Knights swing to Finals

Junior infielder and pitcher Brady Meyer, who had a .273 average, strides into his swing.

BY SOPHIA GARRIHY

The baseball team made it to the GMC Finals this season and the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV Finals for the second season in a row. The Knights finished with an overall record of 21-10, 9-5 in the GMC Red Division.

Making it to the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV Finals for the second year in a row marked a milestone for the team. “Getting to finals this year and being the one seed proved that we are still a top team, as it isn’t easy to make it back-to-back years,” said sophomore infielder Matthew Chin, who led the team with 37 hits.

To make it to the Finals, the team shut out three competitive teams: East Brunswick, Freehold, and Hightstown. “It felt great; it was our plan for the whole season,” said junior infielder Jared Volpe.

Senior infielder Chris Crosta, who led the team with 22 runs scored, loads his hands to hit the incoming pitch.

On June 3, the Knights won against Hightstown 10-0 in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV Semifinals. “Hightstown was a really good game all around: great offense, great defense, and we mercied them,” said junior pitcher and infielder Brady Meyer, who led the pitching staff with 42 strikeouts.

Each player worked towards making it to Finals the entire season. “We knew we could make it back this year,” said senior infielder Michael Chiarella, who went two for three in the State Semifinals. “This team is very special, and it was great to make it with them.”

Senior catcher and outfielder Adrian Lutomski, who knocked in 16 runs, prepares to receive the incoming pitch.

On June 5, the Knights lost to Hunterdon Central in Finals. “It sucks we came up short,” said Volpe, who totaled 30 hits, 14 runs, and 14 RBIs. “We have a great group of guys; it’s always a good time.”

Going into States, the team did extra training to prepare. “Usually, we know how every team plays, so we practice our game to defend the way they play,” explained Volpe. “If we’re facing a really good pitcher that throws fast, we put out the machine and put it on the highest setting and hit off of that for a couple of practices.”

Before making it to the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV Finals, the Knights made it to GMC Tournament Finals. “Our biggest accomplishment is being in the GMC Final,” said senior Matthew Levitt, who knocked in 14 runs this season. “It is our biggest accomplishment because in the beginning of the season, everyone doubted us.”

Sophia — Junior Brady Meyer, who struck out a season-high ten batters against Colonia, strides toward home to deliver a pitch.

Along with making it to the GMC Finals, the team had other highlights. “My biggest highlight this season was throwing a complete game shutout in the GMC Quarterfinals against Woodbridge,” explained junior pitcher Blake Dunleavy, who gave up just three hits while pitching eight innings in the game.

Early in the season, the Knights overcame a two-game losing streak. “In the beginning of the season, we had some losses that we all knew shouldn’t have been losses,” said Chin, who had a .407 average. “We knew we beat ourselves and ever since those games, we started focusing on the little things and competing more.”

Sophomore infielder Matt Chin, who led the team in hits (37) and RBIs(22), loads up to hit.

To have a successful season, the team needed to have the ability to work well together. “The game against Middlesex, I had a long inning,” Meyer said. “The team brought me back in the game with a big offensive inning, scoring some runs to give me a lead to pitch with.”

As the season progressed, the team adjusted and won 12 of the last 14 games. “We’ve been playing more as a team and picking each other up after mistakes,” said Meyer, who scored 15 runs this season. “Mistakes will happen and we understand that. It’s how we respond.”

Senior Chris Crosta, who sturck out 22 hitter in 29 innings, winds up to deliver a pitch.
Senior infielder Michael Chiarella, who scored 18 runs and hit .320, starts his swing.
Sophomore infielder Matthew Chin, who had a .407 average, stand in the batter’s box and waits for the pitch.