The Central New Jersey Home News from New Brunswick, New Jersey • 37

SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 2007 Home News TMbune www.thnt.com PAGE Cll LOCKER ROOM GMCT BASEBALL SPOTSWOOD CELEBRATES TWO CHAMPIONSHIPS Chargers enjoy thrilling 24-hour period some." If anyone was dragging his feet at first pitch Saturday afternoon, coming a mere 23 hours after first pitch on Friday, it didn't show. If anything, Spotswood's only mistakes of the game came due to overzeal-ousness, like when Anthony Addone was thrown out trying to advance from first to third on a single in the first inning and when C.J. Mooney was picked off second when Cody Pace thought he had walked on ball three and headed to first with runners on first and second an inning later. One-through-nine looked as alert as could be reasonably expected in the bottom of the fifth, when nine batters reached base in succession to spark a six-run inning. Three players drew walks on full counts during that time, and five others hit singles, with Berner's base hit to left scoring one run, Phil Spina's base hit to left plating another, and Collins' shot straight up the middle scoring two.

Head coach Glenn Fredricks said he never for one second worried his team would show up unprepared on Saturday, counting on his seniors to keep the rest of the flock in line. "With the senior leadership you have on this team, with John (Berner), Anthony (Addone), Mike (Hohman) and Willie (Beard) taking you out every game, I know they're onnna malro fliiro tVia tnnirira and sophomores are completely focused on the task at hand," Fredricks said. "There was never a doubt in my mind that my team was gonna be ready and focused to play and win tins game luuay. Fredrick's players all ex- pressed similar confidence, although it was lost on no one how rare an accomplishment winning two championships in two days was (the prom notwithstanding). "Once in a lifetime, maybe.

No once in 100 lifetimes," Berner said in trying to explain. "We just bulldogged it! up. I didn't sleep at all well, 1 1 might have got a half hour but we came out here knowing right away (we would win) before it even started." It's unclear how confident everyone was when, representing the tying run, J.P. Stevens' -Brad Newman came to bat with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh innine. Rut anv doubts became moot when Beard blew his 136th pitch of the afternoon past Dan Belowich to close out thines.

ink uuuu. njiuuig onto the field as the bench, '1 ho rinomit amnharl nAiinno eight fielders, and coaches con-. verged on Beard to pile into a mass of flailing arms, legs, and smiles. Not a yawn was in sight ON THE WEB GALLERY: See the scholastic photo gallery of Saturday's GMCT baseball final at www.thnt.com JASON TOWLENSUf! photographer Spotswood's Mike Collins strokes a two-run single in a six-run fifth Inning Saturday as the Chargers won the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament with a 7-6 victory over J.P. Stevens at East Brunswick Tech.

walked in there and everybody was standing and cheering for us," senior third baseman John Michael Berner said. "I had trouble holding back tears, ABOUT THE GMCT QUOTABLE "We were like rock stars. We walked in there and everybody was standing and cheering for us; I had trouble holding back tears, I was so excited. It was awesome." Spotswood senior John Michael Bemer, on the reception the baseball team got from classmates upon arriving at the Spotswood senior prom Friday night after winning the program's first Central Group II championship earlier in the day. KEY RALLY Spotswood entered the home fifth trailing 3-1.

The Chargers rallied for six runs in the Inning to take a 7-3 lead. During the rally, nine batters reached base in succession via single or walk. Mike Hohman scored the first run of the Inning on John Michael Bernard RBI single. Anthony Addone tied the score at 3-3 when he crossed on a wild pitch. Designated hitter Mike Collins then stepped to the plate to deliver the key hit of the game.

After fouling off a 2-2 pitch, Collins laced a fastball to center for a two-run single that gave Spots-wood a 5-3 lead. Phil Spina followed with an RBI single and Brian Curci drew a bases-loaded walk off a 3-2 pitch to build the 7-3 cushion. As things turned out, Spotswood needed every single one of those insurance runs. DEFENSIVE KEYS J. P.

Stevens made a couple of big plays in the first two innings. Outfielder Dan Belowich threw out Anthony Addone who tried to run from first to third on John Michael Berner's line-drive single to center in the opening frame. In the ensuing inning, Hawks' pitcher Doug Wislinski picked C.J. Mooney off second when the baserunner, apparently unaware of the count, walked toward third base thinking that batter Cody Pace had been issued a free pass. The count on Pace after that pitch, however, was just 3-2.

