By TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER
MIDDLETOWN - It was a moment frozen in time on a hot, humid, Saturday afternoon.
Near the pitcher's mound CBA players celebrated while Marc Teel of St. John Vianney, who had just popped up for the final out, slumped to his knees at first base and tossed his batting helmet away in dismay.
""It's always big to win a game like this,'' said CBA junior Steve McSherry.
The leftfielder doubled home the tying run and scored the game-winner on a wild pitch when the No. 2 seeded Colts rallied for two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to shade No. 11 St. John Vianney, 2-1, in a Shore Conference Tournament semifinal game at Colt Field.
CBA (24-4) will bid for its fifth title and first since it won three in a row from 2000-2002 when it plays No. 8 Colts Neck 7 p.m. Wednesday at FirstEnergy Park.
""It's a heart breaking loss,'' said Mike Morgan, first-year St. John Vianney coach whose seniors graduated in the morning.
""I have 10 seniors that I'll put them up against anybody in the Shore,'' he said. ""They gave me everything, they gave me their guts, they gave me their glory. That's what I asked from them every day.''
Senior left-hander Paul Bacigalupi (10-3), backed by three double plays, carried a four-hit shutout for the Lancers (19-8) and a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning.
""To be (down) 1-0 for six innings is tough,'' said McSherry who made a circus catch in the fifth inning to take extra bases away from Gary Fare.
CBA sophomore Zach Tannenbaum, in his first varsity at bat as a pinch-hitter, singled up the middle to open the sixth and Marc Sansevere laid down a sacrifice bunt.
""You roll the dice,'' said Marty Kenney, CBA coach, who said Tannenbaum was batting over .400 for the junior varsity.
McSherry then lofted an opposite field fly ball that one-hopped the left field fence for a game-tying ground rule double.
""I was just trying to slap it anywhere to get a hit,'' McSherry said. ""It looked like a normal pop up but it just kept going I guess.''
Morgan then pulled Bacigalupi in favor of right-hander Matt Wiley. The senior balked McSherry to third base, then struck out Mike Galeotafiore before clean-up batter Dave Laufer was intentionally walked.
Sophomore right-hander Kevin Mac Lachlan was summoned to face Jim Laufer but unleashed a wild pitch that scored McSherry before fanning Laufer.
"I knew Bach (Bacigalupi) was getting a little bit tired,'' said Morgan. ""I didn't want him to see number 15 (Galeotafiore). I know 15 pretty well. I used to teach him (batting) lessons.
""Wiley has a little more of a ball that moves and throws a little harder. I brought Wiley in to face one batter and I was going to bring Mac in anyway.
""Passed balls, wild pitch, whatever it was, happen,'' said Morgan. ""He might have just tried to juice it up a little too much. That's what happens.''
Matt Derring singled to open the game for St. John against CBA starter Dave Laufer (7-2) and scored on a sacrifice fly.
Laufer, who dodged bases-loaded threats in the second and third innings, allowed only one hit over the final five.
SJ Vianney lost to CBA by one run for the second time in a week. It bowed 4-3 Tuesday in the NJSIAA Tournament.
The victory kept CBA alive to become the second team in Shore Conference annals to capture the Quadruple Crown, four major titles including an overall state championship in one season.
Wall, the only team to accomplish the feat in SCT history (2004) will try to block CBA's path in Monday's 3:45 p. m. Monmouth County Tournament championship at Monmouth Regional High School.
""I think we we have the team with all the aspects,'' said McSherry. ""We can definitely do it.''
Extra quotes - McSherry on his catch - ""It was a rip, he absolutely ripped that,'' said McSherry. ""I had to do something. You can't think of it, you just kind of do it. It just kind of happens.;''
Morgan - ""It's baseball. I have no complaints. A great game by both teams. We had opportunities early.''
STAFF WRITER
MIDDLETOWN - It was a moment frozen in time on a hot, humid, Saturday afternoon.
Near the pitcher's mound CBA players celebrated while Marc Teel of St. John Vianney, who had just popped up for the final out, slumped to his knees at first base and tossed his batting helmet away in dismay.
""It's always big to win a game like this,'' said CBA junior Steve McSherry.
The leftfielder doubled home the tying run and scored the game-winner on a wild pitch when the No. 2 seeded Colts rallied for two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to shade No. 11 St. John Vianney, 2-1, in a Shore Conference Tournament semifinal game at Colt Field.
CBA (24-4) will bid for its fifth title and first since it won three in a row from 2000-2002 when it plays No. 8 Colts Neck 7 p.m. Wednesday at FirstEnergy Park.
""It's a heart breaking loss,'' said Mike Morgan, first-year St. John Vianney coach whose seniors graduated in the morning.
""I have 10 seniors that I'll put them up against anybody in the Shore,'' he said. ""They gave me everything, they gave me their guts, they gave me their glory. That's what I asked from them every day.''
Senior left-hander Paul Bacigalupi (10-3), backed by three double plays, carried a four-hit shutout for the Lancers (19-8) and a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning.
""To be (down) 1-0 for six innings is tough,'' said McSherry who made a circus catch in the fifth inning to take extra bases away from Gary Fare.
CBA sophomore Zach Tannenbaum, in his first varsity at bat as a pinch-hitter, singled up the middle to open the sixth and Marc Sansevere laid down a sacrifice bunt.
""You roll the dice,'' said Marty Kenney, CBA coach, who said Tannenbaum was batting over .400 for the junior varsity.
McSherry then lofted an opposite field fly ball that one-hopped the left field fence for a game-tying ground rule double.
""I was just trying to slap it anywhere to get a hit,'' McSherry said. ""It looked like a normal pop up but it just kept going I guess.''
Morgan then pulled Bacigalupi in favor of right-hander Matt Wiley. The senior balked McSherry to third base, then struck out Mike Galeotafiore before clean-up batter Dave Laufer was intentionally walked.
Sophomore right-hander Kevin Mac Lachlan was summoned to face Jim Laufer but unleashed a wild pitch that scored McSherry before fanning Laufer.
"I knew Bach (Bacigalupi) was getting a little bit tired,'' said Morgan. ""I didn't want him to see number 15 (Galeotafiore). I know 15 pretty well. I used to teach him (batting) lessons.
""Wiley has a little more of a ball that moves and throws a little harder. I brought Wiley in to face one batter and I was going to bring Mac in anyway.
""Passed balls, wild pitch, whatever it was, happen,'' said Morgan. ""He might have just tried to juice it up a little too much. That's what happens.''
Matt Derring singled to open the game for St. John against CBA starter Dave Laufer (7-2) and scored on a sacrifice fly.
Laufer, who dodged bases-loaded threats in the second and third innings, allowed only one hit over the final five.
SJ Vianney lost to CBA by one run for the second time in a week. It bowed 4-3 Tuesday in the NJSIAA Tournament.
The victory kept CBA alive to become the second team in Shore Conference annals to capture the Quadruple Crown, four major titles including an overall state championship in one season.
Wall, the only team to accomplish the feat in SCT history (2004) will try to block CBA's path in Monday's 3:45 p. m. Monmouth County Tournament championship at Monmouth Regional High School.
""I think we we have the team with all the aspects,'' said McSherry. ""We can definitely do it.''
Extra quotes - McSherry on his catch - ""It was a rip, he absolutely ripped that,'' said McSherry. ""I had to do something. You can't think of it, you just kind of do it. It just kind of happens.;''
Morgan - ""It's baseball. I have no complaints. A great game by both teams. We had opportunities early.''
posted by Tony Graham at 4:40 PM
1 Comments:
CBA's Stephen McSherry is only a junior, not a senior
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