South wins battle of state champs

Jimmy Messer turned in a solid pitching effort and Cody Prestwood drove in three runs to lead South Caldwell past East Rutherford 4-0 Monday in a matchup of defending state champions.

The Spartans and Cavaliers were first-round opponents in the Shelby Savings Bank Easter Tournament in Shelby.

“This was a good test for our team against a good pitcher (East's Cullen Park),” said South coach Jeff Parham. “East Rutherford is always strong and well-coached. It will prepare us for the rest of the season.”

Up next for the Spartans (9-1 overall) is a 4 p.m. game Wednesday against Burns at the same location.

Messer (3-1) pitched a complete-game, three-hitter Monday and struck out 11. He did it all in 84 pitches.

“Jimmy Messer was a competitor tonight,” said Parham. “He pitched well against a good team in difficult (cold) conditions.”

The Spartans struck early Monday, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning without the help of a hit. Leadoff batter Dom DiBernardi reached base on a walk, then stole second. Lucas Jackson struck out, but the third strike wasn't caught and he motored to first, DiBernardi to third. Jackson stole second moments later, before a Prestwood groundout to the deep part of the infield near second allowed him to move to third and scored DiBernardi. Jackson scored on a wild pitch thrown to Cody Penny and South had a 2-0 lead.

In the third, Jackson singled to right-center with one out. Two batters later, Prestwood belted his second homer of the season, a shot to left. Prestwood's homer had some pop to it, as did many other shots off the bats of the Spartans, who had just four hits.

“We hit the ball hard even when we didn't get hits tonight,” Parham said.

Messer got into trouble in just two innings, most notably in the sixth when the Cavaliers (7-3) loaded the bags with no outs. But Messer forced a popup to second, struck out Tyler Byers and got Jordan Mabe to lineout to right to end the threat.

In the fifth, East had runners on first and second with no outs before Messer struck out Matt Jarrett and forced a double play.

The Spartans and Cavaliers won the 4-A and 2-A state titles, respectively, last year. They also met in last year's final of this event. East Rutherford prevailed in that game, 2-1.

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