Middletown South Captures Shore Conference Class A North Championship

Photo above: The 2016 Shore Conference Class A North champions

MIDDLETOWN – After failing to clinch the Class A North title Tuesday against Christian Brothers Academy, Middletown South wasted little time getting the job done a day later securing the programs first outright division championship since 2012 on Wednesday with a 4-1 over Freehold.

“We Knew we didn’t play well yesterday and we were disappointed,” Middletown South head coach Ryan Spillane said. “We turned the page and came in loose and ready to go. That’s a good team over there (Freehold), every year they do a great job coaching. The Rullo kid was tough and fortunately we finally able to break through.”

The Eagles were co-champions last season with CBA making this year their ninth Class A North title since 1979 and fourth in five years.

Junior right-hander Jon Martin went the distance for the Eagles allowing one run (0 earned) on five hits, while striking out two and walking one in picking up his fourth win of the season against one defeat.

“We knew we had to win today,” Martin said. “We all came out here pretty amped up because we knew the stakes of this game; if we won we were overall champs. Rullo did a great job for the other team then in the fifth inning we were able to break through.”

After an error, sacrifice bunt and run-scoring sacrifice fly produced Freeholds (10-10, 6-8) only run of the game in the top of the first inning, Martin ran into some unwarranted trouble in the top of the fifth. The Eagles were still trailing by a run when another error helped load the bases with two outs.

With a runner on first via an infield single, senior shortstop Austin Markmann let a slow grounder – which should’ve been the third out of the inning – go through his legs putting runners on first and second with two outs. Leadoff hitter Marco Meleo then hit into a fielder’s choice, but the throw to second was late loading the bases for Martin. But Martin reared back to strike out Chris Cassandra ending the Freehold threat and breathing new life into the Eagles.

“My fastball felt better than normal, I was hitting some spots and missing some,” Martin said. “But my curveball was definitely biting more than normal so I was able to throw that for an out pitch.”

Entering the bottom of the fifth, Middletown South (15-4, 11-3) had yet to get anything going against 2015 third team All-Shore pitcher Steve Rullo, leaving junior third baseman Jeremy Joyce stranded on second base in the third after he lined a double into right field for their only runner that made into scoring position up to this point in the game.

Sensing the urgency of the situation and inspired by Martin’s gutty performance in the top of the inning, the Eagles responded the way have all season when the chips were down.

With one out, senior centerfielder Tom Frandsen reached first on a soft liner into centerfield and immediately stole second, when everyone in the park knew he was going, advancing into scoring position. Leadoff hitter Tom Gannon then worked a walk chasing Rullo bringing in Tom Holdorf in relief with runners now on first and second and one out.

Holdorf immediatley uncorked a wild pitch putting runners at second and third before Joyce picked up his third hit of the game driving in Frandsen from third for the tying run on a hit up the middle. On the play, the relay throw got away from Holdorf prompting Spillane to send Gannon home who was then a dead duck at the plate with Joyce moving to second on the play.

“I made a mistake, I was too aggressive sending Gannon,” Spillane said. “It was one of those things I just reacted. Then as soon as I saw the play develop with Zega on deck I said “what am I doing” so I called time out and asked Zega to pick me up and he did. He said “I got ya” and he picked me up with the RBI double and then Austin came up hit the two-run homer. That’s two captains stepping up and getting the huge hits when we needed them. I gave them both game balls after the game and I owe them lunch.”

Now with two out and the score tied 1-1, senior second baseman Johnny Zega drilled a double into left field for the go ahead run before Markmann atoned for his errors launching a monstrous two-run homer way over the left field wall against the wind for a 4-1 lead.

“That was definitely a huge relief,” Martin said. “I knew now I could pitch with a lead, get ahead of kids and just focus on getting outs and win the game.”

“Johnny (Zega) had the big hit before me,” Markmann said. “I just tried to look for a pitch I could drive. Martin’s been pitching great. He’s only a junior and he’s got a lot of upside. He’s been the best pitcher on the team this year I would say.”

In the sixth Martin gave up a harmless bad-hop single up the middle and got the side out in order in the top of the seventh to complete the job.

“Martin’s a horse,” Spillane said. “I was talking to him last night and telling how you have to get this done today and he stepped up. He has that ability to step up and shut a team down and that’s what he did today; he was great.”

Joyce finished 3-for-3 with a double, RBI and run scored while Markmann homer was his second of the season.

With the division title now in hand, the Eagles – ranked No.3 in the Shore Conference and No.18 in the state - will now set their sights on the Shore Conference Tournament and the state playoffs. The SCT will be seeded Monday while the NJSIAA will announce the state seeding’s May 19.

“This was the first goal that we set,” Spillane said. “It didn’t work out on Saturday getting disappointed in the SCT but that was one of those games you just kind of tip your hat to the other team and move on. It’s exciting, it feels like the second half of the season is about to start. Our goals are to win championships and we have one under our belt which is nice but now it’s on to the next.”

“The senior’s do a great job of leading us,” Martin added. “We want to definitely win for them, make them go out on good terms by winning more championships.”

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