West Orange, NJ – Porcello Field is never an easy place to travel to for the opposition, particularly in 2024. The home of the Pirates has seen just 41 runs for visitors posted on their electronic scoreboard in left, and on Tuesday night, the #6 Dwight-Englewood Bulldogs (18-6-1), failed to add to that total, losing 10-0 to the #3 Seton Hall Prep Pirates (25-3-1). With the win, Seton Hall Prep will ship out to Ramsey on Thursday to take on the #2 Don Bosco Prep Ironmen (24-3) in the semifinal round of the North Jersey Non-Public A Tournament. 

The game seemed off to a shaky start, with senior southpaw Lucas Fernandez plunking Bulldogs leadoff man Rhys Bowie (Wake Forest) on just the third pitch of the game. He’d quickly quell all anxieties by inducing a quick pop-out to catcher Henry Ayers, before picking off Bowie and striking out number three hitter and opposing starting pitcher Everett Garber (Bucknell).

From there, it was smooth sailing for the Pirates.

Michael Sheppard Jr.’s lineup exploded in their half of the first, scoring five runs while sending nine batters to the plate. Sophomore phenom Jordan Burwell busted the game wide open, smashing a 1-2 pitch into left field for his 24th and 25th RBI of the season, making the game 3-0 at the time. 

The inning had a chance to get even further out of hand thanks to a two-RBI double from JJ Drennan, but was stopped short thanks to some masterful defense. Dwight-Englewood freshman Noah Fisher unleashed one of the throws of the year gunning Ayers out at home on a frozen rope from left field. This gave the Bulldogs a much-needed 2nd out, and a path to limit the damage.

Both sides traded goose eggs on the board until the bottom of the fourth, where a Michael Bravette (George Washington) bunt single sparked a five-run rally, which would give his team all they’d need to secure a shortened contest. 

“The third basemen played behind the bag, so anytime he does that I just lay one down,” Bravette said. “I think I have about 12 to 15 bunts this year…so I’m going to take advantage.”

The junior finished two for three on the day with a walk and a pair of runs scored. He’s now notched 40 hits on the season, and put together 14 multi-hit performances, raising his average to a staggering .494. 

Fernandez ended the game with a five-inning complete game shutout, his second in a row, and of the season. With just 73 pitches he allowed two hits, walked one, hit two batters, and struck out four. The Pirates have yet to allow a run in the Sectional Tournament and have blanked opponents eight times, including seven at home in 2024.  

Their next task will be a tall one, taking on an Ironmen squad who are 4-0 against Seton Hall Prep since 2013. 

The winner of that game will face off against the winner of #8 Bergen Catholic and #4 Delbarton for the North Jersey Non-Public A Finals on June 1st.

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-Stay Frosty