This one hurt

Gambone has no-hitter, lead through six, but Salem CC gives up 5 runs in next two innings and falls to Union

REGION 19 BASEBALL
Union 5, Salem CC 2
RCSJ-Gloucester 25, Delaware County 10
Northampton 12, Camden 9
RCSJ-Cumberland 17-26, Bergen 2-6
Montgomery 5-7, Middlesex 3-11
Brookdale 12, Ocean 9
Raritan Valley 28, Rockland 1
Harford 11, Mercer 5

By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News

CRANFORD – Jon Gambone had it going on for six innings, then as these things sometimes do, it got away from him in a hurry.

The Salem CC ace took a no-hitter into the seventh inning against Union Friday, but he lost the gem and the shutout in the inning and the Mighty Owls eventually lost the game 5-2 to delay clinching a spot in the region playoffs.

Gambone had allowed a few baserunners in the first six innings, but still looked strong enough to record his second no-hitter of the season striking out eight on 76 pitches. But Union opened the seventh with back-to-back singles, then the right-hander either lost his focus or certainly his command briefly and the Owls ultimately tied the game.

A sacrifice advanced the baserunners in the seventh, then Gambone walked the next two hitters to force in a run. The Owls tied on Fraelyn Rosario’s single to right, but the Mighty Oaks avoided further damage when rightfielder Matt Murphy cut down Brandon Brito at the plate. But the storm was brewing.

The Mighty Oaks (21-20, 15-9 Region 19) threatened in the eighth, putting runners at first and second with two outs, but with designated hitter J.D. Wilson at the plate Murphy was tagged out after getting caught between second and third.

Gambone got the first two outs in the eighth, then the Owls (11-21, 7-18) got to him again and ultimately got him out of the game.

They put runners at second and third on a single, walk and wild pitch. Robert Mateo knocked in the go-ahead run when he singled. He fell coming out of the box but had plenty of time to get to first.

Holt lifted Gambone at that point – after 112 pitches – for fireman Alex Newman. Brito greeted Newman with a two-run double and suddenly a game the Mighty Oaks looked to have in hand with their ace on the mound had gotten away 5-2.

Demetrius DeRamus drove in both of Salem’s runs with a first-inning ground out and a fifth-inning triple. Angel Velez had two hits, leaving him with 99 for his career.

The Mighty Oaks had runners in scoring position in each of the three innings between the runs they scored, but left them all stranded. They had a runner at third with two outs in the second, a runner at second with one out in the third and a runner at second with one out in the fourth.

The teams play a doubleheader at the Carneys Point Rec Complex Saturday at noon. One win will guarantee the Mighty Oaks a winning record in Region 19 and mathematically clinch a spot in the region playoffs.

REGION 19 DIVISION III PLAYOFF CONTENDERS
x-RCSJ-Gloucester (38-3) 25-0
x-Brookdale (30-8) 22-6
x-RCSJ-Cumberland (27-12) 20-7
Salem (21-20) 15-9
x-Middlesex (27-17) 15-12
x-Camden (22-14) 14-13
Northampton (19-17) 13-11
Teams .500 or better either in region or overall qualify
x-clinched a spot