Baseball – Video Recap: TR East 8, TR North 2

TOMS RIVER – Senior right-hander C.J. Hirschy tamed one of the Shore Conference’s hottest offenses over six innings of work and his offense gave him plenty of support as the Toms River East baseball team – ranked No. 3 in the Shore Sports Network Top 10 – beat No. 4 Toms River North, 8-2, Thursday at Ryan Field to hand the Mariners their first loss of the season.

Toms River North entered the game averaging 7.5 runs per game during its 4-0 start, but Hirschy kept the Mariners bats in check, particularly with men on base. The senior worked around eight hits and two walks in his six-plus innings of work and struck out eight in the process, two of whom reached first base when the ball went to the backstop after a swing and miss.

Hirschy battled out of a second-and-third, one-out jam in the bottom of the third inning and induced a pop-out by Toms River North senior right fielder Beau Wyckoff to end the bottom of the fourth with the bases loaded. Wyckoff notched base hits in each of his other two at-bats in the game.

Senior third baseman Charlie Mulé led the Raiders offense by going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI, which both came on an two-run single in the top of the third inning to open the scoring.

Charlie Mulé 2-run 1B in the 3rd from All Shore Media on Vimeo.

Junior shortstop and University of Virginia commit Jon Meola later provided two insurance runs with a two-run home run over the left-field fence to cap a 1-for-3 day at the plate with two runs scored.

Meola also just missed a home run in his prior at-bat in the fifth inning, when he lifted a long foul ball over the left-field wall just to the foul side of the foul pole.

Jon Meola 2-run HR in the 7th from All Shore Media on Vimeo.

Toms River East scored seven runs against Toms River North junior starter Brett Hyers, three of which were unearned. Hyers – who pitched Toms River North past defending Shore Conference Class A South division champion Jackson Memorial last week – fell victim to a two-out error that allowed a third run to score in the third inning and a two-out error with the bases loaded that allowed two more to come home in the fifth to give the Raiders a 5-0 lead.

Brett Hyers strikes out Meola from All Shore Media on Vimeo.

The Mariners finally broke onto the scoreboard on a sacrifice fly by senior third baseman Julian Feliz in the bottom of the sixth and added another run on a pinch-hit sacrifice fly by Owen Sulfrain in the seventh.

Wyckoff finished 2-for-3 while junior designated hitter Joe Venditto and sophomore shortstop Joey Rose each going 2-for-4. Venditto had a double and a run scored, while Rose added a stolen base.

Joey Rose lines a curve into LCF from All Shore Media on Vimeo.

Raiders junior right fielder Josh Sommerer went 2-for-4 with a run scored, senior designated hitter Anthony DeBlasio was 1-for-2 with a run scored and senior first baseman Noah Clark finished 1-for-4 with an RBI single.

Vince McClooney came on to finish the seventh inning for Hirschy, allowing one hit and striking out the final batter of the game.

Hirschy improved to 2-0 with the victory after throwing a one-hitter to beat Toms River South on opening day. Through two starts, Hirschy has allowed two earned runs on nine hits and four walks while striking out 13 in 13 innings.

CJ Hirschy freezes Venditto with the curve from All Shore Media on Vimeo.

CJ Hirschy 8th K from All Shore Media on Vimeo.

Box Score

Toms River East 8, Toms River North 2

HR: Meola (7th inning, off Hyers, 1 on, 1 out)
SAC: Caporale
SB: Mulé

2B: Venditto
SAC: Feliz
SB: Rose

- Hirschy pitched to one batter in the seventh

HBP: DeBlasio (by Hyers)
Balk: Hyers
Pitches-Strikes: Hirschy 93-64, McCooney 19-10, Hyers 93-60, Chiaravallotti 19-14
Groundouts-Flyouts: Hirschy 5-4, McCooney 1-1, Hyers 9-4, Chiaravallotti 2-0