CLARK, NJ – Errors and missed opportunities plagued the Arthur L. Johnson High School Crusaders varsity baseball team Thursday afternoon, ultimately leading to an 8-4 loss against the Union High School Farmers.
The trouble began early in the game after Union junior Richard Jones walked and then advanced to second following a hit-by-pitch. He took off for third base for the steal, but the throw from Johnson senior catcher Vin Crisafi went over the head of Crusaders junior third baseman Kevin Metz. Jones scored, putting Union on top 1-0 at the outset.
Later in the inning, Union sophomore Zach Fernandez drove in senior Nestor Conforti with an RBI single, to give the Farmers a 2-0 lead.
Union senior Quincy Bryant cashed in with runners on second and third base in the top of the second inning with a long hit for a two-run double and would come in to score on another throwing error by Crisafi, as the lead became 5-0 Union over Johnson.
“Just staying in the game, everybody kept their heads up,” Bryant said of the Farmers’ efforts. “Everybody played hard and made the plays, getting key hits and pitching strikes and just grinding through everything.”
