By: Tyler Stephan

BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J. -- — In the first round of the 2023 ABCCL playoffs, the CGI Monsoons defeated Gamers Baseball 9-2. The Monsoons came in as the number one seed in the ABCCL North ,while the Gamers were the number four seed in the ABCCL North. The 21-4 Monsoons had dropped their last three games of the season after starting the season at a blistering pace, winning 20 of their first 21 games. The Gamers came into the matchup with a 13-14-1 record, having beaten the Monsoons in their most recent matchup.

James Pazdera, the ace for the Monsoons, started on the mound. He struggled with his control in the top of the first inning, walking two batters, but both batters were caught stealing by Monsoons catcher Jeffrey Policarpio, preventing any damage. 

Ryan Kehoe took the mound for the Gamers in the bottom of the first inning. He ran into some trouble early as the Monsoons’ second hitter, Tyler Ruban, got into one, sending a line drive just over the right-center field wall to give the Monsoons the early lead. 

Pazdera cruised through the second for the Monsoons, striking out both Biuso brothers in Christian and Michael Biuso. On the other side, Kehoe allowed a walk and hit Greg Verano to give the Monsoons two runners on base with no outs. Kehoe, however, settled in, recording a flyball and two straight strikeouts to hold the deficit to one run.

The Gamers would take the lead in the top of the third inning in what appeared to be a harmless inning. A two-out walk to Zahir McNeil, a wild pitch, and a Parker Muratore single into right-center field would plate a run for the Gamers. Luke Blozy continued the offensive output, singling to left field. Matthew Silvestre then came up to bat and lined a double into right-center field. Muratore scored on the hit to give the Gamers the lead. Blozy was sent home as well, but a nice relay from the Monsoons gunned down Blozy at home to end the inning.

The Monsoons fired right back in the bottom of the third inning. With runners on first and second, Chris Giacalone doubled to the wall in left-center field, plating Tyler Ruban to tie the game. Similar to the Gamers, the second Monsoons runner, CJ Tomalavage, was thrown out trying to score. Monsoons fans were livid with the call, claiming that Tomalavage beat the throw home. 

Both teams were held scoreless for the next two innings, though they both threatened with baserunners. Ryan Kohoe went five innings for the Gamers, allowing five hits, three walks and three earned runs while striking out three. James Pazdera also went five innings for the Monsoons, allowing four hits, five walks, and two earned runs with five strikeouts. Both pitchers delivered solid outings to give their teams a chance to win.

The Monsoons plated another run in the bottom of the sixth inning after Matt Hollender singled on a line drive up the middle to start the inning, and Chris Giacalone walked. Ryan Kohoe was  then replaced by Ryan Jackson, who hit the next batter on his first pitch and struggled with control the whole afternoon. Greg Verano would drive a run in for the Monsoons on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to center field. Jackson was able to work his way out of more trouble, however, keeping the game close as the Monsoons only led 3-2.

Ryan Jackson continued to struggle the next inning. He walked three batters to load the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning. This is where the Monsoons pulled away. Ty Sallie hit a slow ground ball to second base off the end of the bat, and the Gamers’ second baseman was unable to make the barehanded play, allowing two runs to score behind the aggressive baserunning of Matt Hollender. Greg Verano came up to bat next. He hit almost the exact same hit as Sallie, forcing another barehanded attempt by the Gamers’ second baseman. The throw was wide of first base, allowing another run to score on the error. Later in the inning, a throwing error by third baseman Christian Biuso allowed a run to score as well. In total, the Monsoons scored six runs in the inning to give them a 9-2 advantage and completely shift the momentum to their side. 

The Monsoons would win the game by the same score behind a strong bullpen performance which held the Gamers scoreless. Dan Bass was credited with the win for the Monsoons. He relieved James Pazdera and pitched two no-hit innings. Ryan Kehoe was credited with the loss for the Gamers.

The Monsoons will face the Legends on Tuesday, July 25 in the second round of the playoffs, with the winner advancing to the championship series.