BYRNE SCATTERS 6 HITS, FANS 6; BOLTON 2-3, 2 RBI
A pair of tough outings did not break the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School baseball team’s spirits. The Raiders picked themselves up to muzzle the Brearley Bears, 6-4, hand the Summit Hilltoppers their first defeat with a 3-1, victory then on April 10 at Memorial Field in Cranford, they received a stellar performance from pitcher Jack Byrne to earn a 4-1 triumph over the 3-2 Cougars.
Byrne pitched a complete game, scattered six hits, hit a pair of batters and walked one, while striking out six Cougars.
“I think the most impressive thing Jack Byrne was able to do was to not let any negative momentum develop. If he threw a bad pitch or missed his location, he maintained focus and didn’t let it snowball. He showed a lot of guts and maturity,” Raider Head Coach Joe Higgins said.
Interestingly, the Cougar pitchers yielded only two hits. Starting pitcher Mike Zalinkanskas was on the mound until he was relieved by Gabe Arato with no outs in the third inning. Zalinkanskas, who was charged with three runs, allowed one hit, walked five and hit a batter, while recording five strikeouts. Arato finished the game and yielded one hit, a hit batter and a walk, while striking out two Raiders.
Sophomore Alex Bolton provided both of the Raiders’ hits in his three at-bats and also drove in two runs and scored once.
“It wasn’t the first time that Alec Bolton has come through in the clutch for us. He’s only a sophomore, but he adds an element of toughness and athleticism for us,” explained Coach Higgins, who added, “I didn’t realize there were the only two hits until after the game.”
Raider Joe LaRosa walked twice and scored once. CJ Bates and Jack Masterson (walk) each scored once. Ryan Quinones and Jaden Carpien each walked once.
The Cougars were led offensively by Brayden Fry, the No. 3 batter, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base. Leadoff hitter Dylan Falk, who has been on a roll recently, singled, stole a base and scored the Cougars’ only run. Sean Riley singled and stole a base. Mike Tripodi singled, walked once and swiped a base. Brendan Berry singled, Dennis McCaffery and Ryan Carracino were both hit by a pitch, and Tyler Veltre stole a base.
With the help of Bolton’s single to left centerfield, Bates and Masterson scored in the second inning. After Byrne wiggled his way out of a tough situation in the bottom of the inning, the Raiders took advantage of a few walks and an error to take a 3-0 lead in the third. Arato relieved Zalinkanskas and prevented further damage.
Byrne got into an even more difficult situation in the bottom of the third when the Cougars pulled off a double steal with one out. Ryan Carracino was at the plate and had a 3-0 count but Byrne buckled down to record the strikeout then Josh Ketschke tapped a grounder to shortstop Carpien, who fired to Bates at first for the third out.
“Jack got ahead of hitters, most importantly. He threw more than 60 percent strikes. He also showed the confidence to throw all his pitches for strikes in any count to any hitter,” Coach Higgins explained.
Fry singled home Falk with the Cougars’ only run in the fourth inning. The Raiders added their insurance run in the top of the seventh then Byrne did the rest to secure the victory.
Just one day before, on April 9, the Raiders handed the Summit Hilltoppers their first defeat with a 31 victory. All of the Raiders’ runs came in the bottom of the sixth inning. Quinones went the distance, allowing four hits and hitting a batter, while striking out eight Hilltoppers. Losing pitcher Enzo D’Agostino recorded six strikeouts, while hitting two batters and allowing four hits.
Quinones helped his cause offensively with a double, single and two RBI. Bates doubled and Masterson singled. Jack Sponheimer was hit by a pitch, stole a base and scored once. LaRosa (hit by pitch) and Javier Gutierrez each scored once.
The Cougars, coming off a stinging 11-10 setback to the hosting Elizabeth Minutemen on April 6, got a stellar performance from starting pitcher Joe Paccione and relievers Ed Toy and Quintin Niemsyk in an 8-0 shutout over the AL Johnson Crusaders on April 9. Paccione was on the mound five innings against the Crusaders and allowed just one hit, while recording 10 strikeouts. Toy allowed one hit and struck out one batter in his relief inning and Niemsyk recorded a strikeout and permitted no hits. Crusader Sean Patterson, who was charged with the loss, doubled and walked once. Justin Zdeb singled. Dan Metroka, Brody Gulbin and Mike Schelhorn each walked once.
Falk doubled, singled, was hit by a pitch, stole three bases, scored three runs and had an RBI for Cranford. Pat Bendert blasted a home run and scored twice. Tripodi tripled, walked twice, scored once and had three RBI. McCaffery singled, was hit once, stole a base and scored once. Fry singled and scored once. Carracino had an RBI.
Sc. Pl.-Fanwood 021 000 1 4 Cranford 000 100 0 1
