Point Pleasant Beach Garnet Gulls

Head Coach: Angelo Fiore, first season
Record Last Year: 12-10 (10-4, third in B Central)

Returning StartersYr.Position2013 Batting Stats2013 Pitching Stats
Noah YatesSr.SS/P(2012): .436, 13 2B, 23 RBI
Sean StrunciusSr.1B/C.326, 6 2B, 12 RBI, 4 SB
Ryan PrimaSr.OF
Matt Van NostrandSo.INF/P
John Van SchoickSo.P/3B1 HR34 IP, 25 K, 2.06 ERA,  6-0
Returning PlayersYr.Position2013 Batting Stats2013 Pitching Stats
Luke MaasSr.INF
Antonio GarciaJr.OF
Geno AntognoliJr.P/OF

 

Key Losses: Alan Nieto (OF), Nick Fiore (OF), Zach Yates (P/INF), Bobby Parlow (P/1B), D.J. Pfefferkorn (C), Shane Regan (1B/P), Mike Allegretta (INF/OF)
Key Newcomers: John Daly (Jr., OF/P), Ryan Franzoni (So., C/INF), Mike Frauenheim (Jr., C/INF), Tanner Smith (So., C/INF), Kevin Donnelly (Fr., 1B/P), Connor Prima (Fr., OF/P), Trevor Thomas (Jr., INF), Joe Delgrippo (So., INF), Nikos Schwarz (Jr., INF/C), Ian Gaynor (So., OF), Ryan Craig (Fr., INF), Roddy Rupp (Fr., OF), Jeff Duefful (Sr., INF/P)

Team Outlook

Point Beach had designs of contending for a division title last year, but their chances took a serious hit when shortstop Noah Yates decided to have season-ending elbow surgery before the year even began. Yates was coming off of a sophomore season in which he hit .436 with 13 doubles, and his absence left a hole at shortstop and in the middle of the order that Point Beach filled adequately enough to go 12-10. Still, Yates gives Point Beach a player who could start on almost any Shore Conference team and replacing someone like that is a near impossibility.

Point Beach’s misfortune last year turns to optimism this season as Yates returns 100 percent healthy and with his future already set (he will play football at Yale next fall). Point Beach also returns seniors Sean Struncius and Ryan Prima, both of whom were key cogs in the lineup as juniors. Sophomores John Van Schoick and Mat Van Nostrand also return after playing as freshmen, with Van Schoick emerging as one of the team’s top pitchers and power-hitting prospects.

Despite the return of Yates and the emergence of Van Schoick, Point Beach has plenty of question marks after graduating top hitters Alan Nieto, Nick Fiore and Zach Yates, the latter of whom was also the team’s top pitching option by the end of the season. Noah Yates will likely have to pick up some of the available innings, which could make for a potentially dominant addition to the rotation. Yates gives Point Beach a chance to make a run at a division title, but the Garnet Gulls have enough question marks that St. Rose is still the clear favorite.

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