MIDLAND PARK — Coach Frank Clark had 18 players listed on the Midland Park baseball lineup card for the June 9 Group 1 semifinals.

According to NJSIAA enrollment figures – 162 students in grades 10 through 12 – that makes the Panthers the smallest school in the North 1 and North 2 sections combined.

Yet that is the region Midland Park will represent in the Group 1 state final after blanking Brearley of Kenilworth, 4-0, in the semis.

“That has a great sound to it,” Clark said with a smile.

The Panthers (21-8-1) go in search of the program’s first state title at Veterans Park in Hamilton on Saturday, June 14. Their opponent will be Middlesex (22-5), a 4-3 winner over Schalick in the eight-inning Central/South Jersey semifinal.

In five playoff games so far, Midland Park has pitched four shutouts. Right-handers Braiden Russell (six innings) and Connor Detrick (one) combined to hold Brearley (15-10) to two hits.

“We don’t have guys throwing the ball 90-92 miles an hour or whatever,” Clark said. “We’re pitching to contact and trying to get outs as early as possible in the count, and the kids have bought into that.”

What it means

Midland Park is in a 1-v-1 state final for the second time in school history. The boys soccer team fell to Riverside in the 1982 NJSIAA title match, 2-1.

The current banners in the Panthers’ gym show that their only two state team championships are in golf, won by the 2018 and 2019 squads back-to-back (four teams per group reach the state golf tournament). Their cross-country squads have competed in state meets but have yet to finish first in their group.

Middlesex, meanwhile, owns six Group 1 baseball trophies and is bound for a 10th title game all-time.

Coaching connections

The Panthers prevented Brearley from making a second appearance in the Group 1 final. The last time the Bears were there was in 2009, when they fell to Park Ridge and coach Pete Crandall – who is now an assistant at Midland Park.

Combined, this will be the fifth state final for Clark (who took Waldwick in 2011 and 2016) and Crandall (Park Ridge in 2009 and 2018).

“It’s awesome just having the experience from those guys,” Panthers senior Conor Shortway said. “They’re well-respected around the North Jersey area, and it’s really a pleasure to play for them.”

By the numbers

797: Combined head coaching wins for Clark (three schools), Crandall (Park Ridge) and Midland Park pitching coach Evans Lazzaro (Paramus Catholic).

4-0: Not just the final score, but also Russell’s record since being converted from reliever to starter.

4: Saves this season for Detrick, who has made 15 appearances between starting and closing.

Game balls

► Shortway (2-for-3, double, run) and senior Ryan Fleming (2-for-4, 2-run single) each tallied multiple hits for Midland Park.

► Panthers senior Ryan Natoli (walk, RBI, HBP) made the penultimate out of the game with a sliding catch in center field.

► Boston College-bound lefty Sean Budis had Brearley’s only extra-base hit, a double in the fourth. The fireballer also pitched three scoreless innings of relief and struck out three, all looking.

They said it

Shortway noted that Clark and Crandall have helped the Panthers with their mental game: “Being from a small town, you want to prove everyone wrong.”

Clark: “Watching Braiden Russell pitch, it was an emotional moment for me… [from] last year to this year, he’s not even in the same ballpark. He’s worked so hard at it. And how about crediting Anthony Carrea, who was arguably our No. 1/1A guy on the mound, who’s shut down for the season [due to arm injury] – he can only swing the bat – he didn’t pout and immediately became like another pitching coach.

Clark: “The seniors have just done an amazing job in the leadership department.