday at noon on Central Jersey Sports Radio. Coverage begins at 11:30 am from Ray Cipperly Field.

Click below to hear the full game broadcast of South Brunswick’s 2-0 GMC Tournament semifinal win over North Brunswick:

by Mike Pavlichko

St. Joe’s advances to GMCT final behind another strong outing from Goldan

Second-seed St.Joseph of Metuchen held off 6th-seed Edison with a 3-1 GMC Tournament semifinal win Monday afternoon, to propel the Falcons to the league’s title game next Sunday in East Brunswick.

In a game heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio powered by Bellamy & Son Paving, junior Andrew Goldan struck out six and allowed just one run – a homer to Edison shortstop Walker Zampella – to get the win.

With a bye in the state tournament, a non-conference game this week, and their first-round game not until Friday, Goldan can now sit out the week and rest to be full-go with no pitch count limit for next Sunday’s final at Ray Cipperly Field against 5th-seed South Brunswick.

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That game can be heard at 12 noon on Central Jersey Sports Radio, with pregame tentatively set for 11:30 am.

Robbie Carvelli drove in Mark Gialluisi for the game’s first run in the first inning.

The Falcons then scrapped for two more runs in the third – the second of which would prove to be decisive – in an inning where they worked out two walks, a single, and a hit batsman.

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St. Joe’s will make its seventh trip to the GMC finals, all since 2004, in which they are 6-0 all-time. They beat Monroe 1-0 in 2017 in their last trip.

Click below to hear postgame reaction from St. Joe’s win over Edison in the GMC Tournament semifinals:

St. Joseph junior pitcher Andrew Goldan
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St. Joseph head coach Mike Murray
by Mike Pavlichko

Tuttoilmondo, Sanchez combine to strikeout 16 and blank North Brunswick to send Vikings to 2nd straight GMCT final

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
by Mike Pavlichko

It’s GMC Tournament Semifinals day! A look at the matchups

Central Jersey Sports Radio will have live play-by-play coverage of both GMC Tournament Semifinal games today from Ray Cipperly Field at East Brunswick Tech, presented by Bellamy & Son Paving.

NEW: Game times have been moved back one hour to allow extra time for the field to dry after nearly constant rain since Friday afternoon.

Mike Pavlichko and Justin Sontupe will call all the action starting at 12:35 am with the pregame show.

Thanks to local sponsors Baseball Warehouse of Highland Park, Edison Boys Baseball, Ideal Tire of Edison, and Derby Appliances.

Here’s a closer look at the semifinal matchups:

(10) NORTH BRUNSWICK (16-8-1) vs. (5) SOUTH BRUNSWICK (13-8), 1:00

How they got here: North Brunswick def. (8) Metuchen 3-2 in the first round, def. (16) JFK 8-2 in the quarterfinals. South Brunswick def. (12) Woodbridge 12-2 in the first round, def. (4) Middlesex 8-1 in the semifinals.

Starting Pitchers: Zach Konstantinovsky for North Brunswick (6-0, 1.33 ERA). Joey Tuttoilmondo for South Brunswick (3-0, 1.84 ERA)

Team Notes:

For North Brunswick, Konstantinovsky has done it at the plate and on the mound, and he’ll get the chance to do it again. In addition to going a complete game seven innings against Metuchen in their first-round game – allowing two earned runs and striking out seven – he was 1-for-2 at bat with an RBI and two walks. He’s hit three home runs on the season to lead the Raiders. In the semifinals against JFK, Tyler Sommer was 1-for-3 with a two-RBI double, while Anthony Partazana stole two bases.

NORTH BRUNSWICK PREVIEW

For the South Brunswick, Joey Tuttoilmondo also got the first round win on the mound, throwing 106 pitches in a complete game mercy-rule shutout, going the full six innings, striking out eight, and walking just one. Neel Telivedara knocked in three runs, and Nolan Watlington brought home two, in the opener against Woodbridge. Against Middlesex in the semis, Jared Lauri had a 2-for-4 day, including a three-run homer that gave the Vikings a 4-1 lead in the fourth.

SOUTH BRUNSWICK PREVIEW

Tournament History:

South Brunswick is seeking its fourth trip to the finals, where they are 2-1 all time. They lost to Old Bridge 2-1 in the title game two years ago, the last tournament played since last year’s was cancelled when the season was wiped out by COVID.

North Brunswick hasn’t been to the finals since 2010. Their only two appearances came that year, and the year before. The Raiders were blanked by St. Joseph in the 2009 final 6-0, and lost 9-2 to South Brunswick in the 2010 title game.

Did you know? Of the four potential finals matchups this season, the only teams that have ever met each other in the title game are North Brunswick and St. Joe’s, in 2009.

