By: James McKeever
Losing a one-run game to get eliminated from the state tournament was tough enough to handle.
But what really disappointed and frustrated the South Brunswick High School baseball team was how it lost to Middletown North on Monday in the opening round of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV playoffs.
Three errors led to four unearned runs and the sixth-seeded Vikings fell short, 5-4, at home to11th-seeded Middletown North.
Solid defense has been a Vikings’ trademark for two seasons under head coach Leo Danik. Losing because of sloppy glove work simply isn’t the South Brunswick way. It was on Monday, and that’s why it hurt so much. The Vikings knew they were better than that.
"That’s probably the most frustrating thing," Danik said. "When we do things well in the field we kind of feed off of that. It’s just unfortunate that the guys who made errors have made those plays their entire careers. You can’t get on them because they’ve given me everything they have this season and throughout their careers here."
One week earlier, on May 12, South Brunswick was knocked out of the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament in their first game (11-4 to J.F. Kennedy) after winning the GMCT last year. In both tournaments the Vikings were seeded No. 6.
"Two ugly Mondays in a row," Danik said. "It’s unfortunate we made mistakes with the way (Bryan) Sock was pitching. You can’t make key mistakes in the state tournament, no matter what seed the team you’re playing is. These are all good teams."
Sock, who started the season 5-0 before losing his last two starts, pitched a five-hit complete game. The senior right-hander walked five, struck out five and surrendered one earned run. He’ll finish the season with a 5-2 mark and a 1.56 ERA in eight games (all starts).
"Sock pitched an excellent game," Danik said. "Some of the Middletown North batters and they had some good hitters just walked back to the dugout shaking their heads. He had good location and was hitting spots."
Sock took a 1-0 lead into the third inning when Middletown North scored four runs only three of which were earned.
Another unearned run made it 5-1 in the fifth. To the Vikings’ credit, they battled back to make it a one-run game in the bottom of the inning.
Nick Clemente drove in two runs with his fourth double of the season and Mike Siecinski added an RBI single, but South Brunswick left the bases loaded trailing 5-4.
Sock was at the plate with two outs and lifted a drive deep to right field. The Middletown North rightfielder saved the one-run lead with a twisting catch to rob Sock and the Vikings of at least three runs, maybe more.
"Their rightfielder made a great catch," said Danik. ""He jumped up and turned and caught it. If he doesn’t make that catch it’s a grand slam.
"Our guys busted their humps to score some runs and get back in it. But give Middletown North credit. They made the plays when they had to and we didn’t."
Joe Clemente went 2-for-3 as South Brunswick was held to five hits.
After playing at South Plainfield on Wednesday, the Vikings will conclude their season with a home game today (Thursday) against Bridgewater-Raritan at 4 p.m.
"Of course we want to finish this season on a positive note,"’ said Danik, whose team took an 11-7-1record into Wednesday’s game. "Anytime these guys play a baseball game they have a lot of pride."

