Sheppard III Sparks Seton Hall Prep to Greater Newark Title

The Sheppards of Seton Hall Prep wrote another memorable chapter in the family's outstanding baseball history Saturday afternoon.

Junior pitcher Mike Sheppard III led the third-seeded Pirates to an 8-2 victory over fourth-seeded Millburn in the 79th Greater Newark Tournament at Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium in Newark.

Sheppard, the son of Prep coach Mike Sheppard Jr., pitched into the seventh inning to highlight the Pirates' 12th GNT title and 10th in his dad's 25-year rein as head coach at the West Orange school. The Pirates hadn't won a GNT since 2008.

Sheppard III pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits — all of them singles. He struck out 10, hit a batter, but didn't issue a walk. Senior lefty Stephen Silvestri finished the game, striking out the two batters he faced.

Sheppard III had an effective curveball that baffled the Millburn batters.

"In the first inning I was very nervous and bounced a few balls," he said. "When we got the two runs we did in the bottom of the first I settled down."

The Pirates took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on designated hitter Stephan Halibej's two-run double with two outs in the bottom of the first. It was a ball hit to center that fell in between two outfielders. 

A six-run sixth inning powered by three bunts, two for hits, led to a 8-1 lead.

Tom Mahala led off the inning with an opposite field to right field. Shane Nolan then dropped a bunt past Millburn freshman pitcher David Talpalar for a hit. Tim Hoehn followed with yet another well-placed bunt in front of catcher Felipe Bomfim. Bomfim picked the ball up and threw to third, attempting to force Mahala, but the ball was thrown past third baseman DelGreco with Mahala scoring. The bases loaded again when Matt Cianci reached on a bunt single.

Ty Blankmeyer followed with a two-run double to give Seton Hall Prep a 5-1 lead. Blankmeyer reached base all four times he batted, going 2-for-2, with a single, a double, two runs, two RBI, a hit by pitch and a walk. 

DJ Link followed Blankmeyer with a sacrifice fly RBI to center for a 6-1 Prep lead. Three batters later, Rob Fonseca made it 8-1 with a two-run double.

Blankmeyer reached four times, going 2-for-2 with a single, double, two runs scored, two RBI, a hit by pitch and a walk. 

The Pirates are back in action Tuesday in a North Jersey, Non-Public A playoff game at home against DePaul.

[Editor's note: This story first published May 29 at 9:30 a.m.]