(6) EDISON (16-6) vs. (2) ST. JOSEPH-METUCHEN (16-9), 3:30

How they got here: Edison def. (11) JP Stevens 8-4 in the first round, def. (6) South Plainfield in the quarterfinals. St. Joseph def. (15) Old Bridge 4-0 in the first round, def. (10) Spotswood in the quarterfinals.

Starting Pitchers: Dom LaPelosa for Edison (4-1, 2.33 ERA). Andrew Goldan for St. Joseph (5-0, 0.51 ERA).

Team Notes:

For Edison, Dom LaPelosa got the win in relief in the opener against JP Stevens, when Sal DellaFave struggled to find his control, walking two and hitting two batters in just 2 1/3 innings of work. LaPelosa gave up just one earned run in 4 2/3 innings innings out of the bullpen. That was followed by an eight strikeout, no earned run effort by freshman sensation Jaxon Appelman, who will be available today, if needed, though he could be saved for the state tournament, which begins later this week. Ty Mellinger has been hot in the tournament, hitting 4-for-7, while Evrin Virola knocked in three runs in the quarterfinals against South Plainfield. Della Fave has been the slugger all season long, leading the team – and for a good part of the year, the state – with seven home runs on the season.

EDISON PREVIEW

St. Joseph’s Andrew Goldan has been outstanding since returning a couple weeks into the season following tendinitis issues. Against Old Bridge in the oepning round, he pitched 6 2/3 innings of shutout ball to get the win. Colin Leyner closed out that game, and the Spotswood win in the quarters. The Falcons have allowed only three runs in their two tourney wins so far. Robbie Carvelli has been serving up runs all year long; he was 2-for-3 in the opener with two RBIs, a triple and a home run. Tyler Delvecchio knocked in two runs with a 2-for-3 evening against the Chargers, while Christian Azcona knocked in three on a 2-for-4 night.

ST. JOSEPH-METUCHEN PREVIEW

Tournament History:

Edison has won more GMC Tournament titles than anyone else in the league, with eight crowns, and they’ve made more appearances in the finals than anyone else too, reaching the ultimate game nine times. But those all came in a stretch of 12 years from 1990 to 2001, and they haven’t been back since beating Spotswood for the title 20 years ago.

St. Joseph is tied for East Brunswick with seven finals appearances, second only to Edison. The Falcons have won six titles, their most recent in 2017 when they shutout Monroe 1-0. Their 2004 title game win over Carteret ended a long drought; they had not previously reached a GMC final since the tournament began in 1986, and hadn’t been to a Middlesex County final before that since 1968.

Did you know? The last time Edison reached the GMC Tournament final, current North Brunswick head coach Mark Blevins was playing third base for the Eagles? If both the Eagles and Raiders win today, Blevins would end up coaching against his alma mater in the finals, slated for Sunday, June 6th at East Brunswick Tech.

by Mike Pavlichko

Goldan looks to pitch St. Joe’s into GMC finals

Got a big game?

Give the ball to Andrew Goldan.

The junior had to work his way back from a tendinitis issue early this season, but ever since has been lights out for St. Joseph-Metuchen.

With a record of 5-0 and a 0.51 ERA, you might as well jsut turn out the lights and say “the party’s over” when he takes the mound.

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Edison will surely be of a different mindset with ace Dom LaPelosa on the mound, and a lineup that includes slugging first baseman Sal DellaFave, who has six home runs this season.

https://www.edisonboysbaseball.com/

Second-seed St. Joe’s (16-9) and 6th-seed Edison (16-6) square off Monday at 2:30, in a GMC Tournament semifinal game that can be heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio, presented by Bellamy & Son Paving. Click here to listen to Mike Pavlichko and Justin Sontupe call the game live.

What’s unique about the Falcons is they come into Monday’s semifinal with Edison having lost four of their last seven games. How can that be?

St. Joe’s schedules frequent out of conference games to challenge themselves, and – at this time of season – their younger pitchers.

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Those four recent losses – the first of which was a defeat at the hands of Monroe, which got the top-seed in the GMCT but was ousted in the first round – include a 10-6 decision at St. Peter’s Prep, a 7-6 loss at Pope John, and an 8-2 loss at Seton Hall Prep.

Click below to hear St. Joseph head coach Mike Murray talk about his late-season scheduling strategy, and the Falcons’ season so far, leading up to Monday’s semifinal matchup with Edison:

by Mike Pavlichko

Greater Middlesex Conference moves baseball semifinals to Memorial Day

In the end, the decision was a no-brainer.

The Greater Middlesex Conference – in the face of a miserable weather forecast for Saturday and Sunday – has moved the semifinal games of its baseball tournament to Monday, Memorial Day.

League President Mike Pede told Central Jersey Sports Radio of the move just after 9 am Friday.

