High School Baseball: Maple Shade Squeezes Out Victory Against Glassboro Monday, May 20, 2002 By Art Redd SJSports Staff Writer This was the first day of the 2002 spring seasonal baseball playoffs as teams from Southern New Jersey began their quest in capturing this year's group title. The Glassboro Bulldogs traveled to Maple Shade to take on the Wildcats in a Group 1 match up. Maple Shade would manufacture a run in the bottom of the sixth when Mike Steck scored on a suicide squeeze bunt executed perfectly by Nick Foster to push the Wildcats to a 2-1 first round playoff victory over Glassboro. Matt Enuco started this game off with a 10-pitch count to Maple Shade's lead off batter Rick Shellem. After his base on balls and advancing on a wild pitch, Mike Steck singled in the first run of the game to take an early 1-0 advantage after one inning. That's when Justin Long for Maple Shade and Matt Enuco for Glassboro took control of this game. Enuco struck out seven Wildcat batters though out this game while Justin Long recorded 5 Ks through 5 innings before Daniel Pacheco relieved him in the 6th inning. Starting pitcher Matt Enuco tied this game with his bat in the top of the 6th inning. After fouling off four 1-2 pitches, he drilled an inside fastball over the left field fence and the score was tied at one all. That's when Maple Shade responded right back in the bottom of the inning with key hits and a perfectly executed bunt. Steck got on base with a single to right-center with one out. Long followed with a base on balls and Lou Manchello lined a single to right to load the bases for Nick Foster. One the first pitch, Foster would foul off his first attempt at the squeeze play. Foster would watch the next high pitch go by, but he made no make on the next pitch as he laid down a perfect bunt which the charging Steck crossing the plate to take a 2-1 lead. Daniel Pachero would pick up the win and will meet Buena in the next round of the playoffs. Photos by Mike Fletcher

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