Greater Middlesex Coaches Summer Baseball League: Welcome

2009 MIDDLESEX COUNTY CHAMPS:

SOUTH BRUNSWICK

2009 AABC/DON MATTINGLY NEW JERSEY STATE CHAMPS:

SOUTH PLAINFIELD

FOR COMPLETED NEW JERSEY STATE TOURNAMENT BRACKET, CLICK BELOW

http://www.leaguelineup.com/pyramidbaseball/files/2009%20Don%20Mattingly%2017U%20%20Bracket.pdf

CONGRATULATIONS TO COACH MUHA AND HIS SOUTH BRUNSWICK SQUAD WINNING THE FIRST EVER GMCSBL TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP!

***LEAGUE SCHEDULE LOCATED BELOW***

ALBURQUERQUE, N.M. — Matt Cesare's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh inning game the South Plainfield GMC Coaches league team an 8-7 victory Thursday over the New York Storm out of Long Island in a game featuring two eliminated teams in the Don Mattingly World Series.

Mark Tomei led South Plainfield (3-3 in the tournament) going 2-for-2 with a double, an RBI and a run while Cesare added two hits, including a double, and two RBIs.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The South Plainfield Greater Middlesex Conference Coaches League team's run at the Don Mattingly World Series in New Mexico ended in exciting fashion, with a play at the plate, giving the home club, the Albuquerque Dukes, a 10-9 win in extra innings.

The Dukes, who were up 6-0 early in the game, scored the winning run on a closely-contested throw at home off of a single. After South Plainfield took a two-run lead in the top of the ninth inning, but Albuquerque came back with three runs in the bottom of the inning.

South Plainfield was down 6-3 in the top of the fifth inning, but capitalized on mistakes to tie the game.

With one out, Carlos Ruiz walked, then advanced to third on Mark Tomei's single. After the Dukes changed pitchers, Ruiz scored on an error.

Dan Hansen then doubled, scoring Tomei to bring South Plainfield within one. The second out of the inning came when Rob Pasternak's grounder turned into a fielder's choice out at the plate. Pasternak stole second base, and when the throw went past the second baseman into center field, Hansen scored to tie the game.

Hansen also scored a run in the top of the seventh to give South Plainfield their first lead of the game, but the Dukes were able to tie the game again in the bottom of the inning.

South Plainfield was 2-3 in the tournament, including 1-2 in the double-elimination round.

"They battled their hearts out,' coach Anthony Guida said. "It was a well-played game by both sides.'

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The South Plainfield GMC Coaches League team split its first two games Tuesday in the Don Mattingly World Series in New Mexico.

Dan Hansen started the inning by reaching on an error and was replaced with pinch runner Mark McCullen. Steven Petriello walked, Kyle Hughes singled and Carlos Ruiz hit a bases-clearing triple.

Mark Tomei singled to score Ruiz and bring South Plainfield within a run of New Mexico ABA.

Mark Tasternak sacrificed Tomei to second base. Mark Benak followed with an RBI single to score Tomei and tie the game.

Brandon Downes followed with a fielder's choice and Cesare brought in Downes and Benak.

Ruiz picked up the win in relief, throwing two innings of hitless relief.

The Tigers dropped the second game to top-seeded Team Trombly California 8-7 in the second game. Trombly has scored 70 runs in their first three games.

Pasternak hit a one-out RBI triple in the seventh inning to pull South Plainfield within a run of Trombly. Pasternak was unable to advance.

Downes went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI for the Tigers. Petriello finished 2-for-4 with an RBI. Tomei went 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored. Cesare and Benak both went 2-for-3.

South Plainfield is playing at 9 a.m. today against a team to be determined. Every game is a must-win in order to advance.

Pace brings athleticism, right attitude to game
Relief pitcher, top hitter looks forward to senior year

BY JIMMY ALLINDER Correspondent

It's a rare summer day when Cody Pace can interrupt his baseball season and head down the Shore.

Between juggling playing time for the Spotswood entry in the GMC Summer Baseball League and a team made up of 17- and-under all-stars for the New Jersey Matrix, the Milltown native competes nearly every day. And that leaves little time for R and R.

However, baseball 24-7 suits Cody Pace just fine. His love for the sport is only exceeded by his motivation to realize his extraordinary potential.

"I'm involved with the two leagues and some days I play doubleheaders. It's fastpaced and mentally challenging," Pace said, "but I might as well get used to it. That's what I'll face if I want to play baseball in college."

One person who is partly responsible for Pace's hectic summer is his baseball coach during the regular high school season, Glenn Fredricks. The highly successful mentor is also coach of the Spotswood Summer League GMC team and on the staff for the Matrix team. Fredricks has helped develop a number of players who have gone on to college, most recently another Milltown native, Willie Beard, who is a member of the Rutgers pitching staff. Fredricks understands that the way to prepare for college baseball is to expose him to as many situations — in his case, positions — as possible.

"The level of play in these summer leagues is extremely high," said Fredricks, "and a lot of college coaches and scouts come to watch the players. So you try to put them in as many different positions as possible so they can show what they can do. Cody might start at shortstop, move to second and then to third."

