Edison, NJ – The long wait is finally over. After two decades of near misses and semifinal heartbreaks, the Edison Eagles are headed to the GMC Tournament final, thanks to a dominant 3-0 victory over the Middlesex Blue Jays on Saturday. The hero of the hour? None other than junior pitching sensation Connor Murphy, who once again delivered a performance for the ages.
Murphy went the distance for Edison, allowing just two hits in a masterful outing over seven innings. For five innings, Middlesex’s Chris Kozak matched Murphy pitch for pitch in a tense duel on the mound. However, in the top of the sixth, Murphy turned from pitcher to pivotal hitter. Senior Anthony Calantoni laced one up the middle to start the sixth, followed by a single by Junior Rob Roma. With two runners on base, Murphy scorched a two-run double down the left-field line, breaking the scoreless tie and igniting the Eagles’ offense.
The momentum continued as Darren Tirado followed up with an RBI single in the seventh inning providing Edison with an insurance run. With a 3-0 lead in hand, Murphy returned to the mound and slammed the door shut. He struck out five Blue Jays on the day, including two in the decisive seventh inning, sealing Edison’s hard-earned triumph.
Murphy’s recent performances have been nothing short of extraordinary. The stellar junior has now allowed just a single run in his last 40 innings pitched, while striking out 51 and establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with in the GMC.
Adding to the offensive firepower for the Eagles was Dom Innocenti who enjoyed a perfect day at the plate, going 3-for-3.
This win marks a significant milestone for the Edison program. The Eagles will now face St. Joseph (Metuchen) with the opportunity to claim their first GMC title since 2001. For the past 23 years, Edison has consistently flirted with the GMC final, only to fall short in the semifinal round. At long last, that drought has been emphatically broken, sending the Eagles to the finals. The stage is now set for Edison to compete for the coveted GMC crown on May 24th at East Brunswick Magnet School.
