OP Baseball Tops Dayton 6-1

After a disappointing loss to Union Catholic on Tuesday, OP Baseball faced off against Jonathan Dayton on the road Wednesday. Last time, OP bested Dayton 6-2 thanks to Greco’s dominance on the mound. This time, it would be Matthew Seelagy who carried OP to the 6-1 W.

In the top of the 1st, both offenses would go down in order. In the top of the second, OP had Greco and O’Dowd on base, but could not drive them in, keeping the game at a 0-0 deadlock. After a leadoff double for Lora, Seelagy would mow down the next three hitters, stranding the runner on second. Again in the top of the 3rd, OP failed to cash in with runners on, as an inning-ending pop-up stranded Gobel and Drone. The game would remain scoreless until the top of the 5th. Jack Cuddihy reached on a walk and stole second and third. Tyler Gobel, who seems to get the clutch hit every time I write one of these articles, flicked a single between the 5 and 6 holes, scoring Cuddihy. OP’s slim lead would remain until the top of the 7th. Bibbo walked and Seelagy singled to quickly put two runners on. Tyler Gobel laid down a textbook bunt, but was called out on the play, but nonetheless, he advanced Bibbo and Seelagy into scoring position. Logan Drone singled up the middle scoring two and giving OP a 3-0 lead. Grasso poked a double the other way which scored two more. Colandrea and Cuddihy would each log RBI singles in the inning, giving Seelagy a 6-run cushion before trotting out to finish the game he started. Dayton would plate a run, but Seelagy locked it down after that, earning the complete game.

Seelagy finished with 7IP, 2H, 1R (unearned), and 9Ks.

Drone, JSZ’s Player of the Week, stayed hot, going 3-4. Gobel and O’Dowd also had two hits apiece.

It was a solid all-around win for OP and gives them a jolt of momentum heading into Friday’s game at David Brearley and Saturday’s Union County Tournament game at Scotch-Plains Fanwood. Go Rams!