Jackson Thompson | For NJ Advance Media
As a junior shortstop, Dennis Hulse was a key player for the 1998 state champion St. Mary of Rutherford Gaels, the program’s last group to win a state title.
Now 21 years later, as the program’s head coach, Hulse has his top-seeded Gaels in position to take another shot at a championship after a 2-1 victory over third-seeded Gill St. Bernard’s in the final round of the NJSIAA Non-Public B, North Jersey Tournament in Rutherford.
It was only a year ago, on the very same field, that St. Mary’s championship aspirations were halted against Gill St. Bernard’s in a 5-2 final round defeat. It was after that game that Gill St. Bernard coach Dave Pasquale approached Hulse and assured him the two would find themselves in the exact situation one year later and behind the arm of Kenny Quijano, the Gaels avenged last season’s upset to claim their first sectional title since 2016.
“The difference was our starting pitcher,” Hulsey said. “Last year they got out to an early lead on us and when your battling back in a state tournament game the pressure builds inning after inning. Getting off to an early lead helps with your ace on the mound.”
Quiano and fellow senior pitcher Mark Alday, who were freshman on that 2016 team, have gotten every out as the team’s two-man pitching staff in this year’s playoffs, giving up only threw runs throughout the first three runs of the tournament, and they collectively out-pitched Mike Giammarino (6 hits, 1 earned run) to deliver a sectional final victory.
In 5 1/3 scoreless innings, Quiano struck out 12 and walked only one, but it was a win that took a play at the plate by his defense and a clutch strikeout of Gill St. Bernard’s top-hitting AJ Donofrio to work out of a bases loaded jam in the fifth inning.
“That feeling as a freshman of getting there was a feeling like no other,” Quiano said. “Being a senior I just wanted to make a memorable year and thanks to my team we got it done… lots of sweat, tears, lots of tough times and a lot of good times so I’m happy we were able to end it like this at Tamblyn field.
Alday had to work out of a similar jam in the last innning as Gill St. Bernard did not go away quietly. Even with two outs, Gill St. Bernard loaded the bases and an RBI single by Donofrio broke the shutout and moved the tying and go-ahead runs into scoring position.
With the game on the line against Michael Taylor, Alday made the pitch he needed with a two-seem outside pitch that was popped to right field for the game ending catch by Eric Bittiger.
“It was a high pressure situation,” Alday said. “Thankfully my other team mates were able to pick me up and get the fly ball… as soon as the ball left the bat I knew it was game over.”
For Gill St. Bernard’s, a sub .500 season that still culminated in deep run through the state tournament comes to an end. Donofrio and Giammarino, the only two seniors on the team, played their final high school game before beginning their collegiate careers at Gettysburg and Wagner in 2020.
“I’m very proud of the season our team had,” Pasquale said. “Our schedule was dramatically different from what its been in the past and I don’t think our record indicates the type of season this team had… our two seniors have meant a lot to our program. A lot of wins and for them to get to thwir third sectional final in four years says a lot about them.”
St. Mary will now play Gloucester Catholic, No. 19 in the NJ.com Top 20, in the Non-Public B championship at DeMeo Field in Hamilton on Wednesday.
“If Gloucester Catholic didn’t win then we would be dissapointed,” Hulse said. “We want to go win a state championship against the best so we’re excited to play them.
