Ferraioli's Arm, Gonzalez' Bat Key Class A North Win For Cougars
By Mike Ready
MIDDLETWON – Sophomore lefty Mario Ferraioli allowed one earned run in six innings of work and junior catcher Jordan Gonzalez drilled a go-ahead two-run double as part of a three-run seventh inning rally that helped the Cougars (13-3, 10-3) earn an important Class A North victory.
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The seventh-ranked Cougars rebounded nicely from Monday’s eight-inning loss to sixth-ranked Freehold Township in a game which they blew a 3-0 lead heading into the sixth inning before losing 4-3. In that game, junior Chris Murphy absorbed his first loss and blown save of season. Murphy came back strong Tuesday, hurling a perfect seventh inning to earn his sixth save of the season, striking out two.
It was a brutal loss for Middletown North, who are now eliminated from the Shore Conference Tournament, as their record fell to 6-10 and 4-9 in the division on the season. Sophomore pitcher Reid Baker, getting a rare start, pitched brilliantly through six innings, allowing one-unearned run on one hit without walking a batter before tiring in the seventh.
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Ferraioli gave up four hits, walked two and struck out four for his second win of the season. He worked his way out of two, two-on-and-no-out jams, in the fifth and sixth innings without giving up a run.
In the fifth, after giving up a leadoff single to Ed Sena, he hit Frank Dente to put runners at first and second. He then struck out Ryan Byrd and got Ryan Goscinski to pop up to second base for the second out, before first baseman Mike Zibrin made a diving stop on a liner off the bat of Jake Bailey and crawled to the bag for the out.
In the sixth, a 6-4-3 double play and a strikeout bailed out Ferraioli after a hit and an error put runners at first and second.
“I really didn’t have my curveball today - it was hanging over the top - so I was relying on my fastball and changeup; my fastball was my out pitch,” Ferraioli said. “It was a big game for us today after yesterday; we came back, put it together and got the win.”
“Mario kept us in the game and gave us a chance to win,” Colts Neck coach Mike Yorke said. “He threw strikes, changed speeds and his fastball was tough; he really competed out there. The fifth and sixth innings were the difference; if they score there, it’s a whole different ball game. To get out of those two jams was big for us.”
Baker was sailing along after retiring the side in order in the fifth and sixth innings before the Cougars jumped on him in the seventh.
First baseman Tyler Kapuscinski led off the inning with a line-drive single into right field to get things started. Gianni Magliaro then flied out to short centerfield before second baseman Sam DeVitas put runners on first and second with liner into left field.
Mike Antico popped to short for the second out of the inning to set up the dramatics, and Gonzalez didn’t disappoint. Jumping on the first pitch, he hammered it into the left-centerfield gap for the game winning two-run double, and third baseman Kyle Murrin brought him home with a single to center for the final run.
“The biggest thing is that these kids believe,” Yorke said after the game. “As much as we felt like we were swimming in the mud for six innings they still felt like they could get something done in the seventh. We’ve had eight or nine one-run wins and a couple of two-run wins this season; it’s been our M.O.”
“Murphy’s been terrific, he was really focused out there today,” Yorke added. “It really meant a lot for him to come back today after taking the loss yesterday; he’s having a tremendous season for us. Jordan’s been pressing a bit so it was great to see him get that hit; that’s what we thought he’s capable of doing for us.”
The Cougars can win the outright Class A North division title with a win over Christian Brothers Academy Thursday at CBA and play Middletown South, Monday, in the semifinals of the Monmouth County Tournament. Then there is the Shore Conference Tournament and the state playoffs still to be played.
“We got a lot of stuff coming up, “Yorke said. “I know it’s cliché, but we just want to win today. Just win today and we’ll figure out what happens later, the idea is to win today and figure out tomorrow, tomorrow; that’s all you can do.”
