SSN Players of the Week, April 1-6

Player of the Week

Joe Venditto, Jr., Toms River North

The offensive numbers alone for Venditto are enough to win a weekly award of some kind, but in this case, context is key. In his first week as a varsity player, Venditto was 7-for-9 with eight RBI – tied for the most RBI in the Shore Conference with Brick’s Nick Zbranak and for the top batting average (.778) with junior teammate Mike Tiplady. Venditto wins the tie-breaker because one of those RBI came on a game-winning single in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Toms River North a 7-6, come-from-behind win over Lacey on opening day.

Pitcher of the Week

Luca Dalatri, So., Christian Brothers Academy

After his team gave up nine runs in its season opener, Dalatri restored some order for the defending Class A North champs by hurling a one-hit shutout over rival Middletown South on Saturday. Dalatri struck out 11 and walked only one for the Colts, who will be relying on the hard-throwing, 6’5” sophomore as the only returnee to the starting rotation. Last year as a freshman, Dalatri went 5-2 with a 1.25 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings.

Class A North

Player of the Week

Zach deRocco, Middletown South

The junior infielder went 2-for-2 with four RBI to lead the offense in a season-opening win over Manalapan. Although he only had one hit against CBA on Saturday, deRocca was the lone Eagle to get a hit off of CBA’s Luca Dalatri. If Dalatri continues to pitch like he did over the weekend, deRocca will be one of few hitters to notch hits against the CBA sophomore.

Runners Up: Brandan Martorano, CBA; Mike Levy, Howell

Pitcher of the Week

Luca Dalatri, So., CBA (See Above)

Runners Up: Austin Markmann, Middletown South; Nick Serra, Manalapan

Class A Central

Player of the Week

Ty Hawkins, Jr., Manasquan

Manasquan was 1-8 in one-run games last year, but thanks to Hawkins, the Warriors are 1-0 to start 2014. Trailing Raritan 1-0 in the sixth inning on Wednesday, Hawkins delivered a game-tying RBI single to send the game into extra innings. The Warriors and Rockets would not have to play too much longer because Hawkins belted the game-winning RBI ground-rule double in the bottom of the eighth to give Manasquan the walk-off win. Hawkins also went 2-for-3 in a loss to Jackson Memorial on Saturday, collecting two of Manasquan’s three hits off Chris Hawryluk.

Runners Up: D.J. Goins, Holmdel; Chris Morris, St. John Vianney; Morgan Maguire, Rumson-Fair Haven; Clayton Coffey, Shore

Pitcher of the Week

Jon Bonczyk, Sr., Monmouth

Monmouth was supposed to have to get by without a true staff ace this year, but after watching one outing from Bonczyk, it appears they may have found another one. The senior shut down one of the Shore Conference’s more underrated offenses in Holmdel by pitching six shutout innings. Bonczyk allowed only two hits and struck out 12 to give first-year coach Paul Crivello his first career win.

Runners Up: Jack Kissinger, Red Bank Catholic; Shane McCarthy, Rumson-Fair Haven; Bruce Strickland, Raritan

Class A South

Player of the Week

Joe Venditto, Jr., Toms River North (See Above)

Runners Up: Nick Zbranak, Brick; Mike Tiplady, Toms River North; Connor Rooney, Lacey

Pitcher of the Week

C.J. Hirschy, Sr., Toms River East

Making his first ever start on the mound after a stellar 2013 as a reliever, Hirschy was both dominant and efficient. The senior right-hander pitched a one-hitter on 83 pitches and allowed just one unearned run to rival Toms River South, which scored 17 runs over its next two games. Hirschy also struck out five and walked two in his first complete game.

Runners Up: Chris Hawryluk, Jackson Memorial; Brandon Janofsky, Jackson Memorial; D.J. Wilson, Brick Memorial

Class B North

Player of the Week

Chris Barcas, Sr., Wall

The shortstop on the Shore’s No. 1 team made sure his Crimson Knights stayed No. 1 by coming through with a big two-run single in the top of the sixth inning of Wall’s 5-4 win over Brick Memorial on Saturday. The two-run hit capped a 4-for-9 week for Barcas that also included two runs scored, four RBI, and his usual solid defense up the middle.

Runners Up: Corey Martin, Red Bank; Adam Elliot, Matawan

Pitcher of the Week

Ryan Lillie, Sr., Ocean

The Spartans left-hander has quietly been one of the Shore’s most reliable pitchers over the last two seasons and he showed why in his first start of the season Thursday against Red Bank. Lillie limited the Bucs to a run and four hits in a complete-game victory and also struck out six Red Bank hitters in the process.

Runners Up: Tyler Swiggart, Wall; A.J. Forgione, Red Bank; Dan Verderese, Ocean

Class B Central

Player of the Week

Will Wells, Sr., Asbury Park

Wells transferred to Asbury Park from Neptune for this year and immediately made an impact with the Blue Bishops. He allowed only one hit in seven innings while striking out eight in Asbury Park’s 4-3, walk-off win against Henry Hudson on Thursday. Wells also helped his cause by going 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored.

Runners Up: Noah Yates, Point Beach; Will King, St. Rose; Kyle Mitchell, Keyport

Pitcher of the Week

Parker Haggerty, St. Rose

St. Rose’s senior right-hander coasted to five shutouts innings against one of the division’s better lineups in Keansburg in Tuesday’s opener. Haggerty allowed three hits to the Titans, who fell to the Purple Roses in five innings, giving Haggerty a complete-game shutout.

Runners Up: Taylor Hardy, Mater Dei Prep; Brendan Carlstrom, Henry Hudson

Class B South

Player of the Week

Andrew DiPiazza, Sr., Central

The Shore Conference’s best arm showed off his big bat this week while also throwing 4 2/3 dominant innings before coming out of his team’s 4-3, extra-inning win over Jackson Liberty on Thursday. DiPiazza went 2-for-3 with an RBI double in the win over Jackson Liberty and also belted a solo home run in an 11-5 loss to Toms River South. The Alabama recruit struck out seven, walked none and allowed one run on three hits in taking the no-decision Thursday.

Runners Up: Shaun Wernoch, Manchester; James Sofield, Jackson Liberty; Vinny Bondinello, Pinelands

Pitcher of the Week

Devin Tomei, Sr., Manchester

A number of Shore Conference teams went into extra innings, but Tomei was the only pitcher in the conference to pitch past the seventh inning. Not only did Tomei earn the win by going eight strong, but he picked up a complete-game, two-hit shutout in Manchester’s 1-0 win over Barnegat. Tomei struck out seven and worked around five walks in the victory.

Runners Up: Mike Dunham, Point Boro; Chad Astemborski, Pinelands; Seamus Brazil, Barnegat