LINWOOD – It was supposed to be a close game against a fellow outstanding South Jersey Group III team that Mainland Regional would likely see again in the post season.
It wasn’t.
The Mustangs’ 17-2 victory over the Hammonton Blue Devils (16-6) was just one game in Mainland’s long season, but they hope it will be a defining one as the regular season wraps up and the single-elimination playoffs start.
Mainland, 14-5, is hoping for the same hot streak it went on last year that propelled them to the NJSIAA Group III state championship game, despite having a losing record.
That 2023 run surprised everyone. This year, the Mustangs are catching no one by surprise with a strong core of starters and a solid, if a bit inconsistent, lineup on offense. That showed up this past week when Mainland swept traditional state power St. Augustine Prep in two games only to lose last Thursday to Group I Lower Cape May Regional 5-2.
Last Friday, though, Mainland bats came alive with two home runs, two other extra-base hits, and collected 10 hits altogether.
“It can be a little frustrating when we’re this good offensively because we weren’t very good [on Thursday] but that’s what we’re capable of,” head coach Billy Kern said. “I was just as happy with the amount of walks that we took because of how patient we were at the plate.
“The home runs are great and the doubles are great, but when we can get those big hits after getting walked a couple of times, that’s how you get the crooked numbers on the scoreboard. So I was really happy with our patience and maturity in the box.”
It wasn’t exactly the idea day for baseball with a light, but steady drizzle through the contest with blanket temperatures in the low 60s to boot.
Cohen Cook got the win and the benefit of the big early lead. He limited the hard-hitting Blue Devils to two runs over three innings before Brady Blum relieved him in the fourth inning when it appeared the contest would likely go five innings.
“I just went out there and threw strikes,” he said. “They were hitting me early but I settled down after a few strikes and the guys behind me made plays.”
After surrendering one run to Hammonton in the first innings, Mainland pounded out seven runs in its half of the inning, forcing an early pitching change for the Blue Devils. After Cook held Hammonton scoreless in the second, the Mustangs returned with seven more runs, sparked by Jack Haines’ 3-run homer, to put the game out of reach.
“I was just looking for something I could drive,” Haines said. “I think it was the first pitch but I got what I was looking for.”
Kern said it was a solid team game. Christian Elliott homered, scored three runs, and drove in six runs. Cook helped his own cause with two hits, two runs scored, and two runs batted in.
“I feel pretty good where we are at this point of the season,” Kern said of his club. “We are the top 3 or 4 seed in Group III and hopefully we can maintain that.”
Elliott admitted to his slump at the plate but said he hoped the home run and his offensive performance last Friday will lead to more.
“I hadn’t been hitting the ball too well of late but the bat felt really good today,” said Elliott, a four-year starter for Mainland. “It was good to start hitting the ball hard again. To keep this consistency on offense, we have to keep seeing the ball well.
“Some pitchers in this league don’t throw the ball that hard and some pitchers throw it really hard. For us as batters, we have to stay consistent, staying low and swinging hard.”
Kern said with the upcoming Cape-Atlantic League tournament, it’s time for the squad to get into playoff mode.
“We’re going to try to treat next week at the [Cape-Atlantic League] tournament like it’s the playoffs and single elimination and try to win that thing. We want to again get used to some of the pressures of that ‘win or go home’ scenario,” Kern said.
Kern was impressed with senior Brady Blum, who relieved Cook on the mound and looked outstanding with five strikeouts in the final two innings. In the post season if the Mustangs get into a difficult situation, Kern said Blum could prove to be a difference maker.
“He’s been our short guy all season and he’s 4-0 on the mound for us,” Kern said. “He also has multiple saves for us. He’s been doing a little bit of everything for us. He’s a senior who is a great leader and a great teammate.
“We’re happy with where he’s at and we’re comfortable with turning the ball over to him at any time during this playoff run coming up.”
Mustang players said, though, that even with Friday’s big win, the team can play much better.
“We can always get better,” Cook said. “We just have to keep up and if we make plays in the field, we’ll be fine.”
Haines said the key to Mainland’s post-season fortunes will probably be playing with a lot of energy.
“We just have to stay in the game mentally for all seven innings,” Haines said. “Coach talks a lot about team at-bats and just sticking to the little things and not trying to do too much. It’s extremely important staying patient and doing all the little things. We have to stay within ourselves. That’s a huge part.”
Elliott said the squad would like to bottle up their offensive performance last Friday and take it with them through the post-season, but added it will take a team effort.
“Everyone has been in for the final goal,” Elliott said. “I think we have that with this team the way we had it last year.”
With the top seed in the CAL tournament, the Mustangs earned a bye Monday and will face Ocean City at 4 p.m. Wednesday at home. Ocean City beat Oakcrest 13-2 in the opening round of the tournament.
– By CLYDE HUGHES/For the Sentinel
