Class A North

Howell 7, Manalapan 5

Junior Troy Miller went 2-for-3 with an inside-the-park home run and senior Connor Boyle went 2-for-2 with three RBI as the Rebels scored five runs in the first two innings en route to an opening-day win over the Braves.

Senior Matt Klepper went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and three RBI for Manalapan.

 

Class A South

Toms River East 11, Southern 0 (6 Innings)

Senior Kyle Catania - a transfer from Long Island, N.Y. - tossed a six-inning, three-hit shutout in his first start with the Raiders, who rolled to a win over the Rams to open the season. Catania struck out three and walked two in the win.

Junior center fielder Chad Leonard went 4-for-4 with two runs and two RBI out of the leadoff spot, while senior shortstop and Virginia recruit and Jon Meola and junior left fielder Tyler Idzinski each had a bases-clearing hit - Meola on a triple and Idzinski on a double.

Brick 3, Lacey 2

Ron Parliament tied the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning and Carmen Sclafani scored the winning run after a throw from the outfield to third base got away, giving the Green Dragons a walk-off win over the Lions on Parliament's hit.

Senior Steve Cole threw 4 1/3 no-hit innings and left with a 1-0 lead thanks to an RBI single by Sclafani. Lacey took the lead on a two-run home run by sophomore Anthony Elefante in the top of the sixth inning.

Brandon Weber went 1-for-1 at the plate and pitched a scoreless seventh inning to earn the win in relief.

No. 3 Toms River North 9, Brick Memorial 6

Junior Jeff Ciervo snapped a 3-3 tie with a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth and the Mariners added four more in the sixth to pull away with a win over the Mustangs to open the season. Ciervo finished 2-for-4 with two doubles and four RBI, including a two-run double in a three-run first for Toms River North.

Junior Joe Rose singled in the first run of the sixth for Toms River North and senior Mike Tiplady capped the scoring with a three-run double. Rose finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Tiplady was 2-for-3 with two runs.

Senior catcher Jake Voss hammered a solo home run in the top of the second inning and junior outfielder Tim Santiago belted a solo shot in the third to cut the Toms River North lead to 3-2. Brick Memorial tied the game at three in the fourth on an RBI double by junior Teddy Gonzalez that scored junior shortstop Matt Cuppari, who doubled earlier in the inning.

Senior right-hander Doug Molnar worked 6 1/3 innings for the win, allowing four earned runs on nine hits while walking one and striking out four.

No. 7 Toms River South 4, No. 2 Jackson Memorial 2

Junior center fielder Mike Conover led off the top of the seventh with an infield single and scored the winning run on an infield single by Spencer Kapp to help push the Indians past the defending NJSIAA Group IV champion Jaguars on opening day. Kapp finished 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and an RBI to lead the Indians offense.

After Toms River South added a run in the seventh on a base-loaded walk by Jake Ryan, senior right-hander Ray Liguori pitched a scoreless seventh to earn the save and extend his scoreless innings streak to 13 1/3 innings dating back to last year. Liguori also went 2-for-4 with an RBI double in the first inning - the second of back-to-back doubles by Kapp and Liguori.

Junior Anthony Carfora earned the win with three scoreless innings of relief after taking over for starter Chandler Thompson to start the bottom of the fourth. He struck out four batters and walked one.

Designated hitter Corey Nase also chipped in an RBI single in the top of the fourth inning to pull Toms River South even at 2 after Jackson Memorial had taken the lead with a two-run third.

Junior Kyle Johnson went 2-for-3 with a run scored out of the leadoff spot to lead Jackson Memorial. First baseman Chris Hawryluk went 2-for-3 with two singles and had a potential extra-base hit taken away on a leaping catch by Toms River South left fielder Ryan Shiffer in the sixth

Jackson Memorial senior right-hander Ryan Takacs allowed two runs on five hits with five strikeouts and one walk over six innings in taking the no-decision.

 

Class B Central

Keansburg 6, Henry Hudson 1

Senior Jim McAteer struck out 12 in a five-hitter and Ian Terry doubled and drove in four runs as the Titans beat the Admirals to open the season. McAteer allowed one earned run on his five hits and did not walk a batter.

Senior Tyrell Wilson went 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored and an RBI, while junior Austin Blum also added a double and a run scored in a 2-for-3 day of his own.

Senior Kyle Rauen went 3-for-3 with a run scored for Henry Hudson, while sophomore Brendan Carlstrom allowed one earned run on four hits over three innings while striking out four and walking two.

Mater Dei Prep 5, Keyport 0

Senior Vincenzo Mezzacappa broke a scoreless tie with a bases-loaded, two-run single in the bottom of the fifth and the Seraphs pulled away with an opening-day win over the Red Raiders.

Junior Joe Ruth knocked in two more runs with a single in the four-run fifth and Ruben Rodriguez added an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth to cap the scoring.

Senior Liam Olausen and sophomore Vinny Stanziale combined on a one-hit shutout, with Stanziale retiring eight of the nine batters he faced to earn the win in relief.

Point Beach 17, Asbury Park 3 (5 Innings)

Antonio Garcia, Trevor Thomas and Mike Frauenheim combined to go 6-for-8 with eight RBI and five runs scored as the Garnet Gulls handled the Blue Bishops on opening day. Garcia went 2-for-4 with four RBI, while Frauenheim and Thomas each went 2-for-2 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI.

Ryan Franzoni also went 1-for-2 with two RBI and Andrew Allegretta finished 1-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI.

