By Warren Rappleyea
After a strong start, Old Bridge High School’s baseball team has struggled of late, losing six straight games, including its first-round encounter with J.P. Stevens High School in the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Tournament.
Just over two weeks ago, the Knights were sitting at 11-5 and appeared to be well-positioned for a run in the conference tournament. Now, Old Bridge is 11-11 overall and struggling to get back in the win column.
It’s not that coach Jimmy Freel’s team has played poorly. All six of the consecutive losses have been close, but the Knights have managed just 12 runs in those six games and are batting .240 as a team.
Against J.P. Stevens May 16, the eighth-seeded Knights were tied, 2-2, after four innings, but the ninth-seeded visitors were able roll up six more runs for an 8-2 win. Joe Papeo had a pair of hits and an RBI for Old Bridge, and T. J. Angstadt was 2-for-3.
In a May 11 encounter with East Brunswick High School, Old Bridge was held to just three hits in a 5-2 loss. Zach Attianese, who leads the Knights with a .304 average and 11 RBIs, singled in one run and Luis Cruz drove in the other.
On May 5, Jake Krudos turned in a sparkling effort on the hill, striking out nine and allowing just one run before leaving the game after seven innings, only to watch East Brunswick score in the bottom of the eighth inning. Angstadt doubled to score Cruz, who walked for the Knights’ lone run.
Despite losing Attianese, who has pitched just 14 innings and is 2-0, Old Bridge has held its own on the mound. Kudros is 3-1 with 44 strikeouts over 39 innings, Papeo is 2-2, Billy Geiger is 2-1 and Cruz is 1-3 with 31 strikeouts in 32-plus innings of work.
Attianese, who has scored 14 runs, has continued to contribute at the plate, but opposing pitchers are wary of the powerful senior and have pitched around him to the tune of 13 walks. Rob Dacunto is batting .286 with nine RBIs, and Rob Laconti is hitting .275, has drawn 11 walks and has scored nine times.
