Paramus Loses Group 3 Final In Cervino's Last Game

Standing on the third base line, tearfully embracing his players one-by-one, Joe Cervino had much to look back in despite a loss. The coaching legend toed the chalk for the last time in his storied 40-year career after the Spartans dropped a heartbreaker, 12-3 to Seneca in the Group 3 State final in Toms River.

“We had a great run,” Cervino said after the game. “We ran into a team today that has probably the best high school pitcher in the state in [Kevin] Comer.”

Shorstop Brian Criscione gave the Spartans (25-5) an early lead with a solo shot to right off of Comer, who routinely touched 93 MPH with his fastball.

But in the bottom of the frame, the Golden Eagles batted around, scored five runs and chased Paramus starter Joe Szorentini off the mound. Szorentini faced six batters and recorded only one out.

Frank Colasante, the winning pitcher in Paramus’ 11-1 semifinal win over Millburn at William Paterson on Tuesday, replaced Szorentini and nearly had an early exit himself just an inning later. Colasante was hit by a comebacker off the bat of Seneca second baseman Rich Powelson, but remained in the game.

Seneca (16-7), which won the 2007 Group 3 title, would tack on four runs in the third with the big blast a three run shot by right fielder Joe Barnes. By the time DH Cameron Barnes added a solo shot in the fourth inning, the rout was well in hand.

Paramus would score two more runs off of Comer—RBI singles by Matt Krum and Chris Covello.

“We thought for sure if we got three runs and seven hits off of him that we’d have a good chance of winning the game,” Cervino said.

Comer, who is committed to Vanderbilt, was drafted 57^th overall by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2011 MLB Amateur Baseball Draft. His arsenal of sinking fastballs, freeze-'em changeups and sweeping curves stymied the Spartans for much of the game.

Things didn't get much easier when Seneca's Ty Lyons waltzed to the mound in the seventh. Lyons struck out the side and Cervino came away impressed.

The Paramus coach said Lyons has “one of the best sliders" he's ever seen, adding that the team had "good pitching" but that wasn't the difference-maker on Saturday in Toms River.

"It was the hitting that did us in,” he said.

Seneca marched a total of 14 hits off of Szorentini, who moved from second base back to the mound in the fifth; as well as Colasante and Nick Henriquez, who pitched the sixth.

Szorentini left with a severe bruise after being hit by a come backer by Powelson in the 5th inning. The right hander was taken to a nearby hospital.

“That was one of the saddest things I’ve ever seen in my life,” said Henriquez, who went 2-for-3 to finish the season with a school-record 54 hits.

Colasante and Szorentini had given up just three runs in the last 20 innings of state tournament play.

“Seneca just hit the heck out of the ball today,” Cervino said.

On his final season, Cervino said, “This is a great group of athletes. We’re proud of the season we had [ and North 1 Group 3 state sectional title].

The team rolled through , and others to reach the final game.

“I’m proud of my team,” said an emotional Henriquez. “I love this team."

“We lost to a kid who got drafted, we have nothing to be ashamed of.”