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One big swing of the bat and one gutty pitching performance sent the Pequannock baseball team into the Group II New Jersey state finals. Jordan Tabakman fired a shutout in the win over West Essex, the third straight for Pequannock pitchers in the state tournament. And in a classic pitching duel, the Panthers got the only run of the game on a solo home run off the bat of George Chrencik in the 6th inning.
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Tabakman wasn't at his best in this baseball game, pitching with a sore hamstring. The Pequannock junior got into a number of jams, none more so than the bottom of the fifth with the sports game still scoreless. West Essex put men at second and third with one out, but Tabakman got a huge strikeout. Then after an intentional walk, the next batter hit a grounder to deep short. Martin Kelly looked at second, then threw to first, and his throw pulled Ryan Maloney off the bag. On a very close play, Maloney applied a swipe tag as the runner crossed the base, and the umpire called him out.
After a lengthy delay as the umpires talked to the coaches, the call stood. Moments later, Chrencik jumped all over a fastball from P.J. Lawless and drilled it over the center field fence at William Paterson University.
The game still wasn't in the bag, though, as West Essex threatened again in the bottom of the 7th. The first two men reached base, but the next hitter struck out trying to bunt them over. Then Lawless lifted a pop-up behind Kelly at short, who was unable to make an over-the-shoulder catch, but alertly grabbed the ball and threw to third for a forceout.
Tabakman then induced a grounder to third to end the game, and the Panthers celebrated as though they had won the New Jersey state title. Pequannock has one more game to win, however, before they can be crowned champs: they'll take on Shore Regional in the Group II final at Toms River North High School this weekend. -- Paul Mencher for Jersey Sports Now
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