New Providence slows hot-hitting Waldwick in the NJSIAA Group 1 baseball semifinals
NEW PROVIDENCE – Pesky, that might be the best word to describe New Providence’s baseball approach in its 8-2 win over Waldwick in Monday’s NJSIAA Group 1 semifinal.
A couple infield singles. Stolen bases. Sac flies. The Pioneers just kept coming in the methodical victory, along with timely hits and gutsy pitching.
“That’s the type of win you need to have against a pitcher (Phil Centineo) of that quality,” New Providence coach Chris Brodeur said. “He’s around the strike zone and he’s got enough off-speed stuff. We’re just going to continue to keep grinding at bats. Trying to get little by little by little. Take advantage of some opportunities. That’s kind of what we try to do. We try to put pressure on teams.”
All the small things added up to stop a hot Waldwick team, which won the North 1, Group 1 title by outscoring opponents, 46-19.
The Pioneers seized a 3-0 lead in the second inning with back-to-back RBI doubles from No. 9 hitter Andrew Kowantz and Zach DeGeorge, followed by a run-scoring single by Matt Demareski and they wouldn't trail again.
What it means
New Providence (20-8) advanced to its second-straight Group 1 final. The Pioneers will play Woodstown (18-9), the South Group 1 champions, in Saturday’s title game at Veterans Park in Hamilton at 4 p.m. Woodstown beat Point Pleasant Beach, 4-0, in Monday’s other Group 1 semifinal.
New Providence, which has won four-straight North 2 sectional titles, last earned a Group 1 championship in 1998. Last spring, the Pioneers dropped a 4-3 classic to Middlesex in 13 innings.
Waldwick (23-8), meanwhile, ends its season after capturing their third sectional title this century to go along with 2011 and 2016. The memories include an exciting 13-10 win over Wood-Ridge in the sectional final.
Key plays
Waldwick threatened to break it open in the first inning against starter DeGeorge. With one out, Nick Ciano and Mike O’Neil walked. With two outs, Rocco DeMenna got hit with a pitch to load the bases.
DeGeorge’s pitch then got away from catcher Dean Licari, who raced back to scoop up the ball as Ciano broke home from third base. The catcher tossed it to a sprinting DeGeorge, who applied the tag for the third out. DeGeorge said, “That would have been a huge momentum swing their way and I think it energized us when we got the out.”
In the fifth inning, New Providence scored four times to take a 7-0 lead. DeGeorge led off with a triple and Demareski brought him home with a sacrifice fly.
The Pioneers manufactured a run when Licari beat out an infield single, stole second and scored when Luca Vitale beat out an infield single. Two runs later scored on an error.
Game balls
Waldwick coach Dan Freeman credited DeGeorge for stalling the Warriors’ hot offense. Waldwick lashed out 14 hits in the sectional final.
Freeman said that the senior left-hander "lived low, he lived away. We’re kind of a power hitting team and we didn’t get many balls up today. I think he just also worked really quickly and kept us uncomfortable on the bases and in the box. That was a heck of a job for him.”
DeGeorge allowed a run in four innings off three hits, three walks and three strikeouts. Freeman also pointed to the relievers for working quickly. Jake Monaco gave up a run in two innings and Ryan Grill closed with a scoreless seventh inning.
For Waldwick, Zach Hulsizer drove in both runs with RBI singles. He also made a handful of nifty defensive plays at shortstop.
They said it
Brodeur on New Providence reaching its second-straight Group 1 championship game: “It really speaks to this senior class and their ownership of the program. These guys are invested 100 percent. This is what we’re doing in the spring. This is what we do and they kind of learned that from last year’s senior class.”
DeGeorge on getting out of the first inning and his strong performance on the mound: “I was struggling with my command a little bit, but I just kind of took a deep breath. Closed my eyes, relaxed a little bit. Just try to find the zone, let them put the ball in play. Let my teammates make plays.”
Freeman on Waldwick’s successful season: “They’re good, good people. Respectful young men and they’re incredible baseball players, as well. They have a ton of heart. They fought all season long in regular season games with their back up against the wall and in the playoffs, as well. They have a warrior mentality and a never-say-die mentality.
“... We hit the heck out of the ball all tournament and just ran out of steam today with it. I told them they should be proud of just the excitement they brought all season long. That section final, I think it was probably the most exciting high school baseball game anybody’s ever seen. So, they shouldn’t hang their heads. They’re sectional champs.”
Email: amendlowitz@njpressmedia.com
Andy Mendlowitz is a sports reporter for MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to local news throughout Central Jersey, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: New Providence wins the NJSIAA Group 1 baseball semifinal
