Three-Run Sixth Propels Middletown North Into MCT Final

Photo's above courtesy of Tom Smith: Kernan on the mound, Gallo at the plate in Thursday's game

MIDDLETOWN – A wild and heated sixth inning resulted in the tossing of Red Bank Catholic head coach Tony Flego, an over boisterous fan being removed from playing area by the umpires and continuously loud jeering targeting the umpiring crew by fans of both sides lining the fences along the base lines.

It all started innocently enough in the top of the sixth with No.1 seed Middletown North (20-2) holding a 4-2 lead over Red Bank Catholic in a Monmouth County Tournament semifinal game won by the Lions, 7-4 Thursday in Middletown.

The sixth-seeded Caseys (14-8), who entered the sixth down 4-2, loaded the bases with no outs against Lions ace Riley Kernan but erased the two-run deficit with a run-scoring walk to Siobhan Cottell and a one-out line-drive RBI single up the middle by sophomore Taylor Lane to tie the game 4-4.

A Kernan strikeout of number-two batter Lauren Cleary produced the second out of the inning bringing up senior shortstop Anne Flego with the bases still loaded when the fireworks started.

On a 3-and-0 count, Flego grounded sharply to shortstop Alyssa Vetrano with the ball appearing to deflect off her glove allowing the runner from third to score with what appeared to be the go-ahead run.

However, the second-base umpire immediately called player interference for obstructing the shortstops ability to make the play, thus erasing the go-ahead run and resulting in the third out of the inning to the dismay of the Casey faithful.

With the score now 4-4 entering the bottom of the sixth, the Lions came to bat looking to capitalize on their good fortune and make something happen in their half of the inning.

“We always stay positive,” Gebhardt said. “We’re not a really a team that gets negative so we stay positive in the dugout and we know together we can always pull out a win.”

Florida International University commit Kayla Gallo got things going with a lead-off liner up the middle for a single before three straight walks – all coming on borderline 3-and-2 pitches – brought home the go-head run and also brought a visibly angry Flego out of the dugout to argue the call before being ejected by the home-plate umpire.

An RBI fielder’s choice by Ryan Rasmussen followed bringing home another run and an line-drive run-producing single into centerfield by Milena Wilton added the third run of the inning handing Kernan a three-run lead entering the top of the seventh.

Kernan retired the first two batters in the seventh on short fly balls before giving up a bunt single then getting the final out of the game on a tapper to the mound for her 17th win of the year and a trip to the MCT finals.

“I knew coming in it was going to be a tough game,” said Kernan, who struck out seven and walked only one in allowing four runs (three earned). “RBC is a great team and we’ve had games in the past that have been really competitive. We needed our A-game and everyone had to work as hard as they could and everyone did today.”

Red Bank Catholic put two up on the board in the top of the first on a unearned run and a RBI single by Allison Tomaino before Kernan worked her way out of a one-out bases loaded predicament getting a strikeout and a 4-3 grounder. The Lions then countered with three of their own in the bottom half of the inning.

Gallo picked up her Shore Conference-leading 37th RBI of the year on a sacrifice fly to left field before freshman Adriana Cerbo hit a soft liner just passed the diving first baseman that drove in two runs scoring Liz Dorsa and Manhattan College-bound senior Christine Gebhardt for an early 3-2 Lion lead.

“Adriana’s worked her way up in the batting order by doing everything we’ve asked her to do,” Middletown North head coach Marc Rosner said of his budding star. “She’s just a very talented young player who can do a lot of things for us.”

The two sides were scoreless until the fifth inning when the Lions tacked on an insurance run on a Gebhardt RBI single up the middle driving in Rasmussen who had walked and was sacrificed to second on a perfect bunt by Payleigh Behan. Dorsa was thrown out on the play on a close play at third trying to advance on the throw home for the third out.

Gebhardt went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored while Cerbo finished going 2-for-2 with a double, walk and two RBI. Wilton added two hits in four at bats including an RBI and a run scored and Gallo was 1-for-2 with an RBI and run scored.

Tomiano and Lane each had three hits and an RBI for the Caseys.

Middletown North is currently ranked No.1 in the APP top 10 and sixth in the state in the Nj.com top 20 and will now face Saint John Vianney (15-1) - ranked No.2 in the Shore and No.4 in the state – in Saturday’s Monmouth County Tournament final at Wall Township High School.

“I really want to get that win Saturday,” Kernan said. “Not only because it’s the Monmouth County Tournament but because it’s SJV. There’s a lot of rivalry going on between us so I definitely want to get that win but I will play it just as if it’s another game.

“I like the feeling that people are trying to beat us. We’re the hunted this year and the team to beat and I love that feeling. I love the pressure, I love being under that kind of pressure and I'm pretty sure the rest of the girls feel that way too.”

“I’ve seen them (SJV) play and it’s not what they had last year,” Rosner said. “But, I see a very hungry and determined team when I’ve seen them and obviously they’re well coached; Kim does a great job. We’re looking to bring our A-game and we hope they bring their A-game and give everyone a great matchup that they've been looking forward too.”

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