JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The 2024 season opened on Friday afternoon for the St. Joseph's University, N.Y. (Brooklyn) baseball team. Unfortunately, the Bears were handed a 9-3 defeat to New Jersey City University from Caven Point Field.
How it Happened
The Gothic Knights opened the scoring in the first inning, plating four runs; three of which came on a bases-clearing double from rookie Ray Gelok. It remained 4-0 until the fourth when the hosts scored five runs over the course of the next three stanzas.
The Bears saw their first run off the season cross the plate in the top of the seventh as Brian Sanchez's (Merrick, N.Y./Sanford H. Calhoun) groundout brought in Michael Gardener (Farmingdale, N.Y./Farmingdale) who reached on a walk to leadoff the inning. Sean Schneeberg (Sacramento, Calif./Del Oro) also drew a walk in the frame before scoring to reduce the NJCU lead to 9-2.
St. Joseph's added a third run in the eighth as Vincent Camerada (Staten Island, N.Y./New Dorp) scored on a Matt Arcati (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmund Prep) single and error on New Jersey City's third baseman. The Bears left five runners on in the final two innings, including three in the ninth, as a potential comeback bid fell short; falling 9-3.
For the Bears
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Sanchez batted 2-for-4 with an RBI. He also registered the team's lone extra-basehit.
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Camerada and Nick Tapio (Sacramento, Calif./Christian Brothers) each went 1-for-3 and drew walks.
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Thomas Gamba-Ellis (Neptune, N.J./Neptune) tossed 3.2 innings and was credited with the defeat (0-1). He and Chris Arcati (Brooklyn, N.Y./St. Edmund Prep) struck out three Gothic Knights.
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Eight Bears made their debuts in an SJBK uniform.
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The game marked the first under first-year head coach John Downey and staff.
Up Next
The Bears lift the lid on their home slate this Sunday, March 3 in a doubleheader against Skidmore College. First pitch from the Verrazano Babe Ruth League Field is scheduled for 1 pm.