Catcher Anthony Montal-bano threw the ball back to the mound and Wislinski alertly turned and fired to shortstop Connor Medler to erase the straying Mooney from the bases. Those two big plays prevented Spotswood from putting together a big rally, i KEY TO THE GAME J.P. Stevens ace Doug Wislinski, who was somewhat shaky over the first two innings, settled down and was in a groove. He entered the fifth having retired the last seven batters he faced in succession. All of the outs Wislinski recorded over the first four frames were either by strikeout or groundout.

He was staying on top of his curveball, in command of his fastball and even introduced a changeup to the Chargers the second time through the order. After getting No. 9 hitter Brian Curci to ground out at the start of the fifth, Wislinski allowed eight batters to reach base in succession via single or walk before head coach Dave Marzano pulled him. After the game, Marzano said he thought about pulling Wislinski sooner but that he was simply waiting for his ace to work out of trouble, as the senior right-hander had done all season. However, on Saturday, it never happened.

Connor Medler classmates, who were eagerly awaiting a chance to applaud the title they had won just hours before. "We were like rock stars. We 2 JL Above, J.P. Stevens third baseman Ryan Brady tags out Spotswood's Anthony Addone Saturday. Below, Spotswood pitcher Willie Beard was named the Neil Cosentino Award wi the being the GMCT's Most Vaulable Player.

IP.STTVEW I HI I Monomaiuc 3 2 1110 SatWfK 4 2 3 0 0 1 Meawssp 3 0 0 0 1 1 StillitanoAl 3 2 2 2 1 0 Brady 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 Newman rl 4 0 0 1 0 0 Zinno 20 3 0 2 0 0 0 BWowchd 4 0 0 0 0 2 Wnlirukip 1 0 0 0 1 1 CnictKSWB 1 0 0 0 0 1 MMHb 3 0 0 0 0 1 TOTALS 29 0 6 4 4 7 sroTswooo ii ni so Honman2b 2 1 0 0 2 0 Addonac 3 110 10 Berner 3D '412101 Petosirl 3 10 0 11 Collin? 3 2 2 2 0 1 Bump oooooo Mooney lb 3 1 2 0 0 0 Spinacf 3 0 2 2 0 0 Pacen 1 0 0 0 2 0 Curat! 2 0 0 1 1 1 TOTALS 24 7 9 4 l.r.JTfrtW (14-12) 192 111 I-II9 tWTSWOOO (24-4) OH 911 -7l f-" Jesse Sattler went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored for the llth-seeded Hawks (14-12), whose bottom of the order let them down. J.P. Stevens' last three hitters went a combined O-for-9 with five strikeouts. Spotswood (23-4), which had six different players score at least one run, will play Sterling in the state Group II semifinals 4 p.m. Tuesday at New Egypt High School.

By MARK SPIVEY STAFF WRITER EAST BRUNSWICK Sleep is for the weak. Just ask the Spotswood High School baseball teani. After capturing the first sectional championship in team history with a 1-0 win over Somerville Friday afternoon, most of the Chargers went home to get showered and decked out for the Senior Prom. And following a night out on the town and a couple restless hours of sleep at best they took the field at East Brunswick Tech on Saturday only to beat J.P. Stevens 7-6 to capture the first Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament championship in team history.

All in a day's work. "Probably about five hours; we were all there (at the prom); all the upperclassmen and a few sophomores," junior designated hitter Mike Collins said when asked how much sleep the team collectively got Friday night into Saturday morning. "This was something real special, something every high school player lives for, winning the big championship." Just in case anyone was feeling a bit weary upon arrival at the big event on Friday the dance, not the game they got a pick-me-up from their fellow CHARGERS From Page Cl "I thought about it," Marzano said of pulling Wislinski, who left the game after throwing 100 pitches. "Doug's been able to work out of jams throughout the season and I had a lot of confidence that he would be able to get us out of this one." While the Hawks had played long ball to build their 3-1 lead a two-run homer from John Stillitano in the third and a solo blast from Anthony Mon-talbano. in the fifth Spots-wood chipped away for all of its runs.

"As long as we stayed patient, like we always do, the second or third time around (the order) I knew we were going to get to him," Fredricks said, "and this time it just happened to be the third time around. We are the kind of club that just waits for the big inning and that's what happened today." The Chargers (24-4) strung together three straight singles to take a 1-0 lead in the second. They parlayed five singles and four walks into their six-run rally for a 7-3 lead. Designated hitter Mike Collins' two-run single snapped a 3-3 tie. Spina's second RBI single of the game and Brian Curci's bases-loaded walk off reliever Connor Medler produced two paramount insurance runs.

