Baseball – Shore Sports Network Players of the Week, April 21-27

**Player of the Week selections are made by Shore Sports Network staff writer Matt Manley based on stats and information reported to Shore Sports Network during the week.

Shore Sports Network Player of the Week

Tyler Fischer, So., Holmdel

Fischer wins this week’s Shore Sports Network Player of the Week on the strength of just one game, but oh, what a game it was. The sophomore shortstop went 4-for-4 with two home runs and six RBI in a 9-8 win over Shore on Tuesday and if those numbers aren’t enough, his second homer was a three-run, walk-off blast to right-center field to win the game and snap a six-game losing streak for the Hornets. His two-run home run earlier in the game tied the game at 3 in the bottom of the fourth inning and set off a back-and-forth battle over the final three innings between the Class A Central foes.

Shore Sports Network Pitcher of the Week

Pitcher of the Week

Austin Markmann, So., Middletown South

The Eagles cracked the top 10 for the first time this season this week and their success has a lot to do with a talented group of sophomores. Markmann was the headliner of the bunch this week after throwing 12 shutout innings in wins over Manalapan and St. John Vianney, the latter of which was a Monmouth County Tournament first-round win. The sophomore pitched five shutout innings of three-hit ball in an 8-5 win over Manalapan on Tuesday and then shut down one of the Shore’s most potent offenses Saturday when he held the Lancers to no runs on four hits with four strikeouts and no walks.

Class A North

Player of the Week

Stephen Hansen, So., Manalapan

The Braves went 3-3 during a busy week and if not for Hansen, it could have also been a very bad week. The sophomore center fielder ignited the offense with an RBI triple in a 4-2 win over Marlboro, tied the Monmouth County Tournament preliminary-round game against Holmdel in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI single, then belted a two-run double in a 4-1 win over Monmouth in the MCT first round.

Runners Up: Chris Talbott, Freehold Twp.; Mike Santaromita, Marlboro; John Moschella, CBA; Ryan Wares, Howell

Pitcher of the Week

Austin Markmann, So., Middletown South (See Above)

Runners Up: Chris Murphy, Colts Neck; Corey Goldstein, Marlboro; Luca Dalatri, CBA

Class A Central

Player of the Week

Tyler Fischer, So., Holmdel (See Above)

Runners Up: Jon Bonczyk, Monmouth; Nick Blaney, Shore; Joe Rotelli, St. John Vianney; Max Hawkins, Manasquan; Tom Pulcine, Raritan

Pitcher of the Week

Jeff McPeek, Jr., St. John Vianney

Although he did not have a concrete spot in the rotation before this week, McPeek secured a role on the Lancers staff with 8 1/3 stellar innings over a two-game stretch this past week. First, McPeek closed out a 5-2 win over Shore with 3 1/3 perfect innings of work, striking out three batters while not allowing a baserunner. He then took a hard-luck 1-0 loss against Middletown South in the Monmouth County Tournament on Saturday despite allowing just a run on five hits and a walk over five innings.

Runners Up: James Kelly, Shore; Tom Puza, Red Bank Catholic; Dan Schirmacher, St. John Vianney

Class A South

Player of the Week

Christian Campbell, Sr., Toms River South

Statistically speaking, other players had more noteworthy weeks than the Indians shortstop. But in a week in which Toms River South played three memorable games (one of which was a loss) and mounted a late-inning comeback in another win, the Indians deserve some recognition and Campbell is their best representative. The senior shortstop won the game against Toms River East with a straight steal of home with two out in the bottom of the seventh inning in a 2-1 Toms River South victory, then keyed a three-run sixth inning with a two-run single in a win over Lacey.

Runners Up: Brian Markoski, Brick Memorial; Nick Liantonio, Southern; Tyler Folger, Toms River South; Nick Sinopoli, Southern; Nick Scalone, Southern

Pitcher of the Week

Matt Guarino, Sr., Jackson Memorial

During his junior season and the first two starts of his high school career, Guarino could be classified as a reliable left-handed starter, one who threw strikes, let his defense do the work and often lined up in the postgame handshake as the winning pitcher. Over his last two starts, however, the senior southpaw has become one of the most dominant pitchers in the Shore Conference. Against Toms River North on Thursday, Guarino struck out 12 Mariners in a 4-1 Jaguars win, giving him 23 strikeouts over his last two starts, which span 13 innings.

Runners Up: Anthony DeBlasio, Toms River East; Trevor Wagner, Toms River South; Doug Molnar, Toms River North

Class B North

Player of the Week

Luke Tiefenthaler, Sr., Freehold

The last week left Freehold wondering what could have been thanks to two walk-off losses to Wall followed by a loss to Matawan. During that week, a number of Colonials players stepped up their games, most notably Tiefenthaler. The senior right fielder went 2-for-3 with four RBI in a 14-0 drubbing of Red Bank and blasted an RBI triple in a 6-5 loss to Wall in the Monmouth County Tournament while flashing his leather and range in right field.

Runners Up: Ryan Orender, Wall; Jesse Mack, Red Bank; Alex Mulhern, Freehold; Austin Cannon, Long Branch; Joe Piscopo, Matawan

Pitcher of the Week

Nick Santuccio, Sr., Matawan

The Huskies hit a rough patch after a strong start to the season, but appeared to right the ship this past week with key wins over Howell and Freehold. Santuccio delivered on the mound in a 4-0 win over Freehold, tossing a four-hit shutout with six strikeouts and just one walk to run his record to 4-1 during a breakout senior campaign.

Runners Up: Tyler Swiggart, Wall; Latrell Jones, Neptune; Dan Verderese, Ocean

Class B Central

Player of the Week

Will King, Sr., St. Rose

The Purple Roses backstop earns his second B Central player of the week honor with two big games at the plate, which came against the second- and third-place teams in the division. King went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI in a 17-2 win over third-place Keansburg, then went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two RBI and two stolen bases in a 15-3 win over second-place Mater Dei Prep.

Runners Up: Corey Natofsky, Ranney; Conor Gammond, St. Rose; Eric Chandler, Keyport; Mike Keelen, Keansburg; Ben Thompson, Henry Hudson

Pitcher of the Week

Josh Heck, Sr., Keansburg

Like King, Heck is a two-time winner of the B Central weekly award after earning the pitcher of the week honor last week as well. Heck was the only pitcher in the division to earn a seven-inning, complete-game victory as he tossed seven solid frames in an 8-3 win over Keyport. Heck allowed two earned runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts.

Runners Up: Pat Fullman, St. Rose; Sam Miles, Mater Dei

Class B South

Player of the Week

Joe Santanello, So., Jackson Liberty

This week was a prosperous one for B South hitters, but as is usually the case, to the victor goes the spoils. The Lions remained red-hot this week with wins over Pinelands, Central and Manchester, and Santonello had, arguably, the team’s two biggest hits of the week. The sophomore first baseman ripped a three-run double in the win over Pinelands and two days later, he hit a three-run home run in the win over Central.

Runners Up: Nik Fraim, Barnegat; Christian Bearden, Central; Andrew DiPiazza, Central; Jared Kacso, Barnegat; Jon Meaney, Manchester; Ian Koukos, Monsignor Donovan

Pitcher of the Week

Juan Carlos Jerez, Sr., Lakewood

The Piners have picked things up lately, going 3-2 over the last week with wins over Monsignor Donovan, Point Boro and Princeton. Jerez was the highlight of the week for Lakewood as he threw a one-hit shutout in a 8-0 win over Point Boro with 14 strikeouts.

Runners Up: Anthony Arneth, Central; Tim Rossi, Point Boro; John Corbett, Barnegat