UNION – A big part of being a Cranford baseball player is realizing what the situation calls for.
James Shriner didn’t expect to be up with the game tied and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but he was more than ready to make something positive happen when he did.
With runners on second and third, Shriner remained patient and just waited for a pitch he could drive.
Knowing that a hit to any vacated hole straight ahead was all that it would take, the standout sophomore went the opposite way and belted a ball through the right side of the infield to drive in Columbia’s Elliot Dix from third with the winning run.
Shriner ended up driving in his team’s final two runs as the inaugural Essex-Union vs. Middlesex Underclassmen All-Star Baseball Game went to the Essex-Union squad 8-7 before a respectable Tuesday night crowd at Kean University.
Already a two-year starter in right field for the Cougars and a key member of Cranford’s last two North 2, Group 3 championship teams Shriner went 1-for-3, with the game-winning RBI-single and two RBI total.
“I wanted to get in the zone quickly and not let the pitcher get ahead in the count,” said Shriner, who was selected as the Essex-Union team’s Most Outstanding Player.
Shriner’s first at-bat, a fly out to right, was in the sixth inning. He came up to the plate three times in the final four frames. He reached base in the eighth on a 3-6 fielder’s choice where he drove in a run to make the score 7-1.
Shriner is one of Cranford’s best hitters as far as using the entire field. He has produced many opposite field hits to right during his first two seasons.
“I just try to stay back and use all of my strength,” Shriner said.
Shriner also competed for the Union team in last week’s 8th annual Essex vs. Union Underclassmen All-Star Game at Kean.
“Playing in these games means a lot to me, especially to be here with my teammate Gordon Graceffo,” Shriner said.
Graceffo started on the mound for the Essex-Union squad and retired six of the seven batters he faced. The only batter that reached base against him was the result of an infield error, with that base runner not scoring.
According to Cranford Baseball’s twitter account, Graceffo committed to Villanova this week.
“I really appreciate everything the coaches did for us,” Shriner said.
Although he still has two years of high school ball remaining, Shriner is looking to play in college and listed Seton Hall and Davidson as schools he’s looking at.
“Next week, with my Farrah team, I’ll be going to Georgia, so I’m looking forward to that, too,” Shriner said.
Both MOPS, including Edison sophomore Christian Biolsi for Middlesex, did not start. Biolsi was 2-for-2, with an RBI-double for his team’s first run in the sixth and a leadoff single in the ninth. He was the only Middlesex player with two hits.
Middlesex was held to just one run on four hits over the first eight innings. Middlesex then began the top of the ninth with six straight hits – all singles.
Middlesex produced six runs on seven hits in the ninth to tie the game at 7-7. All of its hits in the frame were singles.
Nick Vincello of Spotswood, who struck out swinging his previous time at bat in the eighth, tied the game at 7-7 with an RBI-single past the Essex-Union shortstop.
Essex-Union starting left fielder Stephen Reid of GL, who will be a junior and is committed to Georgia Tech, was 2-for-3, with a single and an RBI-double.
Essex-Union starting third baseman Drew Compton of GL, who will also be a junior and is also committed to Georgia Tech, walked in the first and led off the fifth with an opposite field shot to left that went for a triple. Compton scored on an RBI-ground out to second hit by junior Chris Walker of West Orange.
Essex-Union starting center fielder and leadoff batter Jack Zyska, after being retired his first two times up, drilled a shot to the left-center fence on two bounces that brought home Max Ruvo and Matt Ciccone, who with one out reached base on a double and a walk respectively.
The Seton Hall Prep junior slid into third with a two-run triple and was then awarded home after an errant throw got past the third baseman. Zyska’s at-bat with one out in the bottom of the fourth made the score 4-0 in favor of Essex-Union, which never trailed.
Nine different Essex-Union players produced 10 singles, with non-starter Elliot Dix of Columbia, a sophomore, collecting two.
Nine different players, including seven in the ninth inning, produced singles for Middlesex.
Middlesex pitchers: Jake Hellwig first two innings, no runs; Zach Delvalle innings three and four, five runs; Chris Michael innings five and six, one run; Nick Payero innings seven and eight, one run and Matt Volpe inning nine, one run with two outs.
Essex-Union pitchers: Gordon Graceffo first two innings, no runs; Matt Ciccone innings three and four, no runs; Danny Wilkinson innings five and six, one run; Cory Hiltz innings seven and eight, no runs; Marty Higgins inning nine, six runs.
NOTES: As stated in the game program, a special thanks for this game goes to Kean University and Kean’s head baseball coach Neil Ioviero for use of their outstanding baseball facility.
Event administrator Bob Smorol, like he does with the Essex-Union Underclassmen All-Star Game, produces a top-flight exhibition for youngsters to get noticed by college coaches, family members and friends.
“This was fun, a good time for all,” said Essex-Union coach Chris Roof, the head coach at GL since 2004. “Any time you can get this much talent on a ball field is a pretty neat thing.
“We’ll discuss adding a fourth county for next year. Kean is such an awesome facility.”
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYERS:
ESSEX-UNION – James Shriner, Cranford sophomore outfielder
1-for-3, with game-winning RBI-single and 2 RBI total.
MIDDLESEX – Christian Biolsi, Edison sophomore pitcher-first baseman
2-for-2, with RBI-double for team’s first run in the sixth
and leadoff single and run scored in the ninth. He was the only
Middlesex player with two hits.
