Sports
South Brunswick Baseball Earns Pair of Wins
Carroll throws six shutout innings in varsity debut.
To borrow a line from the old telvision show The A-Team, South Brunswick High baseball coach Tim Sweeney loves it when a plan comes together.
When South Brunswick played East Brunswick in back-to-back games last week, the plan worked beautifully.
"We started a little slow (0-2) and then got those two wins to get back even," Sweeney noted. "East Brunswick is a good team and those were really good wins. Those were the kind of games where everything just sort of fell into line. It seems like the times when we are pitching well, those are also the games when we are hitting the ball and playing well on defense."
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When that happens, South Brunswick is a very good team.
On Apr. 7, South Brunswick defeated East Brunswick, 2-0.
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South Brunswick scored both its runs in the first. Craig Cleffi (two hits) and Ariel Torres (two walks) were both driven in by Jack Young. This proved to be plenty of support for Alex Carroll, who worked six innings and allowed just two hits and four walks. Carroll struck out eight batters. TJ Perkowski came on to work a scoreless seventh inning to get the save.
"(Carroll) really did a good job," Sweeney said. "That was his first varsity start of his career. I think he was a little nervous and wild in the first. Once he got past the first, he really settled down and pitched very well, allowing just two hits."
South Brunswick defeated East Brunswick, 6-3, on Apr. 8.
Zach Gildenberg pitched six innings to earn the win. Ariel Torres came through with a two-run double.
South Brunswick scored two runs in the seventh, but still fell short in a 6-5 setback to Hunterdon Central on Apr. 11.
"I don't ever want to say it's good to lose, but Hunterdon Central is usually one of the best teams in the state," Sweeney said. "We lost, but we played very well. It helps with the confidence going forward. We know we can play with some of the better teams in the state."
South Brunswick's game against Sayreville was rained out on Apr. 12.
"That's the third time that game has been rained out," Sweeney noted. "I'm beginning to think someone doesn't want us to play that game (laughs)."
South Brunswick will play Edison on Apr. 14 and 15. The game on Apr. 15 is a home game under the lights.
"That is Senior Night, so I hope we get to play that one," Sweeney said.