Kevin Donnelly allowed one unearned run on two hits and one walk while striking out seven to earn the won.

 

Class B South

Manchester 7, Point Boro 4

Sophomore Steve Rodriguez fell a single shy of the cycle and the Hawks outlasted the Panthers to notch an opening-day win. Rodriguez finished 3-for-4 with a double, triple and a two-run home run to lead the Manchester offense.

Fellow sophomore Joe Felipe allowed two runs on two hits over 4 1/3 to earn his first varsity win. Junior Jon Meaney also went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI for the Hawks.

Junior second baseman Bill Feehan was 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two RBI for Point Boro.

Jackson Liberty 5, Central 0

Senior right-hander Howard Taylor threw six shutout innings and went 3-for-3 with a double, two runs and an RBI to lead the Lions to a win over the Golden Eagles to open the season. Taylor allowed only two hits and two walks while striking out four.

Senior Dylan Millemann also went 3-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI, while Ryan Vanwickle finished 2-for-3 with a run scored. Freshman catcher Billy Hart also chipped in two RBI - both on sac flies - in his high school debut.

Donovan Catholic 11, Lakewood 8

Seniors Steve Lazicki and Russ Petranto combined to go 7-for-9 with five runs scored and five RBI as the Griffins won a slugfest with the Piners. Lazicki went 3-for-4 with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored, while Petranto was 4-for-5 with two doubles, three runs scored and an RBI.

Junior Nick Povoa allowed two runs and struck out five in three innings to pick up the win. Lakewood senior Harry Brown went 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored, three RBI and three stolen bases in the loss, while classmate David Santiago went 3-for-4 with two runs scored.

Pinelands 6, No. 5 Barnegat 3

Senior David DeFeo went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer in the sixth and came on for the save in the top of the seventh to lead the Wildcats to an opening-day win over the Bengals.

Ryan Ross and R.J. Rodriguez each picked up two hits with Ross scoring a run, while Patrick Spagnola went 1-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI on a two-run single in Pinelands' four-run second inning. Sage Sysol also knocked in a run with a single in the second.

Senior Chad Astemborski pitched 4 1/3 innings to pick up the victory. He allowed one earned run on six hits and two walks while striking out seven.

 

Non-Division

No. 4 Colts Neck 8, No. 10 Middletown South 4

Junior center fielder and St. John's recruit Mike Antico went 3-for-5 with two triples and four RBI to spark the Cougars to an opening-day win over the Eagles. Junior Mario Ferraioli pitched five scoreless innings to earn the win, allowing four hits while striking out five. Ferraioli also went 3-for-4 with two runs scored at the plate.

Freehold 15, Long Branch 1 (5 Innings)

Senior right-hander Dante Cuzzolino tripled, drove in two runs and scored twice to complement a 10-strikeout performance on the mound as the Colonials rolled past the Green Wave to open their season. Cuzzolino allowed one earned run on three hits and two walks over five innings and finished 1-for-3 at the plate.

Sophomore Chris Cassandra finished 3-for-4 with three RBI, junior Nick Zuppi doubled and drove in three, and senior Nick Belka doubled, drove in two and scored twice. Junior Marco Meleo went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, junior Ryan Yee doubled and scored a run and junior Nick Lamorte scored three runs.

St. John Vianney 10, Red Bank 2

Senior Nick DeLuise went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI and the Lancers hammered out 12 hits on their way to an opening-day win over the Bucs. Victor Jamandron, Sebi Bellone and Dan Gesior each went 2-for-4, while Nick Gugliara went 1-for-4 with a double and three runs scored.

John Michael Broderick allowed an earned run on five hits and two walks with four strikeouts in 3 innings to earn the win. Dan Schimacher fired 3 1/3 two-hit innings of scoreless relief while striking out six and walking none.

Senior Drew Cook went 2-for-4, while senior Isaiah Sestito and junior Nick Massa each went 1-for-3 with an RBI to lead Red Bank.

No. 9 Marlboro 10, St. Rose 1

Junior Matt Discuillo went 4-for-4 with a double, triple, four RBI and three run scored to highlight a big offensive game for the Mustangs in an opening-day win over the Purple Roses.

Senior third baseman Steve Santigate finished 3-for-4 with three RBI, senior center fielder Mike Santaromita was 2-for-5 with two runs scored, and sophomore shortstop Will Trocchiano finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.

Senior left-hander Andrew Nardi allowed a run on five hits and one walk over five innings while striking out five to earn the win.

 

Non-Conference

Freehold Twp. 6, South Plainfield 3

Sophomore Mike Pirrotta allowed two runs over six innings to earn his first varsity win and the Patriots topped the Tigers to open their season with a win. Pirrotta also went 2-for-3 with an RBI at the plate, one of six different Freehold Township players to drive in a run.

Senior catcher Joe Silvestrone went 2-for-3 with a double, and RBI and two runs scored to lead the offense, while junior John Carroll also went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Kyle Fenton, Brian Oliver, Austin Ramos and Rob Eriksen each knocked in a run for Freehold Township.

 

At Vero Beach, Fla.

No. 1 CBA 10, Springfield (Pa.) 1

Senior first baseman John Moscella collected three hits, including double and three RBI an the Colts rode a strong mound debut from sophomore Mason O'Mara to a win over Springfield in Fla.

O'Mara pitched five shutout innings, allowing one hit and striking out four. Cid Porter also went 2-for-4 with an RBI in the win.

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