By:Rich Fisher
When asked if his eyes light up when he comes to the plate with runners on base, T.J. Lauch just smiled and said “If I’m hitting the ball good, yeah.”
That being the case, Lauch’s eyes, as well as his bat, were on fire Tuesday. The junior rightfielder, who entered the day with a .380 average, went 4-for-5 with five RBI and two runs scored to help top-seeded South Brunswick High’s baseball team to an 18-9 marathon victory over Sayreville in a Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament second-round game.
The win advanced the Vikes (14-5) to a second-round game today (Thursday) against 8th-seeded Middlesex, a 10-4 winner over Bishop Ahr, in a quarterfinal game at home. The winner heads for East Brunswick Vo-Tech for Saturday’s semifinal doubleheader.
And while the win was only the start of the GMCT for the Vikes, it was the end an impressive week of accomplishments.
Last Wednesday, a 10-0 win over South Plainfield gave the Vikes their first GMC White Division title since 1989. The following day, a thrilling 10-9 win over John F. Kennedy enabled SBHS to slip past JFK into the top seed at that night’s GMCT seeding meeting.
“We deserve that seed, no question,” coach Marc Babich said. “We have nothing to prove. We’ve beaten Perth Amboy twice and JFK once. We know we’re a good team and we’re going to show it on the field.”
But the players are still ready to supply the proof.
“I know a lot of other teams don’t think we should be the top seed, so we’re out to show we deserve it,” Lauch said. “Now that we got this first win out of the way, I think you’ll see a better team out there.”
There was nothing wrong with the Vikes offense, which produced 19 hits, including three each from Marc Tainow, Victor E. Iturbides and hot-hitting Ryan Foley (three RBI), and two apiece from Dave Goy and Doug Frusciano. The bottom third of the lineup – Foley, Goy and Frusciano – was a combined 7-for-11 with eight runs scored and six RBI.
It was their production that enabled Lauch to inflate his RBI total, which is not often the case for a number-two hitter.
“Our bats are coming alive and we’re aggressive at the plate,” Babich said. When the bottom of your lineup is doing that well, you’re in good shape.
“And T.J. Lauch is a terrific ballplayer. He’s one of the best outfielders in this conference defensively, and he’s got a great bat. He’s very disciplined at the plate, which is something he’s improved on this year. He’s been one of our most consistent hitters from day one.”
The Vikings spotted Sayreville (7-12) four runs in the top of the first as winning pitcher Mike James struggled with his control (eight walks in four innings). But South got two in the first, two in the second and nine in the third for a 13-4 lead. Sayreville cut it to 13-9 before South responded with four in the fifth to regain a comfort zone.
“It was important to get those two runs in the first,” Lauch said. “Once our team gets started, we’re going to get the job done.”
“That first inning showed our character,” Babich said. “There was no sign of panic when they came in the dugout. They knew it was a long game and they were on each other right away about getting the bats going.”
Lauch started the two-run rally with a single and was in the middle of the nine-run explosion with a three-run triple.
“I’m just trying to put the ball in play,” Lauch said. “Hopefully, I’m in a good groove with the playoffs coming around.”
Judging by an average now in the .400’s, his groove started on opening day.
EXTRA INNINGS: The Vikes and Perth Amboy both finished 12-2 in the White Division, but South wins the division title by virtue of a 2-0 record against the Panthers … in last Wednesdays’ division-clincher, Dan Rodriguez (who will start today), pitched four shutout innings to up his record to 5-0. James, getting his first at-bats of the year, went 3-for-3 with a three-run homer and four RBI, while Iturbides hit a two-run shot … in the win over JFK, Alex Jacob made his season debut on the mound and threw a solid 3Ò innings, but it was Matt Vibronek who saved the day by striking out the Mustangs leading hitter on a 3-2 pitch with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh … Babich on Foley: “He was out 2½ weeks with a back injury and since he got back in the lineup he’s hitting the cover off the ball” … The coach lauded Goy’s pitching effort in a 3-1 loss to Edison Monday, noting “that’s a good sign for us entering the playoffs. With Dave pitching well and Michael, Danny, Matty and Bryan Sock all throwing well, we have a deep staff now.”