The forecast for Saturday and Sunday calls for on-and-off showers and drizzly weather, with windy conditions and unseasonably cool temperatures in the upper 50s. Normal for this time of year is more in the upper 70s range.

Jared Lauri – shown here slugging a three-run homer against Middlesex in the quarterfinals – will lead South Brunswick aginst North Brunswick in the GMC Tournament semifinals, now movied to Monday.

Pede says he and Middlesex AD Mike O’Donnel, the league’s baseball rep, made the decision based on a number of factors.

Pede says they didn’t want the semifinals to be contested in iffy weather, especially with a much nicer day – mid 70s and partly sunny – forecast for Monday.

He also didn’t want teams to play on different days, as if one team got their game in and the other didn’t because of the rain. Pede said that could give one team an advantage over the other in the finals with an additional day of rest for their pitching staff.

The move by the GMC should not affect what pitchers are available for the finals, slated for Sunday, June 6. NJSIAA rules say pitchers who throw up to 110 pitches – the maximum allowed in a single game – need four days’ rest before they can pitch again. There would be five days of rest in between the semifinals and finals.

However, it could affect plans for the state tournament. Edison, South Brunswick and North Brunswick all have first round games in the Central Jersey Group 4 bracket on Wednesday, while St. Joseph-Metuchen has a first round bye in South Non-Public A until Friday.

Falcons’ head coach Mike Murray, whose team is in the semifinals and will face Edison, told Central Jersey Sports Radio in an interview about a half-hour before the decision was announced that he hoped the GMC would announce its plans early, and not wait and see, going day by day, leaving people on hold with their plans for the holiday weekend.

Soon after, the GMC made the call.

The game times for Monday at East Brunswick Tech’s Ray Cipperly Field will be the same as they were for this Saturday. Both games will be broadcast live on Central Jersey Sports Radio, presented by Bellamy & Son Paving.

The opener at noon will feature 9th-seed North Brunswick and 5th-seed South Brunswick, while the 2:30 game has 6th-seed Edison taking on 2nd-seed St. Joseph-Metuchen.

Air-time will be 11:45 am on CJSR, with Mike Pavlichko and Justin Sontupe calling all the action. You can listen live by clicking here.

Below are links to game previews and interviews with all four coaches for Monday’s games:

SOUTH BRUNSWICK: Hendricks expects lower scoring game when Vikings meet Raiders in GMCT semis

NORTH BRUNSWICK: North Brunswick seeking first trip to GMC finals in over a decade

EDISON: Edison looks to keep special year rolling when Eagles face St. Joe’s in GMCT semis

ST. JOSEPH: Goldan looks to pitch St. Joe’s into GMC finals

by Mike Pavlichko

Edison looks to keep special year rolling when Eagles face St. Joe’s in GMCT semis

From 1990 to 2001, Edison won eight GMC Tournament championships.

They haven’t been back to the finals since that run ended, but this year’s group is looking to change all that.

Coming off the pandemic year where no high school baseball was played in New Jersey, the 6th-seeded Eagles have had a solid season, bolstered by a strong pitching staff, lef by Dom LaPelosa, Sal DellaFave, and newcomer Jaxon Appelman, who was strong Tuesday in the quarterfinals, and a 7-2 winner over perennial contender South Plainfield.

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READ & HEAR MORE: Edison reaches first GMT semifinal since 2008 with upset win over South Plainfield

That strength will be on display Monday afternoon when Edison (16-6) takes on second-seed St. Joseph Metuchen (16-9) in the GMC Tournament semifinals on Central Jersey Sports Radio, presented by Bellamy & Son Paving. First pitch slated for 2:30 pm.

Click here to listen to the live broadcast, with Mike Pavlichko and Justin Sontupe calling all the action.

The semifinals were originally scheduled for Saturday, but the threat of rainy, windy, and cold weather – with temperatures not expected to get out of the 50s – prompted the move, announced this morning by GMC President Mike Pede.

Edison will throw Dom LaPelosa (4-1, 2.33 ERA) on the mound, a dominant pitcher who struck out 15 in a win over Colonia earlier this month, heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio.

https://www.edisonboysbaseball.com/

“K” PARADE: Listen to all Dom LaPelosa’s 15 Ks from Edison’s win over Colonia

The year has quietly been a special one for Edison, which has not been to the GMC Tournament semifinals in 20 years. That capped a stretch of eight titles in 12 years, where the Eagles had won in 1990, then four in a row from 1992 through 1995, then back to back titles in 1998 and ’99, and one more for good measure in 2001.

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Ironically, that 2001 roster had a third baseman named Mark Blevins, who’s now in his fourth year as North Brunswick skipper, and his team is also in the semifinals, as the Raiders play South Brunswick in the opening GMC Tournament semifinal game. Wins by the Eagles and Vikings would pit Blevins against his alma mater for the title a week from Sunday.

