Baseball: No. 2 seed New Providence falls in Union County Tournament semifinals
ELIZABETH – Jonathan Dayton High School’s baseball team is once again proving how meaningless tournament seeds can be. New Providence discovered that Saturday afternoon in July-like heat.
No. 11 seed Dayton ousted No. 2 New Providence 4-3 in a Union County Tournament semifinal at Kean University. On Wednesday the Bulldogs ousted third-seed and defending county champ Governor Livingston 4-1 in the quarterfinals in Berkeley Heights.
Dayton (12-6-1) will make its first county final appearance since 2005 Monday night when it meets top seed and nine-time county winner Cranford (18-4) at Kean. Cranford, which beat Westfield 10-1 in the second semi Saturday, beat Dayton 8-4 April 4 in the Bulldogs’ season opener.
Dayton has won one county tournament crown in 1954, the first year the event was held. Dayton was known as Springfield or ‘Regional’ in those days.
New Providence (12-8) was attempting to get to its first county final since 1999 and win its third county crown and first since 1981.
The Pioneers fell behind 3-0, but rallied to tie at 3-3 in the home fifth on sophomore Andrew Kowantz’ 2-run triple to left center and senior Zach DeGeorge’s sac fly to center.
Dayton freshman Frank Dasti's RBI single with two out in the seventh gave the Bulldogs a 4-3 lead. New Providence threatened in the bottom of the inning with two on, but Dasti struck out the final batter.
“It was a complex game in a lot of ways. Heat was a major factor,” New Providence coach Chris Brodeur said. “The guys got it rolling for a bit, but they had a good pitching performance. We were threatening at the end, but just a bit short.”
New Providence senior James Pazdera pitched 6 2/3 innings, gave up six hits, struck out four and walked five. Three of those five walks came in the seventh inning when Brodeur brought in sophomore Jake Monaco with two out and two on.
“I’m really happy in the way James competed. He goes out there and gets better and better,” Brodeur said.
Pazdera threw a complete game no hitter against Dayton last year in a 10-0 North 2 Group 1 semifinal victory.
Key plays
Senior righty James Pazdera walked the first batter he faced in the seventh but picked him off first and got Tom Desarno on a fly out to center. Two outs. But senior Brady Rosenstock and senior Teixera walked. Jake Monaco relieved Pazdera and freshman Frank Dasti singled to left to score Rosenstock and give Dayton a 4-3 lead.
Game balls
Dayton senior Tommy Desarno didn’t allow a walk in six innings, allowing six hits and striking out five in 90-plus degree temperatures to earn the win.
Freshman Frank Dasti drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh, then earned a save in the bottom of the inning.
What’s next
New Providence and Dayton played for the first time this season in the county semi. Their Union County Conference inter-division game will be played Wednesday night at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater. Both schools will also hold their senior night.
The two could also play a late round North 2 Group 1 game next month. Dayton looks like the No. 1 seed in the section, New Providence No. 2. The power point baseball cutoff date was Saturday.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: New Providence falls in Union County Tournament baseball semifinals
