BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ- The Arthur L. Johnson High School Crusaders varsity baseball team took to the road to continue their play in the 2018 Union County Tournament in the quarterfinals round against the Governor Livingston High School Highlanders. Despite scoring early, the sixth-seeded Crusaders were unable to overcome a powerful Governor Livingston lineup, losing to the third-seeded Highlanders 11-5 Saturday afternoon in Berkeley Heights.
Johnson struck first in the top of the first inning. Senior Zach Thornton led off the inning with a walk and went to second base on a strikeout. He went to third base on a wild pitch and came home on an RBI single from senior Joe Turek, giving Johnson the 1-0 lead.
Governor Livingston senior starting pitcher D.J. Gonnelli rebounded by getting the next two outs to send the game to the bottom of the first inning, where the Highlanders started it off with their power at the plate.
Senior Danny Serretti and junior Drew Compton both reached base and junior Stephen Reid provided the big blow on a 1-2 pitch, sending it to deep right field for a three-run home run to give the Highlanders the 3-1 lead.
Johnson sophomore starting pitcher Pat Grady rebounded by recording the three outs on three straight batters to send the game to the top of the second inning.
Johnson freshman Kyle Adorno led off the top of the second inning with an infield single and junior Nick McCaffery reached base, putting runners at first and second with one out, the Crusaders looking to answer. Sophomore Saul Lopez hit a groundball and reached on a force play, but an error allowed Adorno to score, cutting the Governor Livingston lead to 3-2.
Gonnelli worked through the trouble and got the game to the bottom of the second inning, where the Highlanders offense provided the ultimate spark to take control of the game.
After the first two batters reached, Governor Livingston junior Ryan Davey drove home a run on a single to give his team a 4-2 lead. With still no outs in the inning, Johnson continued to be overwhelmed by the Governor Livingston lineup. Danny Serretti added a two-run single to make the game 6-2 Highlanders.
Gonnelli drove home a run with a bases-loaded walk and senior Tyler McCullouch added an RBI on a sacrifice fly, the lead now 8-2 Governor Livingston. By the time the inning was over, it was 9-2 Governor Livingston.
Full Coverage of Johnson-Governor Livingston Varsity Baseball UCT Quarterfinals Here
