East Brunswick - There has never been any panic, there has never been any tension. Close play is just the norm for St. Joseph’s baseball team. The Falcon just keeps playing.

Participate in their Jim Muldowney Middlesex Conference Championship. St. Joseph won a back-to-back 1-0 game in an additional match to beat Saturday's semifinal against the eighth-seeded Spotswood.

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Why do you have to have any difference?

Spotswood leads 3-1, with the bottom of the final order to reach seventh place.

“There is no one sitting down,” said senior JP Zayle. "I didn't hear background noise about people saying it was over. We all know that we didn't play until the last blow."

St. Joseph's Bobby Christensen used two RBI doubles and won it, before Zayle then hit the ball as the Falcons won the game 4-3 in another thriller.

Very interesting, right?

“I mean, I like it,” Christensen said. "I will take that position at the bottom of the seventh, second and third every time in my life. That's what I'm playing baseball."

The Falcons of the Fifth Seed advanced to the 11th Seed Edison in the final of the East Brunswick Magnet on Saturday (May 24).

On Saturday, the Falcons' Richie Zangara fought through the base jam in the third and fifth innings, limiting the losses. He allowed three runs with 10 strikeouts in five innings. Zangara threw eight innings with 10 strikeouts in the first round 1-0 win over Sayreville on Monday.

"Ritchie gave us a brave performance," said Falcons coach Dennis McCaffery. "He did. He has been explosive to us this year, and it's another day for Ritchie. He did a great job today."

Domenic Erbafina won his second win in GMCT, throwing two innings and only hits. Zayle drove 4-4 in the third inning.

Spotswood (14-9) Ace Carter Cumiskey matched Zangara for most of the day, allowing for runs and three hits until the seventh, which started with strikeouts. First place, No. 8 batsman Walter Christian doubled, nailing batsman Luke Baranauskas picked out the one that eventually built the hero.

Christensen scored 2-2 goals to the center at a distance of 2-2, making it 3-3. Zayle's mid-range hit rate made St. Joseph incredible, the third consecutive walk-through victory in the knockout round.

The Falcons (13-6) won 2021 and 2023 titles in the fourth GMCT finals in the past five years. The team took over a team in January under Hall of Fame coach McCaffery, who led a team with several returning players.

There were some early rough spots, but the Falcons of String win seven games in a row.

"The whole season has been going on all seasons and we did a great job," Zaire said. "Everything seems to be clicking. We have won the gunfight. We have won the close game. It's three consecutive walks in a row and honestly, I've never been to a team like this. I've played for a lot of teams in my life. I've never played a team like this before.

Christensen added: "Coach McCaffley has believed us since day one and we knew it would be a complete team. … We just fought throughout the game and we never gave up. We know we've been in this game and we have a chance. Now we're celebrating that tonight, but we've had six days to prepare for the championship and hope to bring this championship home."