EWING, NJ - The Highlanders hosted the Centenary Cyclones in their final conference doubleheader of the regular season on Saturday, taking both games in dominating fashion to clinch a CSAC playoff spot for the second season in a row.
Between games, the Highlanders took some time to celebrate the four graduating seniors in the baseball program, outfielder
Trey Valiton and pitchers
Bryan Stimpson,
Ben Spadea, and
Nat Ross. Interim head coach
Jeremy Hefele penned remarks on each of the four players, highlighting their individual impact on the program and their contributions to Cairn baseball's growth and recent success over the past four years.
GAME ONE: Carson Conradt took the mound to start off the first game, striking out two in the first two innings to hold Centenary scoreless. The Highlanders' bats got hot early, as Michael Sorowice worked his way around the diamond in the second to score a run. After another scoreless half from Conradt, the Highlanders lit up to score three runs off a sacrifice fly from Sam Spadea and a 2-RBI single from Brian Amantia Jr.
Despite a rocky start that led to bases loaded with no outs, Conradt proved his stuff in the top of the fourth, striking out three in a row to keep the Cyclones off the board. Cairn tacked on another run in the fifth thanks to a Trey Valiton RBI double to left field, and Conradt cleaned up in the top of sixth to maintain the Highlander lead of 5-0.
Senior Nat Ross entered in the seventh for the Highlanders, allowing one run and striking out two to keep the Highlanders in the lead at 5-1. Cairn stretched the lead once again in the bottom of the eighth on a 2-RBI single from Quinton Pertkiewicz to score Amantia and Sam Spadea.
The Highlanders' go-to closer, senior Bryan Stimpson, shut the door in the top of the ninth, allowing one hit and striking out one to end the game with a final score of Cairn 7, Centenary 1.
At the plate, senior Trey Valiton went a perfect 2-2 with a walk, an RBI, and a run scored. Both Brian Amantia Jr. and Quinton Pertkiewicz had two RBIs apiece.
GAME TWO: Sophomore pitcher Jake Kraihanzel got the start in game two and pitched well, going 6.0 innings allowing no runs while scattering 3 strikouts. The Highlanders jumped out to a 6-0 lead by the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring six runs on eight hits. Senior pitcher Ben Spadea got the nod in the top of the seventh. While he allowed two runs, he recorded a strikeout and Centenary stranded two on base to keep the Highlander lead at 6-2.
Cairn had a huge eight inning, doubling their run total by scoring six more runs on two hits, two walks, and two Cyclone errors.
With the lead now at 12-2, Highlander pitcher Dom Maglione was brought in as the closer. Three quick groundouts in the top of the ninth ended the night game with the second Cairn victory of the day.
Josh Melchior, Sam Spadea, Quinton Pertkiewicz, and Luke Weaver each recorded two hits in game two. The Highlanders also put on an excellent baserunning display, as Trey Valiton (2), Josh Melchior (1), Dylan Fields (1), Sam Spadea (1), Adam Juarez (1), and Michael Sorowice (1) each recorded a stolen base.
With the doubleheader victory, Cairn swapped places with Cetenary in the baseball standings, securing the 3rd overall seed headed into the upcoming CSAC Championship playoffs. The Highlanders will travel to face the Wilson College Phoenix, who they split with during the regular season, for a best-of-three series beginning May 7th. The #1 Keystone College Giants will host the #4 Cyclones in the other semifinal matchup, and the winners of the two series will advance to the 2021 CSAC Championship Series beginning May 14th.
