Monroe baseball coach goes from delivery room to diamond

OLD BRIDGE – It was a huge playoff baseball game and Monroe coach Sean Field was feeling anxious. He couldn’t even sleep the night before and didn’t take a shower that morning.

No, it wasn’t for reasons of superstition, and his rhythm went beyond baseball.

His wife, Amy, gave birth to a son Friday afternoon at 1:45 p.m. Monroe’s first pitch against Old Bridge in the NJSIAA Central Group 4 semifinal came at 5 p.m.

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“I wasn’t allowed to leave until she had it,” Field said. “So I made sure the delivery was safe, baseball-wise, and then I left.”

He left Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune for the game. Let’s just say he stepped on the gas a bit during the 30 minute drive up Rt. 18 to get to the Old Bridge. He arrived about 25 minutes before Monroe began his warmups on the field and court.

He put on the uniform of white pants with a black sweater and black hat in the Fred Cole Field parking lot and quickly shifted into baseball mode.

While it didn’t quite have the emotions of navigating your wife’s job, it was a game of twists and turns and fifth-seeded Monroe pulled off a 6-5 upset over top-seeded Old Bridge . The Falcons will now play in the sectional final Monday at Jackson Memorial.

Sometimes the adrenaline – and double joy – keeps us going even if we don’t close our eyes.

“I haven’t slept in a long time,” he said after the match. “I haven’t showered in a long time, but who cares if we’re playing in the state championship.” I’m just happy.”