Cranford’s hot bats crack into elite company

LITTLE FALLS — When it comes to the secrets behind the Cranford Cougar’s success in the Last Dance World Series tournament, you’d think it’s easier said than done.

“Just not stopping the bats,” said Junior left fielder Marcus Johnson. “Just keep swinging. Don’t watch pitches down the middle. Just attack when they come in the zone.”

While any baseball club aspires to achieve that checklist on a consistent basis, Cranford has the personnel to execute it. The Cougars slayed the defending Group 4 NJSIAA Champion Ridgewood Maroons 8-2 on Wednesday at Yogi Berra Stadium to advance to the Final Four of the North Bracket.

“I don’t think there’s ever a different mindset,” said Cranford coach Dennis McCaffery. “I’d like to think that our kids and our program always takes the same mindset. We have to be in that moment and play that team knowing that that’s the only team that could beat you that day.

“We’re well aware of the program that Ridgewood has. We know their history. They’re a well coached program that have a lot of [good] players and we knew it was going to be a very difficult game for us today.”

Johnson propelled Cranford early with a double and a two-run home run in the first and second innings, respectively. Those hits — along with a two-run double from Lucca Limeria and an RBI knock from Mike Murphy — would contribute to a triad of runs scored in both innings to establish a 6-0 deficit. From there, the Cranford hill was too steep a climb for Ridgewood.

“We were coming into the game knowing that they were going to give us a fight, but we just came and played ‘prove it’ baseball,” said Johnson. “It sets the tone not only for the rest of the team, but the other team.” The Cranford catalyst finished the day 2-for-3 with a pair of runs and RBIs.

The Cougars have outscored their opposition 47-17 through five tournament contests. While their offense has been exceptionally potent, their pitching has been impregnable. Will Gallagher — who threw for all seven innings against the Maroons and surrendered eight hits and two runs — has spearheaded this masterful effort.

“It [the big lead] relieves a bunch of stress,” said Gallagher. “Pitching to batters is so much easier. I kind of knew they were a really solid offensive team. That’s what our coach gave us the scouting report on. I just came in, threw strikes and hit my spots, let my defensive field, and we won today.”

The sophomore arm has been Cranford’s crutch on the mound throughout every game of the tournament. Despite a breadth of opposing threats, Gallagher has been “old reliable” for his teammates in his ability to pitch deep into games and allow opportunities for the offense to draw first blood.

“It [the momentum] started on the mound. Will Gallagher throwing three pitches for strikes and being able to spot his fastball in and away,” said McCaffery. “He was able to keep that off balance and he threw strikes, so you have that and fortunately, we put up seven runs before they put up one. We were fortunate to get that lead and our pitcher was throwing strikes, and that really helped us.”

Even when Ridgewood showed a pulse in the fourth inning with two runs scored, Gallagher exercised composure and escaped the inning. McCaffery leaned on his ace to complete the following three innings, which he would deliver by rendering Ridgewood scoreless. Gallagher retired the final five batters to tie a bow on another full-game outing in the tournament.

“Coming into this game, I was thinking about going the whole game because I went the whole game last week, so I wanted to do it again. It felt good to throw all seven [innings],” said Gallagher.

Last season, Cranford was stunned in the final inning of the NJSIAA Group 3 State Tournament Quarterfinals against Somerville. While the opportunity to avenge their loss came at a massive delay, the Cougars have still played every game with a chip on their shoulder.

“These kids have been working very hard for the season and they continue working. They put the time into the weight room. They play multiple sports. So, if you have that type of kid, you always have a chance.

I say that every year: You have a chance to win every championship at Cranford when you coach at Cranford because of the kids,” said McCaffery.

Cranford will step into the lion’s cage with Don Bosco Prep Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, NJ. The Last Dance World Series has not only granted their seniors a final chance to play in blue and yellow, but it has afforded their program the opportunity to make a name for themselves in New Jersey — and the team has seized it.

“We’ll stay with the plan, stay with the process and stay with what we do,” McCaffery said. “We’ll focus on practice and we’ll deal with [Don Bosco] when it comes.”