Sebastian Pruiti – FREEHOLD, N.J. (July 27, 2010) – A total of five runs were scored in the ninth inning, and the Freehold Clippers scored three of those runs in the bottom half of the frame to erase a two-run deficit and sweep their second round series against the Monmouth Monarchs.

The Clippers quickly got after Monarchs’ starter Chris Judge (Kean University/Belleville, NJ) as leadoff hitter Vinnie Galya (Kean University/Old Bridge, NJ) started the game with a double. After a bunt from Frank Mormino (Brookdale-Keystone College/Howell, NJ) bounced off the plate, allowing him to reach first safely, Ed Martin (Brookdale-Monmouth University/Hazlet,NJ) singled home Galya. That wasn’t the extent of the damage done in the first. Later in the inning with runners on first and second, Gabe Torres (Keystone College/East Orange, NJ) hit a two RBI double, giving the Clippers a 3-0 lead.

For the first six innings, those three runs appeared to be all Clippers’ starter Greg Baruka (Kean University/Hanover Park, NJ) would need. His team even gave him two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, extending his lead to five. However, the top of the seventh inning is when things started to get very interesting.

Clark Sambuco (West Virginia University/Wheeling, WV) lead the inning off with a single, Mike Genovese (Seton Hall University/Livingston, NJ) followed that up with a double, and a groundout by Brain Bullard (University of Albany/West Nyack, NY) scored the Monarchs’ first run of the game. Ryan Gibbons (Kean Univeristy/Glen Rock, NJ) was now up with run a runner on third, and he flied towards center. Clippers’ centerfielder Vinnie Galya dropped the ball (though there was some debate on whether or not it was on the transfer or not), and Gibbons was able to reach first safely as a run scored. A double, a strikeout, and a walk later Baruka was facing a bases loaded, two-out situation having already given up two runs. He got the groundball to shortstop that he needed, but a wide throw allowed two runs to score, bringing the Monarchs to within one and ended Baruka’s night.

Clippers’ relief pitcher Sean Kuberiet (Rider University/Branchburg, NJ) was able to work out of trouble and finish the seventh without allowing any more runs. However, in the eighth Kuberiet found himself in some more trouble. He gave a leadoff walk to Clark Sambuco (who found himself leading off the eighth after leading off the seventh) and allowed Genovese to single. A sacrifice bunt by Bullard left runners on second and third with one out. Kuberiet got one of the two outs he needed with a groundball, but he was unable to repeat his success with Juan Lisojo (Rutgers University/Belleville, NJ). Lisojo smoked a liner into center, scoring Sambuco. Genovese also tried to score on the play, but an accurate throw and a collision at home plate prevented it.

While the Monarchs were rallying on the offensive side of the ball, relief pitcher J.R. Seader (University of Maryland Baltimore County/Piscataway, NJ) was blanking the Clippers inning after inning. After coming in with two outs in the sixth, Seader kept the Clippers from scoring in the seventh and eighth. Seader gave the Monarchs a chance, and they took advantage of it in the top of the ninth inning. The Monarchs were able to score when Chris Greco lined a shot into left centerfield. Clippers’ left fielder Ed Martin was able to reach the ball on a dead sprint, but dropped it, allowing the two runners on base to score.

With things looking bleak for the Clippers, J.R. Seader went out for the ninth to close out the game for the Monarchs. However, the ninth didn’t go as planned for Monmouth. He gave up a leadoff double to Mike Cappiello (Plymouth State/Westfield, NJ) and another double to Sal Pezzino (High Point University/ S .Huntington, NY) with one out to allow the first run of the inning to score. Mike O’Reilly (Rider University/ Colts Neck, NJ) was next up and he grounded it to first. Monarch first baseman Mike Tirri fielded the ball cleanly, but the flip back to the pitcher was off the mark, and O’Reilly was able to reach first.

Seader was then replaced by Mark Andrews (Bryant University/Hillsborough, NJ). Andrews was looking at a first and third situation with just one out. He got Eric Wells (Southern Vermont College/ Athens, PA) to hit a groundball, but the Monarchs were only able to get one out as the tying run scored. Next up was Vinnie Galya, the Clippers leadoff hitter, who was now hitting with two outs. The speedy Galya surprised everyone in attendance by dropping a bunt down the third baseline, and the throw to first bounced over the first baseman’s head. With the ball rolling in between the catcher backing up the play and the right fielder, Wells was able to score all the way from first, giving the Clippers the game and the series.

Freehold will advance to the final round of the ABCCL playoffs and compete for the Jerry Lillis Championship on Friday against the no. 4-seeded Protocall Starz at 7 PM at Manalapan Park & Recreation Field #4.