It wasn’t the start Matt Pontari and the Middletown South High School baseball team were expecting against Freehold Township in the quarterfinals of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV state sectional tournament on June 5 in Middletown.
Before Pontari, who was the Eagles’ starting pitcher, and his teammates got back to their dugout, the No. 6 seed Patriots had a 3-0 lead and had No. 3 seed Middletown South on upset alert after the top of the first inning.
But as Middletown South coach Chris LeMore said later, he knew his players were going to back up their “brother” and never give up until the final out.
In the bottom of the first, the Eagles scored three runs to tie the game and went on to defeat the Patriots, 5-3.
Middletown South (17-8) will face No. 2 seed Hunterdon Central High School of Flemington in the state sectional tournament semifinals on June 8.
FINAL: Evan Wood escapes a bases loaded jam to help @MSBaseball_2020 hold off Freehold Twp for a 5-3 victory to advance to the semifinals of the NJSIAA CJ, Group 4 Tournament. CC: @MiddsouthNation @MTPSpride @central_jersey @StacyATCSouth #NJBaseball ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/hnqk7updVT
— Steven Bassin (@SBassin_Sports) June 5, 2021
“When you have kids that are going to constantly battle from the first out to the 21st out, it really makes coaching the game a lot of fun,” LeMore said. “We don’t look for just one guy to step up, we look to everyone to step up. They have been like that since the first day I met them. They never got down. I’m 100% proud of all my players.”
LeMore credited his players’ mindset of having “good at bats” to the first inning comeback.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the first, sophomore Ben Schild grounded out to score a run that cut the Patriots’ lead to 3-1.
With runners on second and third and two out, Will Christopher reached on an infield single that scored a run and cut Freehold Township’s lead to 3-2. Evan Wood followed with single to bring home the run that tied the score, 3-3.
RBI infield single by Will Christopher for @MSBaseball_2020 cuts the Freehold Twp lead to 3-2. Evan Wood follows with an RBI single to tie the game at 3-3. CC: @central_jersey @MiddsouthNation @MTPSpride #NJBaseball ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/PmuN9rwtc9
— Steven Bassin (@SBassin_Sports) June 5, 2021
“It was the biggest energy we had all year,” Wood said about tying the game. “It was super exciting. It felt great to come back in there and see everyone hyped up and we kept it going the rest of the game.”
Pontari settled down after his rough first inning. The senior righthander pitched five straight scoreless innings and finished with six strikeouts.
In the bottom of the fourth, Pontari blasted a home run to left field that gave Middletown South a 4-3 lead. He finished the game with three hits.
“It was a great boost of confidence,” Pontari said of his home run. “I was just trying to put the bat on the ball. It gave us the lead and we went to work from there.”
In the top of the fifth, Pontari retired the Patriots in order, including two straight strikeouts, as the senior had a pep in his step.
The HR has gotten Matt Pontari a little pep in his step as he picks up back to back strikeouts to retire the side in order. @MSBaseball_2020 up 4-3 going into the bot of the 5th. CC: @central_jersey @MiddsouthNation @MTPSpride #NJBaseball #NJBaseball ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/BEMXxICtdG
— Steven Bassin (@SBassin_Sports) June 5, 2021
In the bottom of the fifth, Middletown South added a run to take a 5-3 lead.
Pontari retired eight of the last nine hitters he faced. He struck out the side in the sixth inning.
Matt Pontari strikes out the side in the 6th. He’s retired 8 of the last 9 batters he’s faced. @MSBaseball_2020 up 5-3 & now 3 outs away from advancing to the semifinals. CC: @MiddsouthNation @MTPSpride @central_jersey #NJBaseball ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/JGO5efpwxa
— Steven Bassin (@SBassin_Sports) June 5, 2021
Schild scores to extend the Middletown South lead to 5-3 on the 4–6-3 DP. No RBI for Wood. #NJBaseball ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/kApa319Pui
— Steven Bassin (@SBassin_Sports) June 5, 2021
In the top of the seventh, the Eagles turned to Wood to close the game. Knowing he did not have his “best stuff,” Wood said he pitched to “contact” in his attempt to record the save.
With two out, the Patriots had the bases loaded, but Wood got Matt Villapiano to fly out to left to end the game and send the Eagles to the sectional semifinals.
“I was trying to get the ball on the ground or a soft fly ball and that’s exactly what I got to get out of it,” he said. “I know I have a good defense behind me. If the other team puts the ball in play, my defense is going to make the play for me.”
Before facing Hunterdon Central in the state sectional tournament semifinals on June 8, the Eagles will play Marlboro in the first round of the Monmouth County Tournament on June 7.
LeMore said he is proud of what his players have been able to accomplish this season and said it is “an honor” to be the Middletown South baseball coach.
“I’m fortunate to come here and coach each and every day,” he said. “I have a great family and a great baseball family. I have a good job. I’m a lucky man.”