INAUGURAL ESSEX-UNION VS. MIDDLESEX
UNDERCLASSMEN ALL–STAR GAME AT KEAN
Middlesex (0-1) 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 6 – 7 11 3
Essex-Union (1-0) 0 0 1 4 1 0 0 1 1 – 8 15 1
WINNING PITCHER: Marty Higgins, Nutley, sophomore RH
LOSING PITCHER: Matt Volpe, Metuchen, junior RH
SINGLES:
Middlesex – Mike Falco, Nick Payero, Christian Biolsi, Brandon Szerszen, Kevin Reyes, David Bermudez, Jon Sot, Chris Brito, Nick Vincello.
Essex-Union – Elliot Dix (2), Chris Walker, Stephen Reid, Peter Serruto, Christian Pierre, John Sweetwood, Jake Vall-Llobera, Marty Higgins, James Shriner.
DOUBLES:
Middlesex – Christian Biolsi.
Essex-Union – Max Ruvo, Stephen Reid, Chris Walker,
TRIPLES:
Middlesex – Kyle Richards.
Essex-Union – Jack Zyska, Drew Compton.
HOME RUNS:
Middlesex – None.
Essex-Union – None.
MIDDLESEX STARTING LINEUP:
2-Christian Petrillo, center field
14-Connor Adams, right field
10-Chris Brito, shortstop
20-Mike Lapczynski, designated hitter
3-Jake Hellwig, pitcher (did not bat)
21-Matt Volpe, first base
19-Mike Falco, third base
8-Nick Payero, left field
1-Andrew Tan, second base
15-Kyle Richards, catcher
MIDDLESEX COACHES:
Vinnie Abene, Edison
Mike Lepore, South River
Alex Perez, Perth Amboy
Glen Fredricks, Spotswood
Mark Blevins, North Brunswick
CJ Hendricks, South Brunswick
MIDDLESEX ROSTER:
1-Andrew Tan, North Brunswick, sophomore infielder
2-Chris Petrillo, North Brunswick, sophomore outfielder
3-Jake Hellwig, St. Joseph’s, Metuchen, sophomore pitcher
5-Carlos Marte, Woodbridge, junior pitcher-infielder
6-Zach Delvalle, Woodbridge, junior pitcher
7-David Bermudez, East Brunswick, junior infielder
8-Nick Payero, Monroe, junior pitcher-infielder
9-Nick Vincello, Spotswood, junior outfielder
10-Chris Brito, Perth Amboy, junior third baseman
11-Brandon Szerszen, South River, junior infielder
12-Kevin Reyes, South Brunswick, junior outfielder
13-Jon Sot, St. Joseph’s, Metuchen, junior outfielder
14-Connor Adams, South Plainfield, junior outfielder
15-Kyle Richards, Sayreville, junior catcher
16-Chris Michael, Colonia, junior pitcher-third baseman
17-Anthony Palmisano, Colonia, junior catcher
18-Christian Biolsi, Edison, sophomore pitcher-first baseman
19-Mike Falco, East Brunswick, junior pitcher-third baseman
20-Mike Lapczynski, Metuchen, junior pitcher-third baseman
21-Matt Volpe, Metuchen, junior pitcher-first baseman
ESSEX-UNION STARTING LINEUP:
14-Jack Zyska, center field
20-Danny Serretti, second base
12-Nick Maldonado, shortstop
6-Stephen Reid, left field
18-Peter Serruto, catcher
8-Drew Compton, third base
15-Chris Walker, right field
11-Max Ruvo, first base
10-Matt Ciccone, designated hitter
5-Gordon Graceffo, pitcher (did not bat)
ESSEX-UNION COACHES:
Chris Roof, Governor Livingston
Joe Scorce, Belleville
Jim Whalen, Columbia
Chris Brodeur, New Providence
Joe Higgins, Scotch Plains
Scott Illiano, Caldwell
ESSEX-UNION ROSTER:
1-John Sweetwood, MKA, junior outfielder
2-Cory Hiltz, Westfield, junior pitcher
3-Elliot Dix, Columbia, sophomore infielder
4-Ryan Cardona, Livingston, junior pitcher
5-Gordon Graceffo, Cranford, junior pitcher
6-Stephen Reid, Gov. Livingston, sophomore outfielder
7-Josh O’Neill, Nutley, sophomore pitcher
8-Drew Compton, Gov. Livingston, sophomore third baseman
9-James Shriner, Cranford, sophomore outfielder
10-Matt Ciccone, Newark Academy, sophomore pitcher
11-Max Ruvo, West Essex, junior first baseman
12-Nick Maldonado, Seton Hall Prep, sophomore pitcher-infielder
13-Marty Higgins, Nutley, sophomore third baseman
14-Jack Zyska, Seton Hall Prep, junior outfielder
15-Chris Walker, West Orange, junior outfielder
16-Christian Pierre, Columbia, junior outfielder
17-Danny Wilkinson, Scotch Plains, sophomore pitcher
18-Peter Serruto, Millburn, junior catcher
19-Tyree Bradley, West Orange, junior first baseman
20-Dan Serretti, Gov. Livingston, junior infielder
21-Jake Vall-Llobera, Westfield, junior catcher