Baseball Wednesday Scoreboard, 4/9/14

Tweets by @Matt_Manley

Class A North

Manalapan 5, No. 10 Howell 4 (10 Innings)

Sophomore Chris Rodriguez came through with a two-out single in the bottom of the 10th to plate senior Matt Parke with the winning run and give the Braves (2-2, 2-1) a win over the Rebels (2-2, 1-2), Manalapan's second straight.

Junior Ajay Kawa and senior Ryan Tsang combined for 5 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, with Kawa picking up his first varsity win by throwing three shutout innings. Rodriguez led the Braves with two hits in the game.

Senior Ryan Wares went five innings for Howell in his first start of the season, giving up three unearned runs on four hits, two walks and four strikeouts.

Dan Mastrisciano had three hits for Howell, including the game-tying RBI single in the fifth inning. Senior Mike Levy added a double and a single to give him four straight multi-hit games to open the season. Wares and Andrew Larsen also added doubles in the 10-hit Howell attack.

Colts Neck 3, Middletown South 2

Junior Kyle Murrin ripped a two-out, two-run double in the top of the fourth to put Colts Neck up three and senior Robbie Warendorf made it hold up as the Cougars (3-0, 3-0) won their third straight one-run game to open the season by beating the Eagles (1-2, 1-2).

Warendorf allowed an earned run on five hits and five walks with five strikeouts over five innings of work. Junior Tyler Kapucszinski also checked in with an RBI single in the top of the third for Colts Neck.

Senior Kyle Brey and junior Joe Timmins each had two hits, combining for five total by Middletown South, which stranded 12 runners on base in the game. Sophomore Austin Markmann went the distance in defeat, allowing three earned runs on seven hits over his seven innings of work.

Marlboro 3, Middletown North 2

Steve Santigate capped a three-run sixth inning with a go-ahead two-run single and the Mustangs (1-1, 1-1) edged the Lions (0-1-1, 0-1-1) for their first win of the season. Santigate's two-run single made a winner out of junior left-hander Andrew Nardi, who pitched a complete-game, four-hitter with two walks and seven strikeouts. Neither of Middletown North's runs were earned.

Senior Mike Bartels also allowed only four hits and one earned run in six innings in taking the loss. Senior Ryan Byrd went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base for Middletown North.

Class A Central

Rumson-Fair Haven 3, Holmdel 2

Junior Morgan Maguire starred on the mound and at the plate to lead the Bulldogs (1-2, 1-2) past the Hornets (1-2, 0-2) for their first win of the season. Maguire allowed four hits and struck out 10 in a complete-game effort, and also went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a double to key the offense.

Rumson sophomore Max Pfrang singled home a run in the first inning for his first varsity hit.

Manasquan 10, No. 2 St. John Vianney 2

The Warriors (2-1, 2-0) broke out for seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to break a 2-2 tie and handed the Lancers (3-1, 3-1) their first loss of the season.

Junior right fielder Tanner Cowley tied the game at 2 in the bottom of the third with a two-out, two-run double and finished the game 1-for-3 with three RBI. Senior Tommy Toole went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and junior catcher Tyler Bradley drove in two runs as well. Freshman left-hander Tom Sheehan picked up his second win of the season with five strong innings, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out five.

Seniors Anthony Santoro and Evan Pietronico each went 2-for-4 with an RBI in the loss, with Santoro adding a double to his stat line.

Class A South

No. 5 Jackson Memorial 4, No. 3 Toms River East 1

Junior Brandon Janofsky pitched into the fifth inning for his second win of the season and senior Rick Aviles threw 2 1/3 scoreless frames to close it out as the Jaguars (3-1, 2-1) handed the Raiders (2-1, 2-1) their first loss of the season.

Senior Nick Dabrio plated a run with a sacrifice fly and scored a run for Jackson Memorial, while senior Matt Guarino knocked in a run with an RBI single in the third inning. Sophomore Kyle Johnson also went 2-for-3 for the Jaguars.

Senior Max Lasky drove in Toms River East's lone run with an RBI double in the third.

No. 4 Toms River North 6, Southern 2

Senior Anthony Ferlise went 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored and senior Julian Feliz ripped a two-out, two-run double in the second inning to give the Mariners (4-0, 3-0) the lead for good in a win over the Rams (0-2, 0-2).

