By Jimmy Allinder
It’s a familiar scenario but not how the East Brunswick High School boys volleyball team wants the season to end.
The top-seeded Bears, after winning the first set (25-23), dropped the second (25-13) and deciding (25-21) sets to second-seeded Saint Joseph High School of Metuchen in the championship match of the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Tournament. The decision is the reverse of what transpired a year ago, when East Brunswick defeated the Falcons, 2-1 (25-20, 19-25, 25-20) to capture the conference tournament title.
The Bears (top seed) had little time to lick their wounds because on tap May 24 was a first-round match in the NJSIAA Central Jersey sectional against 16th-seeded Howell High School. If the highly favored Bears won, they meet the winner of ninth-seeded Hunterdon Central Regional High School and eighth-seeded St. John Vianney High School two days later.
East Brunswick earlier clinched the GMC regular-season title and despite the Bears’ loss in the conference tournament, head coach Greg Rutz says he’s optimistic about the rest of the season.
“Every year, we have expectations of winning our regular-season title, the conference tournament and the sectional and state titles,” he said.
The starting rotation has been dominated by seniors who have sometimes switched positions depending on the opponent. Server Tom Pappas has been an effective server — a sometimes difficult task with Rutz often changing players’ positions.
Outside hitters Keith Kuchenbrod and Marco Loncar have switched to different spots, while opposites Yoni Auerback and Russel Canataro have stabilized the defense. Jeff Chen has been a dependable opposite.
Also, middle blockers Jeff Tong and Ben Harrop have scored and defended well, Grant Cai is a quality libero, Kyle Loesner has switched from middle blocker to outside hitter and Andrew Gula has become the second server. Tom Murray and Matt Jensen have played important roles as opposites.
Baseball
East Brunswick is also enjoying success on the diamond this spring. The baseball team (20-3-1) has already won more games in a season than it has in school history and is gunning for more. The second-seeded Bears, who last won the GMC Tournament title in 2005, reached the finals and will meet ninth-seeded John P. Stevens High School in the championship game May 30 at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater.
Unfortunately, the Bears’ good fortune did not continue when the state tournament commenced. Despite being the top-seeded team in Central Jersey, Group IV, East Brunswick was eliminated May 23 by 16th-seeded North Brunswick Township High School, 2-0.
The Bears have been led by two of the top pitchers in the GMC. Junior Tyler Burnbaum is 8-1, while senior Nick Clemente has fashioned a 7-1 record. They have also been backed by effective relief from senior Chris Cap and sophomore Dave Falco.
As for offense, coach Chris Kenney says a balanced lineup has resulted in a team batting average of .334. Burnbaum and Clemente are key contributors at the plate in addition to shortstop Danny Iannarone and senior Juan Ganzaroli. Iannarone has only committed five errors this season.
In another Central Jersey, Group IV first-round game, third-seeded Monroe Township High School defeated 14th-seeded Hightstown High School, 8-0, to advance to the quarterfinals, where the Falcons will host Edison High School May 26.
Spotswood High School, the 10th seed in Central Jersey, Group II, was defeated by seventh-seeded Manasquan High School, 2-0. The Chargers’ season ends at 12-13.
Softball
The GMC softball tournament is down to the semifinals, and a pair of area teams is looking to make the finals once again.
Fifth-seeded East Brunswick (18-5) meets top-seeded South Plainfield High School and second-seeded Monroe (17-4) takes on top-seeded South Brunswick High School in a doubleheader at Middlesex County College May 28.
The championship game will be played May 30 at South Plainfield.
In Central Jersey, Group IV tournament action, fourth-seeded East Brunswick won its first-round game over Manalapan High School, 3-2, May 20. The Bears hosted fifth-seeded Marlboro High School May 25 in the quarterfinals.
Monroe (sixth seed) defeated Princeton High School, 3-2, to advance to the quarterfinals against third-seeded South Brunswick High School May 25. In Central Jersey, Group II, fourth-seeded Spotswood defeated 13th-seeded East Brunswick Vocational Technical High School, 9-3, and moved on to a May 25 meeting with fifth-seeded Governor Livingston High School.
South River High School (fourth seed) defeated 13th-seeded Keyport High School, 7-5, and moved on to the quarterfinals May 25 to meet Henry Hudson Regional High School.