(Story by Greg Tartaglia / Record Sports)
POMPTON LAKES – Kyle Shafer pitched like an ace with a couple of Jacks up his sleeve.
The Pompton Lakes senior threw a four-hit complete game and struck out a season-high 14 to propel the Cardinals past Becton, 3-1, in the North 1, Group 1 baseball tournament first round Monday at Hershfield Park.
Shafer (3-3) threw 111 pitches and walked only two to help No. 8 Pompton Lakes advance to Friday’s quarterfinals. It will host No. 16 Saddle Brook, which stunned top seed Wood-Ridge in its playoff opener.
The Cardinals (13-5-1) loaded the bases with two outs in the first thanks to a trio of walks. Right fielder Jack Gorstein doubled to the gap in left-center to drive in two.
With two on in the third, catcher Jack MacDonald made it 3-0 with an RBI single.
“Jack and Jack, both kids have been in the program for a couple years now, getting it done,” Shafer said. “Everyone [batting] 1 through 9 gets it done, but [Monday], I think the experience showed for us.”
Shafer is a four-year member of the program and got his first taste of postseason success. The Cardinals’ last prior state win had been in the 2014 opening round against Belvidere, which came after back-to-back sectional title campaigns in 2012-13.
“It was nice to get one, and hopefully keep it rolling moving forward,” said Shafer.
Matt Perine drove in the lone run for Becton (12-9) with an RBI single in the fourth to drive in Trevor Deliantis, the courtesy runner for pitcher Mike Bolwell, who had singled. Perine also pitched 1⅔ scoreless innings in relief.
North 1, Group 1 first round
SADDLE BROOK 8, WOOD-RIDGE 7
|
SADDLE BROOK |
2 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
— |
8 |
12 |
3 |
|
Wood-Ridge |
4 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
— |
7 |
12 |
0 |
2B: (WR) Christian Jones 1; (SB) Anthony Marchetto 2; 3B: HR: (SB) John Hacker 2RBI: (WR) Jake Colon 2, Christian Jones 1, Liam Winslow 1, Eric Drotos 1, Lucas Leone 2(SB) Anthony Marchetto 2, John Hacker 6
WP: Anthony Marchetto, LP: Anthony D’Amico
NEW MILFORD 7, MIDLAND PARK 1
|
NEW MILFORD |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
— |
7 |
12 |
0 |
|
Midland Park |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
— |
1 |
6 |
2 |
2B: (NM) Tyler Picinic 1, Ray Rama 1; 3B:HR: RBI: (MP) Matt Weisbrot 1(NM) Tyler Picinic 3, John DeSena 1, Colin Hollis 1, Brian Mackey 1, Ray Rama 1
WP: Conor Hollis, LP: David Kruis
North 1, Group 2 first round
GLEN ROCK 11, KITTATINNY 5
|
KITTATINNY |
0 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
— |
5 |
7 |
2 |
|
Glen Rock |
1 |
1 |
0 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
0 |
— |
11 |
11 |
6 |
2B: (GR) Ashton Dalessio 1, Dominic Patania 1, Ian Dorsey 1, Owen Deutschman 1; 3B: HR:RBI: (GR) Ashton Dalessio 1, Dominic Patania 2, Drew Famularo 1, Dan Mendelsohn 2, Ian Dorsey 2, Ethan Waller 2, Noah Beverin 1
WP: Jared Brassil
In other State Tournament action……
No. 5 WALDWICK 7, No. 12 CRESSKILL 4 (at Waldwick): Lucas Mainenti went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored for the Warriors (15-7). Spencer McNamara was the winning pitcher and finished 2-for-4 with one RBI and one run.
No. 4 PARK RIDGE 5, No. 13 NORTH WARREN 4 (at Park Ridge): The Owls (15-6) walked off with two runs in the bottom of the seventh and will host Waldwick in the quarterfinals. Cole Triano earned the win, while Zach Lewis doubled and drove in a run.
No. 2 EMERSON 9, No. 15 WALLINGTON 1 (at Emerson): The defending sectional champs got six innings of one-hit ball from Brendan Patterman to advance. The right-hander walked one, struck out 13 and allowed one unearned run for the Cavos (17-6).
No. 10 HASBROUCK HEIGHTS 5, No. 7 CEDAR GROVE 2 (at Cedar Grove): The Aviators (11-12) sprang the upset to earn a quarterfinal date against Emerson. Remi Sanchez drove in two, as the visitors scored four runs in the fourth in support of winning pitcher Nick Cupo.
North 2, Group 2
No. 4 LEONIA 12, No. 13 HARRISON 2 (6 innings, at Leonia): The Lions (13-7) picked up their first state victory since the 2011 North 1, Group 1 opening round and advanced to face Lyndhurst in the quarterfinals.
Leonia senior Keith Galfo recorded his 100th career hit for the Lions baseball team on Friday, May 18, 2018. (Photo: Courtesy of Thomas Reid)
Left-hander Keith Galfo was the winning pitcher, striking out seven in five innings. At the plate, he went 1-for-2 with a pair of RBI to set the Leonia single-season record for hits with 38. Galfo recorded his 100th career hit on Friday.
Tate Irby drove in five runs and Ryan Nakajima drove in three, as the Lions scored four times in the third and sixth in the fourth.
Julio Ortiz homered twice for Harrison (15-9) in the loss, his sixth and seventh of the season.
No. 5 LYNDHURST 7, No. 12 PARSIPPANY 3 (at Lyndhurst): Right-hander Frankie Venezia earned the win on the mound, and four different Golden Bears drove in at least one run, led by Sean Leonard with two RBI.
No. 2 RUTHERFORD 5, No. 15 FORT LEE 1 (at Rutherford): Left-hander Jacob Gomez fired a one-hitter for the Bulldogs (17-6) and struck out 12 while allowing one unearned run. Abellany Mendez went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles.
North 1, Group 2
No. 7 RIVER DELL 1, No. 10 HAWTHORNE 0 (at Oradell): Brendan Golden was dominant on the mound, striking out 11 and scattering three hits and three walks for the Golden Hawks (17-9). James O’Connor’s one-out double in the second scored Christian Hay with the only run. River Dell will visit No. 2 Newton on Thursday.
No. 6 GLEN ROCK 11, No. 11 KITTATINNY 5 (at Glen Rock): The Panthers (14-8) got two hits each from Ian Dorsey (double, two RBI), Dom Patania (double, two RBI), Owen Deutschman (double) and Dan Mendelsohn (two RBI) in the victory.
