**No-Hitter Caps Sweep of Nyack**

The Bears concluded the 2022 season with a series sweep over the Nyack College Warriors. Game 1 of the series took place on Wednesday in Jersey City and featured a complete game shutout from freshmen pitcher Manuel Gonzalez (Clifton, NJ).  Jonas Espinal (Ridgefield Park, NJ) paced the offense with three hits and two walks.  The series resumed on Sunday at Westside Park in which the Bears celebrated senior day.  The four graduating seniors put on a show for their final competition date.  Senior Ray Sarza (Teaneck, NJ)) concluded his career with a complete game shutdown in game 1.  Seniors Alex Medina (Bayonne, NJ) and Jayden Jacobs (Elizabeth, NJ), as well as freshmen Javier Perdomo (Paterson, NJ), combined for a no-hitter in game 2.  Senior Javell Barnes (Elizabeth, NJ) ended the day with 2 stolen bases, in addition to two hits and four RBI's in game 2.

The Bears head into the off-season having finished first in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) North Division in batting average and home runs.  A full season recap is to follow once end of season awards are announced.

So close… that was the feeling for the Bloomfield College Baseball team after narrowly missing their opportunity to compete in the postseason. Had the ball bounced the Bears' way, a well-fought series against Dominican College could have potentially made the difference. Not only were the games close, but the Bears held the lead going into the 7 th inning of each of the 3 games. Unable to play in the CACC tournament this year, Bloomfield will be hungry for a playoff run in 2023. Once the team breaks into the playoffs, as 1 st year head coach Jack Winters explains, regionals are in sight for the hottest team of the conference tournament.
 
Speaking of peak performance, the Bears' season highlights give plenty of hope for on-field success in 2023 and beyond. Bloomfield College ballplayers successfully adjusted to a new coaching staff's style while taking impressive strides. Some of those gains can already be seen in statistics, and others are kept as morale boosters for next year.
 
An obvious strength of the team was the offense. Not only did the Bears hit a school-record 40 home runs, but they slugged an impressive .447, another best for Bloomfield. In one 10-day stretch, returning players Chris Walker (West Orange, NJ), Angel Murray (Santa Isabel, PR), and Jonas Espinal (Ridgefield Park, NJ) hit walk-off home runs against Mercy, Chestnut Hill, and Felician, respectively. Other highlights included spring break battles against an undefeated Southern Connecticut team where the Bears scored in 6 out of 9 innings, and a good game against top-20 Molloy, where the game was tied into the 8 th . Lastly, 2022 saw the offensive emergence of Justin Sanchez (Kearney, NJ), who played 1B, RF, and DH, coming through with big at-bats on a regular basis. His .344 batting average, 32 RBIs, and 9 home runs led the team.
 
Bloomfield was much improved defensively as the season progressed as well. In conference games, Bloomfield ranked #1 in the CACC North with a .955 fielding percentage. Freshman shortstop Luis Ramirez (Teaneck, NJ) and third baseman Justin Rivera (Clifton, NJ) were
mainstays on the left side of the infield, while second baseman Murray turned in a solid defensive season as well, helping the group turn 17 double plays, which ranked #2 overall in CACC conference games. Lastly, senior center fielder Javell Barnes (Elizabeth, NJ) was
outstanding in the outfield. Routinely robbing hits from the gap or over his head, "Speedy" will be missed not only as a defender, but as the Bears' leadoff batter and as a captain as well.
 
An important goal for next year will be to bolster the pitching staff. The team will look to add more pitchers to its' roster in addition to replacing the contributions from graduating left-handed pitchers' Jayden Jacobs (Elizabeth, NJ) and captain Alex Medina (Bayonne, NJ), as well
as right-handed pitcher Raymon Sarza (Teaneck, NJ), who ranked tied #2 for conference wins at 4. All three senior pitchers were counted on to pitch in big innings for the Bears. Medina, Jacobs, and freshman right-handed pitcher Javier Perdomo (Paterson, NJ) threw a combined no-hitter against Nyack on Senior Day. What an outstanding way to end the season, propelling
the Bears into summer ball and the 2022-2023 school year on a high note!


Story written by Jack Winters - Head Baseball Coach Bloomfield College & JJ Brock - Associate Head Baseball Coach