Medler worked out of the bind with a 5-2-3 double play. J.P. Stevens rallied in the seventh, loading the bases with one away before Brad Newman closed the gap to 7-4 on a run-scoring fielder's choice ground-out. Mike Zinno followed with a two-run single as the Hawks closed to 7-6. With Zinno on first and two away, Dan Belowich struck out looking on three straight pitches, including Beard's 136th of the game, TENNIS From Page C9 lieves Musyoka faces a tough match against Newark Academy's Zack Zwartler in today's match, being played at noon at Mercer County Park in West Windsor, he says the junior will put up a fight.

"He feels he'll give it everything he's got and go for the upset." Woodbridge's Kevin Gabel also earned a spot in the third round. He will face Newark Academy's Bobby MacTaggart, claiming a 5-0 edge in the first set against Matt Hefferon of Lindenwold in the first round before Hefferon was forced to retire. Gabel, a junior, then bested Christopher Worocz of Pinelands 6-4, 6-3 to advance. Three Greater Middlesex Conference doubles teams advanced to today's second round "I can help a pet find a home hoiy?" I was so excited. It was awe i U- second inning knowing that he didn't have his stuff, I still know that it was Willie on the mound," Fredricks said, "and no matter how many runs he was going to give up, we were going to score more.

He didn't have his good fastball and he didn't have any of his breaking stuff, but that's the kind of player Willie is. He's going to gut it out and make sure this team wins." drew Yang of Sparta 6-2, 6-2 after easily besting Egg Harbor's Scott Campbell 6-1, 6-0 in the first. SWCLES DEBUTS CM Gabriel (P) BYE; Oaurav Singh (NOB) d. Scott Campbell (Egg Haroor) 9-1. 6-0: Najeeo Husaain (SB) d.

Anton KKwiko (Boena) 7-5. 9-4; Malt Araneta (F) d. Chris Eaposlto (Neptune) 7-5. 2-9. 9-3; Andrew Musyoka (Say) d.

Anthony Stefanstd (Bayonne) 64. r3; Loptxjn Sasinm (NEB) d. Ray Postodan (RoseUe Park) 7-5, 9-2; Kevin Gaoel (Wood) d. Matt Helferon (Lindenwold) 54 retired; Baris AJdartmaz (Pops John) d. Arjun Sapra (SB) 9-0.

9-1; Mark Schroeder (Ridge) d. Kevin Kotsak (SA) 9-1. 9-1; Leland Richardson (VVWPS) d. Rahul Gulatl (JFK) 9-1, 94; Charles Berenato (St. Augustine) d.

Juson Cart-son (Spots) 6-0, Errc McCarthy (Pemtvllje) Malt Srmcha (Mid) 94. 7-9 (7-2); Josh Israel (Unburn) Brock Mundy (Dun) by for Andrew Musyoka (Say) d. John Roser (Bernards) 3-9, 9-1, 9-2; Kern Gat (Wood) d. Christopher Worocz (Pinelands) 94, 94; Chldl Gabriel d. Tom Turdch (Had-don Twp 1 90.

9-1; Nafeeb Hussam (SB) d. Matt Araneta (F) 4-6, 9-3, 9-0; Andrew Vang (Sparta) d. Gaurav Singh (NOB) 9-2. 5-2 Eric Hsu (fridgewater) d. Lopburi Sast-nii (NEB) BOWLES RESULTS mtHtswl KumMKhanria (SB) d.

Candeo-Keane (Stertng) by forfeit; Sheth-Wu (EB) d. MititeHo-Witliarris (Madieon) by forfeit. Sepe-Murtha (Mon) d. CentreHi-Lafk (Sparta) by forfeit; GijadagnoCimala (Shore Reg.) d. Froefich-Patef (JFK) 0-1, 7-5 Lee-Devi (Brktgewater) d.

ttoutsoupias-Jurado (SR) 94 94 Braunstutfr-Kleinrnan (Tenafty) Koffler-Patel (Say) 62. 62lrnnokov-Hahn (Bergen Tech) Brasiie-Rente-ne (Mid) 61. 62; Schwartz-Sobe (Ramapo) d. Mayer-Chang (JPS) 24 7-6 (69), 61. Jay Sherman contributed to this report.

