South Brunswick U-9 Baseball off to 22-1 Start

Not wanting to play favorites with their parents, the members of the South Brunswick U-9 travel baseball team gave their mom and dad the same gift.

South Brunswick defeated Middlesex, 10-9, in the championship game of the Central Jersey Baseball League on Father's Day. When the two teams met in a regular season game the previous month on Mother's Day, South Brunswick emerged with a 10-5 win.

South Brunswick took a bit of a unique route to the championships, falling down 8-0 in the top of the first and 9-1 in the third. Michael Reyes doubled and scored on a single by Michael Slover to account for the South Brunswick run.

South Brunswick was at a bit of disadvantage as it was playing without Kyle White, a pitcher out with a torn ligament.

"We worked hard all CJBL season, but as a team, we need to step up and get this win for Kyle," South Brunswick Manager Tom Slover recalled telling his team.

Michael Reyes came on to pitch in the fourth and retired nine of the 10 batters he faced in three scoreless innings of relief. This settled the game down and gave South Brunswick a chance to rally back.

South Brunswick picked up a run in the fourth as Nick Delacruz singled and scored on a hit by Slover. Reyes and Arnav Reddy also walked in the inning and the bases were loaded with no outs when East Brunswick turned a liner to short into a triple play.

For most teams, this would have been a devastating play and the end of any comeback hopes. South Brunswick, however, came out swinging in the last of the fifth.

Seth Gleason and Anthony Fama singled to start the fifth. Matt Marich and Sammy Jiorle walked to force in a run and load the bases. Matt Storch then unloaded the bases with a hit. Before the inning ended, Delacruz had a run-scoring hit and Reyes added a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 9-8 after five innings.

In the last of the sixth, Jordy Glassman singled and Seth Gleason walked. After a wild pitch, Matt Marich tied the game with an infield single.

Middlesex walked Jiorle to set up a force at the plate, but Storch spoiled that strategy -- and ended the game -- with a hit into the gap.

The members of the South Brunswick Vikings U-9 travel baseball team are Michael Reyes, Arnav Reddy, Matthew Marich, Seth Gleason, Kyle White, Sammy Jiorle,  Anthony Fama, Matthew Storch, Nicky Delacruz,  Michael D'Amato, Michael Slover and Jordy Glassman 

The assistant coaches are Pete Glassman, Paul Delacruz and Jeff Reyes. Tom Slover is the head coach.

South Brunswick has played 23 games this year and is 22-1. South Brunswick has outscored its opponents 218-56.

South Brunswick won the title of the Marlboro Memorial Day Tournament. South Brunswick is the top seed in the Branchburg and Readington tournaments. The team is also getting ready for Cal Ripken play.

In the next few weeks, South Brunswick will also take part in tournaments in Basking Ridge, North Brunswick and Sout Brunswick.