St. Joseph’s Blue Jays remain area’s final hope in state baseball playoffs
When his team suffered a demoralizing devastation at the hands of County Prep in the HCIAA Seglio Division championship game two weeks ago, St. Joseph of the Palisades head baseball coach Frank Prieto could have never imagined that his team would be the only Hudson County baseball team (outside of Kearny) to be still playing in the NJSIAA state playoffs.
"They played so horrible that day," Prieto said of the 11-3 rout. "It really wasn’t my team. If they lost a heartbreaker, then I could cry along with them. But they were embarrassed that day. They thought they had the County Prep game in the bag. But County Prep was hungry. They were stealing bases and being aggressive. They took it to us."
So you would figure that the Blue Jays would have flown south for the summer, while other local teams would be left to carry the Hudson County banner into the state playoffs.
But Memorial, the county’s premier team all season long and the Blue Jays’ close neighbor, lost in the first round in a shocking upset in North Jersey Section 1, Group IV to Ridgewood. Ferris, Dickinson and North Bergen all fell short in the same bracket. North Bergen had Fair Lawn wrapped up with an 11-1 lead last Friday when the rains came, washing out the game entirely and forcing it to be replayed from the outset.
The replayed game a day later gave Fair Lawn a 5-3 victory and provided the Bruins with a quick exit.
Hudson Catholic and St. Peter’s Prep took early exits in the Parochial A bracket. Hoboken was soundly defeated in Group II. Weehawken, fresh off winning the Bergen County Scholastic League National Division crown, was eliminated by league rival Becton, 1-0, in nine innings.
One after another, Hudson’s diamond dandies were dropping like flies. It was a disastrous week, one that saw all of the best teams in the county take off the uniforms and put them in the storage closet for another season.
All except the Blue Jays, the unlikely heroes, the ones who were left for dead at Caven Point’s Cochrane Stadium by a hungry bunch of youngsters from County Prep.
Prieto knew that there was something left in his team, that if the Blue Jays, who had captured the three previous HCIAA Seglio Division titles prior to relinquishing their crown to County Prep, had some semblance of pride remaining, they could reverse their fortunes in the state playoffs.
"It all comes down to pitching," Prieto preached to his players. "We basically relied on [sophomore left-hander] Joe Light all season long. We really didn’t have a No. 2 pitcher. Our other pitcher, Gil Zayas, has had arm problems all year long. We haven’t been hitting as a team. It’s been really tough, but I told the kids to never give up."
So the Blue Jays faced Paterson Catholic in the quarterfinals of the NJSIAA Parochial B North bracket. The Blue Jays were a battered team, a team with basically one healthy pitcher and two proven hitters.
In the week prior, Prieto said that he played with his team’s mental state. He got into their heads, letting them know that they were much better than the team that laid down and died against County Prep.
"I told them that we had to play like a team instead of being a bunch of individuals," Prieto said. "Even though we had a lot of rain, we had a good week of practice. I think I got into them a little and the message hit home."
Prieto said that he also offered the team some motivation, to play for the lone senior starter, first baseman Jose Carranza.
"Jose has helped me out so much," Prieto said. "He’s been like a coach. He’s been so important. I told them that they should play for him."
Sure enough, the Blue Jays managed to defeat Paterson Catholic, 2-1, to move on to another day. The Blue Jays will face St. Mary’s of Rutherford in the sectional semifinals, thanks to a gritty performance by Zayas, who came on to pitch, sore arm and all, after Light went out of the game with an injury.
"Before the game, I told Gil that if he didn’t feel like he could pitch, he should let me know," Prieto said. "But Gil said, ‘Whatever I have to do to help the team, I’ll do.’ He said he was feeling good and he was sincere about it."
Zayas, the Hudson Reporter Player of the Year in 2002 as a sophomore, pitched three-plus innings [his longest stint of the season], holding Paterson Catholic at bay.
"We came away with the win," Prieto said. "We have to play St. Mary’s now. They’re a good team, but I think we have a shot. I’m very happy with the win and the way we bounced back."
Now, the rebounding Blue Jays represent all that the HCIAA and the local teams of the BCSL have to offer. The hopes of an entire county ride with the unlikely Blue Jays.
"It really is amazing, when you think of it that way," Prieto said. "It’s amazing that it turned out that way. I never would have expected that. I knew that these kids were fighters and would bounce back. Now, anything can happen."
If the area has a hope of winning a state sectional title, it has to happen. Otherwise, it will be a total washout, much like the recent weather.