Jackson’s dream season ends in Group IV final
By Mike White
Staff Writer

VERONICA YANKOWSKI Jackson’s Nick Anzalone tries to make a play on Union’s Rob Kane during Saturday’s Group IV championship game at East Brunswick Vo-Tech High School.

EAST BRUNSWICK — The Jackson High School baseball team’s storybook season came to an abrupt halt Saturday in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Group IV championship game against Union High School.

Unfortunately for the Jags, the Cinderella season ended on a sour note as Union combined timely hitting with four Jackson errors to record an 8-2 win at East Brunswick Vo-Tech High School.

Still, the Jaguars put forth one of the best seasons in recent memory. Jackson posted 16 victories overall, captured a sectional title and advanced to the school’s first state title game in 30 years.

"It has been a great, great season," said Jackson coach Mike Walsh, who announced he would not be coming back as coach next year. "I couldn’t have asked any more from the kids. They turned the season around at a critical point and then had a great run through the state tournament. I feel this team played up to its capabilities this season.

VERONICA YANKOWSKI Jackson’s Mike Joyce fires a pitch during Saturday’s Group IV championship game at East Brunswick Vo-Tech High School.

"Maybe that Union team was just a little bit better than we were. I give them a lot of credit; they produced the key hit when they needed it, and they capitalized when we made a mistake. That’s what state champions do."

Jackson finishes the season with a 16-11 record. That is the most victories by a Jaguars team in recent memory.

Union darted out to a 4-0 cushion in the third inning. John Dennis doubled and a pinch runner later scored on an RBI single by Mike Wewna for a 1-0 lead. Shortstop Marc Weres delivered the key blow, a two-run home run over the right .center field wall to make it 3-0.

Jackson starter and closer Mike Joyce then walked two batters. He balked the runners to second and third. Franklin Marinez’s infield hit scored Union’s fourth and final run of the frame.

Yet Jackson didn’t fold. The Jags plated two runs of their own in the top of the fourth against freshman starter Steve Blumetti, who entered the game with a perfect 8-0 record.

Senior center fielder Joe Serratelli, who spent a good portion of the season nursing injuries, singled, leading off the inning. Catcher Brian McFadden doubled, scoring Serratelli. Joyce then helped his own cause with an RBI single that cut the deficit to 4-2.

It appeared the Jags would get a few more before they were done. Mike Cortese reached on an error. Paul DeLuca’s ground out put runners at second and third with one out.

But Weres, who will attend Monmouth University in the fall on scholarship, made the defensive play of the game that deflated a possible big inning.

With the infield drawn in, Weres made a diving stab on a line drive hit by Chris Sweitzer for the second out. Jeff Illardi popped out to end the inning.

"When we trailed by four runs we could have lain down," Walsh said. "But we stayed positive and focused. If Sweitzer’s ball gets through the infield, we score another run, and you don’t know what happens. But Weres made a tremendous play to get them out of trouble."

Union put the game out of reach with a four-run fifth. Jackson aided the cause by making three errors in the frame. Marinez smashed a three-run homer to make it 8-2.

"We made way too many mistakes in this game," Walsh said. "But Union hit the ball well."

The Jags advanced to the championship with a dramatic 7-6 victory over West Windsor-Plainsboro June 4 at Campbell Field in Camden.

McFadden registered a pair of RBIs, including a solo homer in the top of the seventh that turned out to be the game winner.

Jackson raced to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. McFadden smacked an RBI double, and Cortese homered to stake the Jags an early lead.

"When we get an early lead we play our best," Walsh said. "I was hoping that we would be able to do the same against Union, but it didn’t happen that way."

The Jags opened a 6-1 lead by scoring two runs in the third and another in the fourth.

West Windsor-Plainsboro closed to within 6-4 by scoring a pair of runs in the fifth. Following McFadden’s homer in the top of the seventh, West Windsor-Plainsboro rallied for two more in its final at-bat before Matt Wilder finally closed the door.

"There were some tense moments in that game," Walsh said. "We got out to a comfortable lead and then needed to hang on in the end."