Saturday baseball/CBA cools off Raritan/full story
By TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER
MIDDLETOWN - CBA is doing all the little things right these days. As well as the big things.
The No. 2-seeded Colts received yet another strong pitching effort from ace Kyle Slate Saturday and the almost daily home run by one of the Laufer twins.
But CBA also reeled off two critical double plays to snuff out Raritan threats before finishing off the No. 18-seeded Rockets with six runs in the fifth inning of an 11-1 Shore Conference Tournament Round of 16 triumph at Colt Field.
CBA (20-4) will host No. 10 Jackson (20-7) 4 p.m. Wednesday in an SCT quarterfinal.
But Saturday began in shaky fashion for the Colts. ""I came out a little rocky,'' said Slate.
Pinned to the CBA dugout wall Saturday was the Asbury Park Press article recounting Raritan's NJSIAA Central Jersey II Friday win over Rumson.
""They're a good team no doubt about it,'' said Dave Laufer. ""They hit the ball.''
Raritan (15-9), on a spree in which it had averaged 13.4 runs over its last five games, appeared ready for a fast start vs. CBA when it loaded the bases with out out in the first inning.
Slate wasn't rattled. ""I knew if I got a ground ball with the bases loaded my infield would pick me up,'' he said.
Shortstop Anthony Cirillo started a 6-4-3 double play, and in the fourth Slate covered first base helping complete a difficult 3-6-1 twin killing.
""I got over there as fast as I could and I settled myself (at the bag),'' said Slate. ""We do that in practice all the time. It worked out for me good.''
A run scored on the play, just the second earned run allowed by the right-hander as his ERA "climbed" to 0.24.
By then CBA led 5-1 after Laufer's three-run home run capped a four-run third inning. The line shot over the left field fence marked the seventh time in the last 10 games and the third game in a row that Dave or his brother Jim have gone deep.
""He's hitting the ball real well,'' said Dave Laufer of Jim. ""I was slumping a little bit midway through the season but I'm starting to do better again.
""Everyone is hitting right now. Best time of the year to be doing that.''
""That one guy, there, Slate, is a very good pitcher,'' said T.J. O'Donnell, Raritan coach. ""What can you do? You do everything you can. We tried to piece it together a little bit today.''
Marc Zecchino singled and doubled for Raritan which has its No. 1 and two pitchers, Zecchino and Charlie Rivera, ready for a Tuesday NJSIAA Central Jersey II semifinal at Spotswood.
""You always feel good about your chances,'' said O'Donnell. ""Hopefully we can let this one roll off our back.''
CBA will host St. John Vianney (18-6) Tuesday in an NJSIAA Non-Public A quarterfinal.
CBA coach Marty Kenney said Dave Laufer (5-2) will start against the Lancers (18-6) who have won seven games in a row.
STAFF WRITER
MIDDLETOWN - CBA is doing all the little things right these days. As well as the big things.
The No. 2-seeded Colts received yet another strong pitching effort from ace Kyle Slate Saturday and the almost daily home run by one of the Laufer twins.
But CBA also reeled off two critical double plays to snuff out Raritan threats before finishing off the No. 18-seeded Rockets with six runs in the fifth inning of an 11-1 Shore Conference Tournament Round of 16 triumph at Colt Field.
CBA (20-4) will host No. 10 Jackson (20-7) 4 p.m. Wednesday in an SCT quarterfinal.
But Saturday began in shaky fashion for the Colts. ""I came out a little rocky,'' said Slate.
Pinned to the CBA dugout wall Saturday was the Asbury Park Press article recounting Raritan's NJSIAA Central Jersey II Friday win over Rumson.
""They're a good team no doubt about it,'' said Dave Laufer. ""They hit the ball.''
Raritan (15-9), on a spree in which it had averaged 13.4 runs over its last five games, appeared ready for a fast start vs. CBA when it loaded the bases with out out in the first inning.
Slate wasn't rattled. ""I knew if I got a ground ball with the bases loaded my infield would pick me up,'' he said.
Shortstop Anthony Cirillo started a 6-4-3 double play, and in the fourth Slate covered first base helping complete a difficult 3-6-1 twin killing.
""I got over there as fast as I could and I settled myself (at the bag),'' said Slate. ""We do that in practice all the time. It worked out for me good.''
A run scored on the play, just the second earned run allowed by the right-hander as his ERA "climbed" to 0.24.
By then CBA led 5-1 after Laufer's three-run home run capped a four-run third inning. The line shot over the left field fence marked the seventh time in the last 10 games and the third game in a row that Dave or his brother Jim have gone deep.
""He's hitting the ball real well,'' said Dave Laufer of Jim. ""I was slumping a little bit midway through the season but I'm starting to do better again.
""Everyone is hitting right now. Best time of the year to be doing that.''
""That one guy, there, Slate, is a very good pitcher,'' said T.J. O'Donnell, Raritan coach. ""What can you do? You do everything you can. We tried to piece it together a little bit today.''
Marc Zecchino singled and doubled for Raritan which has its No. 1 and two pitchers, Zecchino and Charlie Rivera, ready for a Tuesday NJSIAA Central Jersey II semifinal at Spotswood.
""You always feel good about your chances,'' said O'Donnell. ""Hopefully we can let this one roll off our back.''
CBA will host St. John Vianney (18-6) Tuesday in an NJSIAA Non-Public A quarterfinal.
CBA coach Marty Kenney said Dave Laufer (5-2) will start against the Lancers (18-6) who have won seven games in a row.
posted by Tony Graham at 9:06 PM
4 Comments:
Tony,
When do the all shore and county terams come out?
All Shore and Shore Coaches Division teams will run Sunday, June 17.
Tony,
When are Senior All-Star and Carpenter Cup teams selected?
I would think fairly soon...
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