BELLEVILLE - The New Jersey Spartans just missed making the Metropolitan League playoffs last season, but they picked up a big win on Tuesday to keep them anchored in the final spot for the 2011 playoffs.
Behind the pitching of Matt Larangera, the Spartans quickly took care of the Teaneck Bruins, 4-0, in a game that lasted less than 90 minutes. Larangera scattered five hits as his slider and fastball were on target that night.
"This was a big game for us," said New Jersey coach Anthony Malanga going up against the team who was just below them in the standings as the Spartans look to make their Metropolitan League playoff debut. The Spartans held the sixth spot in the Met standings with the top six qualifying for the playoffs that start next week and were only one game behind in the loss column behind the North Haledon Reds for the fifth spot in the standings.
The Spartans came into Tuesday night's game after a 0-0 tie with the win over the Bruins giving New Jersey a 10-10-1 on the season. The Met League regular season is in the homestretch with the final regular season games on Sunday. The Spartans had three games remaining in the season including a game at Hackensack for the regular season finale.
This is the fourth season for the Spartans in the Met League. "Our program has been progressing each year and this season we were hoping to make the playoffs," said Malanga.
Larangera, a pitcher for Rutgers-Newark and a Livingston High School graduate, threw a five-hitter while striking out six and walking only two. He also gave up only one extra base hit, a double in the fifth inning.
"I was throwing a lot of sliders," said Larangera, a closer last season for the Spartans, is in his first season as a starting pitcher be it in the Met League or college. "My coach (Anthony Malanga) told me to throw it harder. I used to lob it over."
In addition to throwing it harder, Malanga said that he was hitting his target at the catcher. "The key for him was his location,” said the Spartans coach about Larangera who had a 1.58 ERA before Tuesday’s game. “All the pitches I called he hit the spots...He is an excellent fastball pitcher, but the other teams catch up to it after a while."
The Spartans are just one of two teams that call Belleville High School's field home. The other is the Belleville Rays.
The Spartans have several players with Belleville High School connections, many of which played college baseball, including shortstop Craig Binkiewicz, Dominic Malanga (the son of the coach), Andrew Brenneman, player/coach Giancarlo Cifelli and left fielder Jason Luzzi among others.
In addition the Spartans receive plenty of support from area businesses to help pay for some of the expenses. “The town and the businesses are very supportive of the team,” said Anthony Malanga.
Against the Bruins first baseman Andrew Rigassio had a big game with a pair of hits including a double. "We picked him up for the first year this season and he is seeing the ball very well," said Anthony Malanga.
New Jersey had three games scheduled for the regular season home against the Ramapo Valley Giants on Thursday (7 p.m.), and two games against the Hackensack Troasts on Friday and Sunday, both at 8 p.m. and in Hackensack.
For Anthony Malanga the key against Teaneck was not only the pitching of Laragera. "Our defense was very good tonight and we did not commit an error," said Anthony Malanga. "We are getting good defense and the pitching is coming along."
For the Spartans they key in the playoffs will be against the better teams. "It is good defense, excellent pitching and getting the clutch hit," said Anthony Malanga.
As it turned out against Teaneck, a run scored by leadoff hitter Jim Dispoto in the first inning was the game winner.
With the Spartans ahead 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning, designated hitter Matt Nice smashed a line drive between shortstop and second to score Miller for a 2-0 lead.
And then catcher Alex Sepulveda looped a fly ball into shallow centerfield to score first baseman Andrew Rigassio and right fielder Jimmy Napolitano for a 4-0 lead.
