SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ – The Union High School Farmers varsity baseball team took to the road to continue their play in the state tournament, but for most of the afternoon, the spotlight remained on Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School starting pitcher Jake Friedman.
After allowing one hit to Union senior Jerry Gamone in the first inning, he shut down the Union lineup outside of the single from Gamone. Eight of the recorded outs during Friedman’s outing came on ground balls, while two of them came via pop-outs and two of them fly-outs. His approach on the mound kept Union off-balance and off the basepaths for most of the afternoon.
“[Jake Friedman] pitched great. I tip my cap to him, he was really good today,” Union head coach Angel Navarette said. “There’s not too much you can do against pitchers like that.”
He went six innings and retired 13 straight Union batters before allowing a walk in the top of the sixth inning as the fourth-seeded Raiders defeated the fifth-seeded Farmers 9-1 in the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 Quarterfinals Thursday afternoon in Scotch Plains.
The Union Farmers finish their 2018 season with an 18-9 record.
Union junior starting pitcher Mike Velez got the start, but right from the bottom of the first inning, Scotch Plains-Fanwood got to him early to get on the board. Raiders junior Willy Gale singled to lead off the inning and came in to score on a double from sophomore Dean Kirian, making it 1-0 Scotch Plains-Fanwood.