Click below to hear CJSR’s Mike Pavlichko chat with Edison Head Coach Vinnie Abene about the 2021 season and the Eagles’ semifinal meeting with St. Joseph-Metuchen:

by Mike Pavlichko

North Brunswick seeking first trip to GMC finals in over a decade

The last time the North Brunswick baseball team reached the GMC Tournament finals also was the last time they got this far, to the semifinals.

They’ll have their top pitcher on the mound Monday – with the semifinals moved from Saturday due to inclement weather in the forecast for Saturday and Sunday – when the 9th-seeded Raiders (16-8-1) take on 5th-seed South Brunswick (13-8) in the first of two GMC Tournament semifinal games to be heard on Central Jersey Sports Radio Saturday, presented by Bellamy & Son Paving.

Rutgers-bound Zach Konstantinovsky will take the mound for the Raiders, a week after going the distance and getting the win in a 3-2 first-round win over 8th-seed Metuchen. The senior struck out seven and walked just one batter, allowing seven hits and two earned runs.

Click below to hear Mike Pavlichko talk with North Brunswick head coach Mark Blevins about the Raiders’ semifinal matchup with South Brunswick:

by Mike Pavlichko

Hendricks expects lower scoring game when Vikings meet Raiders in GMCT semis

Just before the end of April, South Brunswick squeezed past North Brunswick in a slugfest, 13-9.

Vikings’ head coach C.J. Hendricks expects a much tighter game this time around, when 5th-seeded South Brunswick plays 10th-seed North Brunswick in the GMC Tournament semifinals Monday on Central Jersey Sports Radio, presented by Bellamy & Son Paving.

The GMC announced Friday it would move the semifinals from Saturday to Monday with rainy, windy weather forecast for Saturday and Sunday.

Mike Pavlichko and Justin Sontupe will have the call of the noon game, with pregame slated for 11:45 am. Click here to listen.

Hendricks points out that in that April 28th game, neither team had their best arm on the mound. But that’ll be the case Saturday in the semis when Rutgers-bound Zach Konstantinovsky is expected to pitch for the Raiders, while Joey Tuttoilmondo will go for the Vikings.

GAME RECAP & AUDIO: Lauri’s 3-run HR, Sanchez’ 12 K effort power South Brunswick to GMCT semis

Konstantinovsky threw a complete game last Saturday against 9th-seed Metuchen, getting the win in a 3-2 first-round victory. He gave up seven hits, struck out seven, walked two and gave up two earned runs.

Tuttoilmondo also pitched in the first-round, a 12-2 South Brunswick win over the 12th-seed Woodbridge. He gave up two unearned runs in the mercy rule win, throwing six innings, walking only one batter while striking out eight Barrons.

Click below to hear South Brunswick coach C.J. Hendricks look back at the Vikings’ quarterfinal win over Middlesex, and ahead to Saturday’s semifinal against rival North Brunswick:

by Mike Pavlichko

Rainy Memorial Day Weekend forecast could push GMCT semis back as late as Monday

With rain in the forecast for Central Jersey for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the GMC Tournament semifinals – scheduled for Saturday at noon and 2:30 pm – are in serious jeopardy.

The Greater Middlesex Conference has devised multiple backup scenarios that would allow it to play the games this weekend, according to league President Mike Pede, who crafted the plan along with Baseball AD Mike O’Donnell of Middlesex High School.

In an exclusive conversation with Central Jersey Sports Radio, Pede discussed the plans, which include a number of options. The games could be moved later on Saturday, be moved to Sunday or Monday, or even be played at JFK High School.

Scroll down to hear the complete intervie as Mike Pavlichko talks with GMC President Mike Pede about rain contingencies for this weekend’s GMC Tournament semifinals.

Not having lights at East Brunswick Tech is a limitation, but even though JFK does, Pede wants to avoid the risk of getting one game in, but the other getting rained out. He says that would create an unfair advantage for the team that plays and wins, because they’d have an extra day off.

Bellamy & Son Paving is the presenting sponsor of Central Jersey Sports Radio’s coverage of the GMC Tournament.

Central Jersey Sports Radio is scheduled to carry both games of the GMC Tournament semifinals – presented by Bellamy & Son Paving – with Mike Pavlichko and Justin Sontupe scheduled for Saturday’s coverage.

Pregame is set for 11:45 am with first pitch at noon for Game One between 5th-seed South Brunswick and 10th-seed North Brunswick. At 2:30, the other semifinal has 2nd-seed St. Joseph-Metuchen taking on 6th-seed Edison.

Click below to hear GMC President Mike Pede talk about this weekend’s rain scenario for the GMC Tournament: