BASEBALL
By: Tim Falls
Sean Gafgen and Taylor Smith blasted back-to-back doubles in the top of the fifth inning as the Lawrence High School varsity baseball team collected six runs.
That inning helped the Cardinals top Ewing, 15-8, on Tuesday.
"Up until that point we were getting a run here, a run there," said Cardinal coach Brian Carter. "When you get runners on base like that you look for a big hit to break it open."
Those back-to-back doubles did the trick.
"It felt great," said Smith, who knocked in Gafgen with his shot into the outfield. "I havent’ been hitting well, so getting that hit helped a lot."
Gafgen cleared the bases with his three-run double with two outs already against the Cardinals.
"I got a couple good RBIs," said Gafgen, "that’s all we can ask."
"Two out RBIs are gold," said Carter. "Anytime you can throw up a couple of runs real quick it’s a good thing."
Lawrence and Ewing traded runs early on.
The Blue Devils echoed the Cardinal’s efforts in the first two innings.
Lawrence opened the game with a run in the top of the first, but Ewing answered back with a run of its own in the bottom of the inning.
Lawrence looked to take control with four runs in the top of the second, but event that did not shake the Blue Devils, who scored four runs to tie the game, 5-5, going into the third where neither team scored.
Lawrence final held a lead after the fourth inning when the Cardinals scored twice and held Ewing to one run.
Gafgen and Smith weren’t the only ones to pound out hits or knock in runs.
Christian Cox had two its, while Matt Russo accounted for two RBIs.
Smith helped himself with his double.
Smith earned the pitching win with threes strikeouts. Smith gave up six hits and five walks and improved to 5-4.
Geoff Kimmel relieved Smith in the sixth inning and held Ewing to one hit, while walking three.
"We pulled out a victory," said Smith. I really wanted the win. We came through and scored a lot of runs."
Christian Cox and Bobby Hollowell had doubles as Lawrence lost to Old Bridge, 6-1, in the Central Jersey Group IV game on Monday.
Old Bridge scored all six runs in the first inning to knock the Cardinals out of the state tournament.
"They came out and scored runs," said Gafgen. "They got hits in the gaps, there’s not much we can do against that."
Lawrence managed to score in the top of the sixth, but by then Old Bridge had already done its damage.
"They came out swinging," said Carter who added that Old Bridge’s pitcher was too tough to overcome. "He was a ground ball pitcher," said Carter, "and he had a great infield. With that combination you can see why the kid is 7-0. we caught a good pitcher on a good day and couldn’t recover."
Gafgen, Smith and coach Carter all gave Mike Darbee credit for a strong pitching performance, but Old Bridge proved too tough.
"It was a tough game," said Smith. "Darbee fought hard."