Fredricks says that being a member of the select Matrix team enables scouts to observe other intangibles.

"Let's face it," he says. "Each kid is the best on his school team and there's no time for individualism. The kids have to mesh together and play for each other. Cody has excelled in that aspect of the game and don't think scouts aren't taking notice. It's a sign that he'll succeed at the next level."

Pace has done quite well, no matter when and where he has played. While Spotswood's high school season was a disappointment (12-13, which represents the Chargers' first losing campaign in 15 years), Pace was the success his coach and others envisioned. As a junior, he led the team in hitting with 29 hits. As a relief pitcher, Cody did not allow an earned run in seven appearances and was credited with five saves.

Pace comes from an athletically inclined family. His father, Rickey, was a three-star athlete in football, basketball and baseball for St. Pius in Piscataway before the parochial high school closed its doors; he then moved over to Spotswood. His uncle, Ken, is the former Colonia High School basketball coach who led the Patriots to a number of GMC titles.

The expectation is that Pace will land at a Division I or II college once he completes his senior year. Thus far, he has heard from St. Peter's (Jersey City), Bryant College in Massachusetts, and Montclair State. Rutgers is also sending him letters.

So where will Pace, who owns a 3.2 grade point average in high school, wind up?

"I'd like to go to school that's somewhat close to home," he says, "and I'd prefer it not to be too big. Does that mean my college choice will be based on whether or not I receive a scholarship? Actually, no."

"Cody has the right attitude as far as where he is going to take his ability," Fredricks said. "We've taught kids that choosing the right college isn't necessarily where they are going to get the opportunity to play baseball on scholarship. Honestly, a baseball career can end with one injury. Hopefully, the school you end up going is where you feel most comfortable."

While Pace decides where he will attend college, he is looking forward to his senior year, not only because it will be his last opportunity to play baseball for his high school. Cody was a member of the outstanding Charger basketball team that finished 21-5, a group looking to continue its winning ways this winter.

"We lost a few guys, but we have Mike (Liming) the Paretti twins (Jim and Tom), and Tyler (Osofosky) back," Pace said. "It should be an exciting season."

However, Pace's senior baseball season will be his showcase year and could ultimately determine where he ends up going to school. Equally important is the opportunity to lead Spotswood back to its position as one of the better teams in the GMC.

"Cody isn't a rah-rah type of leader," Fredricks observed. "But we usually have kids on the roster from all classes, including freshmen. He understands the younger players are looking at how he reacts to any situation. That's leadership by example."

All of which could lead to a college baseball career.

MATRIX ROSTER LOADED WITH ALL STARS

The Middlesex County Matrix was well represented on the 2009 All County, All Area, and All State Teams as selected by the Star Ledger and Home News Tribune.  In addition to having 7 out of the top 10 HNT teams (including Team of the Year Iselin Kennedy) competing in the GMCSBL, the Matrix rosters for 17 and 18U is loaded with players honored by both media outlets.

Here is a look at the accolades recieved by Matrix players:

THE HOME NEWS TRIBUNE-

1ST TEAM ALL AREA:

P- ZACK HOPF (17)

1B- MIKE MUHA (17)

3B- STEVE NAPPE (18)

OF- ERIC PEREZ (17)

UT- CODY PACE (17)

2ND TEAM ALL AREA:

P- JOE MARCIANO (17)

P- NICK MARICS (17)

1B- MATT MIECZKOWSKI (18)

2B- JAKE CAMPBELL (18)

DH- BRYAN SMITH (18)

3RD TEAM ALL AREA:

C- JAY STOLZ (17)

2B- PETE SENYSZYN (18)

SS- JUAN PERDOMO (17)

OF- ANDREW RIVERA (18)

UT- JOSE PERALTA (18)

HONORABLE MENTION:

JORGE RIVERA (17), KYLE GRIMES (17),  ALEX TAYLOR (17), DYLAN PAPA (17), MIKE MUGLIA (18),

NEWARK STAR LEDGER-

1ST TEAM ALL MIDDLESEX COUNTY:

MIKE MUHA (17)

STEVE NAPPE (18)

2ND TEAM ALL MIDDLESEX COUNTY:

ZACK HOPF (17)

JOE MARCIANO (17)

JAKE CAMPBELL (18)

CODY PACE (17)

PETE SENYSZYN (18)

ERIC PEREZ (17)

3RD TEAM ALL MIDDLESEX COUNTY:

NICK MARICS (17)

JOSE PERALTA (18)

JAY STOLZ (17)

MATT MIECZKOWSKI (18)

BRYAN SMITH (18)

ALL STATE TEAMS:

GROUP IV-

STEVE NAPPE, 2ND TEAM

GROUP III-

JOE MARCIANO, 2ND TEAM

PETE SENYSZYN, 3RD TEAM

GROUP II-

CODY PACE, 3RD TEAM 

ISELIN KENNEDY OF THE GMCSBL WAS RANKED #1 IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY AND COACH JERRY SMITH WAS HONORED AS THE COACH OF THE YEAR BY THE STAR LEDGER.