A -1 By sponsoring Missy 9 month old, spayed female. Playful. Your local Animal Shelter (732) 7SM321 Sponsor Michael Jones SAMPLE homeless pets from local animal shelters and give them loving homes I as the Spots-wood ace was finally able to escape the jam. "I'm sure pitching on three days rest affected me but I'm not going to make an ex-cuse like that," said Beard, who improved to ll-l and was named Tournament MVP with his third straight GMCT victory. "My stuff just wasn't there today and I had to battle through.

The team just backed me up. They were awesome." Beard, who will attend Rutgers University on a baseball scholarship, fanned seven to surpass South Amboy's Brian Seres as the GMC's leader with 107 strikeouts on the season. He scattered eight hits, walked three and hit a batter. "To look up at Willie in the at Veteran's Park in Hamilton Township, ironically without raising a racquet amongst them. East Brunswick's Mike Wu and Sahil Sheth, Kevin Murtha and Matt Sepe of Monroe, and South Brunswick's Niket Khanna and Arjun Kumble were all beneficiaries of walkovers in the first round.

Sheth and Wu will face off against Junjiro Mori and Piray Sekar of West Windsor-Plainsboro South, while Sepe and Murtha will play Vineland's Jay Roth and Tim Dovnarsky. Khanna and Kumble face John D'Agos-tino and Donald Encinas of Holmdel. New Brunswick's Lopburi Sasinin advanced to the second round with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Roselle Park's Ray Postodan, but fell 6-1, 6-1 in the second to Eric Hsu of Bridgewater-Rari-tan. Gaurav Singh of North Brunswick was also knocked out in the second round. The senior fell to seconaseeded An-: E-Spna DP-JP Slevwul L06-JP Swvn5 Spotswood 6.

2B Sattler. Hft Snllrtsno. Momubino. SB Petosa. VISITOR Wtjltnski (fr4) HOME BMTd11-1) WP-Winifc2 Beard HBP-Zrnno.

9 43 9 1.6 0 a 7 II SO 7 7 9 4 0 0 11 a so 9 6 3 7' money order or credit card Make checks payable to the -Zip. Home News Tribune News that hits home thnt.com 9W MT For $15, a picture of a pet will aDDear alona with vour name as sponsor. Look in Monday's "Pets" section for the "Helo a Pet Find a Home" page which came on in relief and walked the first batter he faced with the bases loaded on a 3-2 pitch that appeared to break across the knees. Medler escaped the jam on a 5-2-3 double play. After J.P.

Stevens rallied for three runs in the seventh, Marzano was left to wonder if he pulled Wislinski earlier, might the Hawks have won the game? INSIDE THE BOX The bottom third of the J.P. Stevens batting order went a combined 0-for-9 with five strikeouts. The bottom third of the Spotswood order went a combined 3-for-7 with three RBI and three walks: Willie Beard took a 7-3 lead into the top of the sixth when he promptly hit leadoff batter Mike Zinno, drilling him in the back with an 0-1 fastball. Zinno took second on a wild pitch and went to third on a groundout. With two away, No.

9 batter Mike Miller laced a one-hopper back to Beard, who picked the ball cleanly and easily threw Miller out at first base. After the play and before he returned to the dugout, Beard glared at the J.P. Stevens bench, which had been jawing for much of the game. Beard's silent stare sent a message that he was not about to back down. John Stillitano's two-run homer In the third which gave the Hawks a 2-1 lead came off an 0-1 fastball.

It sailed over the right-center field fence. Teammate Anthony Montalbano's solo shot, which came off a 2-0 fastball, cleared the same portion of the fence. Spotswood pitcher Willie Beard was relying so heavily on his two-seam and four-seam fastball because his curve was uncharacteristically flat. Three of J.P. Stevens' eight hits went for extra bases.

All nine of Spotswood's hits were singles. Greg Tufaro and Mark Spivey currently appears biweekly. Enclosed is my check, information for 1 5. Home News Tribune. Name (please print) Address.

City State. Home Phone E-mail Address Age 13 and older Age 12 and under I (Information requested according to Federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) I Charge my credit card (circle one): Js5j Credit card number Exp. Date I Signature Mall to: Melp-A-PetAttn: Jessica Classified TelesalesHome News Tribune P.O. Box 788 Neptune, NJ 07754 For Information call Jessica or e-mail jhulsartapp.com.