Sports
Cranford Baseball Repeats as State Champs
Fifth-inning rally lifts Cougars to second straight title and third in four years.
The Cranford High School baseball team repeated as State Group 3 champions Sunday, beating Burlington Township 4-2. For the Cougars, the win completed a 25-1 season, second consecutive State title and third in four years.
1st
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2nd
3rd
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4th
5th
6th
7th
Runs
Hits
Errors
Burlington Twp (16-8)
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
2
5
2
Cranford (25-1)
1
0
0
0
3
0
X
4
6
0
IN SHORT
The Cougars came out swinging as Tommy Trotter led off the game with a first-pitch single and Sean Feeney followed with an RBI double on the next pitch. Two pitches and a one-run lead.
The game settled into a defensive duel until the fourth when Burlington would take a 2-1 lead took on an RBI single by Dennis Stewart and an RBI groundout by Zach Schuyler.
After giving up the lead, the Cougars came back in the fifth to regain the lead. Albert Gargiulo led off with a single and Alex Plick was called on to sacrifice. His pop-up bunt got past pitcher Ryan Bell to put runners on first and second. A bunt single by Jake Forrestal down the third base line then loaded the bases for Matt Ravitier. Ravitier hit the first pitch he saw for a two-run single to put the Cougars ahead for good.
"I was looking for a first-pitch fastball" said Ravitier. "On my first AB I was pulling off the ball a bit so I just tried to stay back and put a good swing on it."
With the lead it was all up to starting pitcher Ryan Williamson to close it out for the victory.
"I was just trying to keep the team in the game and I knew they would come through" said Williamson. "Today was a great way for the seniors to end their careers."
