HOME OF THE CHARGERS

Shortstop Cody Pace hit a line drive down the first-base line to send the Spotswood High School baseball team to a 9-8 win over Manasquan in the Central Group II semifinals Tuesday.

Dean Vitale reached on a lead-off walk in the seventh inning and moved into scoring position on another walk before scoring on Pace's hit.

Pace finished with three walks and three runs scored, setting the school record for runs scored with 112. Pace also picked up the win, throwing 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Pace capped off seven unanswered runs for 11th-seeded Spotswood. The Chargers scored two in the fifth inning, four in the sixth inning, and one in the seventh after trailing 8-2.

With the bases loaded in the sixth, center fielder Corey Brown walked to close the gap to 8-5. First baseman Mike Liming hit a two-RBI single, and right fielder John Relay put down a suicide squeeze to tie the game. Relay finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored.

Spotswood will play Governor Livingston Friday for the sectional title.

PACE CAPS SPOTSWOOD RALLY 

Shortstop Cody Pace hit a line drive down the first-base line to send the Spotswood High School baseball team to a 9-8 win over Manasquan in the Central Group II semifinals Tuesday. Dean Vitale reached on a lead-off walk in the seventh inning and moved into scoring position on another walk before scoring on Pace's hit.

Pace finished with three walks and three runs scored, setting the school record for runs scored with 112. Pace also picked up the win, throwing 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief.

Pace capped off seven unanswered runs for 11th-seeded Spotswood. The Chargers scored two in the fifth inning, four in the sixth inning, and one in the seventh after trailing 8-2.

With the bases loaded in the sixth, center fielder Corey Brown walked to close the gap to 8-5. First baseman Mike Liming hit a two-RBI single, and right fielder John Relay put down a suicide squeeze to tie the game. Relay finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored.

Spotswood will play Governor Livingston Friday for the sectional title.

This marks the 3rd time in the last 5 years that Spotswood will play for the Central Jersey Group II championship.

Saturday night lights shine bright in Milltown

After a one-year hiatus, high school varsity baseball was back under the lights at historic Michelin Field in Milltown Saturday night.

The brainchild of coach Glenn Fredricks, the game has become a popular event for a town that does not have its own high school. Milltown’s high-school-age students attend Spotswood High School, whose varsity baseball field does not have lights.

A crowd of approximately 400 was on hand to cheer on their players as the Chargers took on the New Providence Pioneers in what turned out to be just a fiveinning affair. After starting pitcher Anthony Berg pitched a scoreless top of the first inning, the Chargers came out swinging. They scored 17 runs in the bottom of the first, going on to a 17-0 victory. The inning was highlighted by a towering three-run home run by senior shortstop Cody Pace.

This game was also a coming home of sorts for several of the players, since their first experiences on a regulation baseball diamond had taken place at Michelin Field. Pace, Anthony Pietanza, Jeff Coy, Anthony Berg, Matthew Mangarella, Peter Mehr and Chris Stout, all of Milltown, began playing 60/90 baseball at Michelin Field.

Playing there again was special, especially for seniors Pace, Pietanza and Coy because this would be their last official game on that field. At the end of the game, when the fans left, Pietanza walked the infield alone one last time before the lights went out.

The Milltown Baseball Program hosted the game, working with the borough of Milltown and the Spotswood High School athletic department to organize the event.

Senior shortstop Cody Pace has settled into his role as the Spotswood High School baseball team's leadoff hitter quite nicely.

Despite recording 24 hits and getting hit twice by pitches to reach base an incredible 47 times in 66 plate appearances, Pace, who has moved himself into scoring position with 10 stolen bases, has scored just 20 runs.

"Batting leadoff, he does not get the same kind of RBI opportunities that we would like him to get out of a three-hole, but I think his teammates are now starting to sense a little urgency and they are going to start to pick it up," Spotswood coach Glenn Fredricks said. "They're going to start to follow his lead."

Pace has hit safely in all but three games. Opponents have clearly pitched around Pace in those contests, walking him a total of eight times.

The team captain ranks second in the GMC in batting average (.585), just 15 points behind league leader Tommy Marcinczyk. He also boasts a .902 slugging percentage with nine extra-base hits.

As a pitcher, Pace owns a 2-1 record with a 1.88 ERA. He has fanned 21 batters in 18 2/3 innings. Pace was used as a closer last year, but has started most of the time this season.

"As a starter he's been lights out," Fredricks said. "He doesn't walk anybody and he's very effective with his pitches. When you have a fastball and command of your curveball, you don't have to waste many pitches."

The Chargers own a deceptive 7-8 record but proved they can play with some of the league's better teams by defeating Bishop Ahr and Edison.

"If we play our best baseball, which we haven't done yet, I think we are in a position to make a run in the state or county tournament," Fredricks said.

Spotswood looking for consistency

From an offensive statistical standpoint, the Spotswood High School baseball team should be near the top of the heap in the talent-rich Greater Middlesex Conference, certainly in a commanding position to win the Blue Division.

Take, for instance, shortstop Cody Pace, who has obliterated opposing pitchers to the tune of a .618 batting average with 21 hits, including 18 runs scored and an impressive six doubles. Then there’s sophomore second baseman Matt Mangaralla’s .391 average, senior outfielders Mikey Limig and Joe Cappa, who have hit for .419 and .370 averages, respectively, followed by senior first baseman Anthony Pietanza’s .341 average.

But statistics reveal only part of the story because the Chargers were 7-7 and 4-5 in the Blue Division before they took the field against Middlesex in their final regular-season division game Tuesday. Tonight, Spotswood and East Brunswick will be showcased at the Trenton Thunder’s Waterfront Park. That game takes on added significance since it could mean the difference between qualifying and being denied a berth in the Central Jersey Group II Tournament. Teams need to be at .500 or better by tomorrow to make the cut. Seeding for the conference tournament, which begins Saturday, will be announced this week.

“We’ve been on a roller-coaster ride since opening day” concedes Spotswood coach Glenn Fredricks. “We’ve had excellent contributions from some of the players we thought would come through, but some of the role players haven’t done as well. We need to achieve a level of play that enables us to win more games.”

Winning is something that has been the norm at Spotswood, especially under Fredricks’ tenure, which is in its sixth year. Remove last season’s 12-13 record, and you’d have to go back to 1993 when Spotswood last finished beneath .500. Fredricks had expressed confidence this year’s team could bounce back, but that hasn’t been the case — at least not yet.

Perhaps the reasons for the Chargers’ shortcomings aren’t really a mystery if you examine the pitching experience. Aside from senior Jeff Coy, who has a 1-2 record with a 5.83 earned run average, the arms are made up primarily with youngsters. There is sophomore Anthony Berg, who is 1-1 with a 2.72 ERA, another sophomore, Chris Stout, who is 1-3 with a 5.85 ERA, and freshman Kevin Martin, who is 2-0 with a 3.59 ERA.

Pace has also sees mound action and has a 2-1 record, but Fredricks is quick to point out that his captain made a personal sacrifice this spring by becoming a starter after an outstanding 2009 as a closer.

“He has the demeanor of a closer and was not meant to start,” Fredricks said, “But we needed his experience there, so this is just another example of the dedication he has for his teammates.”

What the Spotswood coach hopes to see in the remaining games is that the experience gained will enable the team to “fill in the gray areas,” as he says.

“We’ve come up just a little short in some games,” he maintains. “We could easily be 11-3 instead of at .500. We have the tournaments, and then those who return next year will focus on the GMC Summer League. Hopefully, the experience the younger players are getting will help us in the future.”