Over Toms River North's last three games, Ferlise is 7-for-10 with a home run, a double, four RBI and four runs scored.

Junior Ryan Larsen pitched five innings to earn his first win, allowing two runs on five hits and three walks while fanning five. Junior Joe Venditto also kept up his hot start by going 1-for-2 with an RBI, pushing his season line to 8-for-11 with nine RBI.

Eric Hammell and Nick Sinopoli each went 2-for-4 for Southern, with Hammell adding a double.

Lacey 1, Brick Memorial 0

Senior Connor Rooney pitched five innings of two-hit ball and the Lions (2-2, 1-2) made the most of one hit off of Brick Memorial starter Tyler Goodman to pick up the win over the Mustangs (1-4, 1-2). Brett Kinsey struck out two in two innings to pick up the save.

No. 8 Toms River South 8, Brick 6

Sophomore Trevor Wagner cleared the bases with a three-run double in the bottom of the fifth to break a 4-4 tie and help the Indians (3-1, 2-1) beat the Green Dragons (2-3, 1-3) for their third straight win. Junior Tyler Mellot allowed two unearned runs in three relief innings to earn the win.

Ray Ligouri knocked in two runs with a single in the first to make it 4-1 after Spencer Kapp and Ryan Shiffer each ripped RBI singles.

Nick Zbranak singled to drive in his 11th run of the season for Brick.

Class B North

Freehold 5, Matawan 4

Sophomore Ryan Yee tied the game with a two-run double in the bottom of the seventh and scored the winning run on a game-ending single by Alex Mulhern to cap a comeback by the Colonials (2-1, 2-1) and hand the Huskies (2-1, 1-1) their first loss.

Joe Piscopo, Adam Elliot and Alex Cella each had three hits as part of an 18-hit attack for Matawan in a losing effort. Freehold senior Luke Tiefenthaler cut a 4-0 Matawan lead in half with a two-run single in the third inning.

No. 1 Wall 4, Ocean 2 (8 Innings)

Wall scored two runs in the top of the eighth after a controversial call on a diving catch attempt by Ocean center fielder Sam Maxwell and the Crimson Knights (3-0, 2-0) survived an extra-inning affair with the rival Spartans (2-2, 2-2) to remain unbeaten.

Senior Jack Gifford led off the top of the eighth inning with a drive to left-center field that Maxwell laid out for and caught with a spectacular, diving, back-handed stab. As Maxwell lifted the glove to show the umpires the ball, the ball came out of the glove and the home plate umpire ruled that Maxwell did not possess the ball long enough to rule it a catch, giving Gifford a lead-off double.

Junior designated hitter Brendan Barcas delivered an RBI single to center to plate Gifford with the tie-breaking run for Barcas' first varsity hit and RBI. Senior shortstop Chris Barcas later added an RBI single to tack on an insurance run in the inning.

Ocean twice erased one-run deficits, once in the bottom of the sixth and again in the seventh to send the game into extra innings. Third baseman Jimmy McGrorry tied the game at 1 with a sacrifice fly in the sixth after an error by starting pitching Tyler Swiggart put runners on second and third with none out. The Spartans again took advantage of two Wall errors in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at two with an infield single by Maxwell mixed in.

Wall starter Tyler Swiggart pitched seven innings to earn the win, limiting Ocean to two unearned runs on six hits while walking one and striking out four. His counterpart, Ocean senior left-hander Ryan Lillie, lasted seven-plus innings and allowed two earned runs on six hits and two walks to go with three strikeouts.

Class B Central

St. Rose 10, Asbury Park 0

Henry Hudson 8, Keyport 5

Senior Ben Thompson went 3-for-4 with a double, three runs, an RBI and five stolen bases while also earning the win in relief as the Admirals (2-1, 2-1) beat the Red Raiders (0-4, 0-4). Thompson pitched the final three innings, allowing an earned run on two hits and three walks while striking out four.

Tom Colintino went 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI and a run scored while Ryan Doegler finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in the win. Kyle Mitchell and Eric Chandler each had two hits in the loss, with Chandler adding a double and two RBI for Keyport.

Keyport starter Anthony Fernandez struck out 12, walked two and allowed four earned runs on six hits in taking the loss.

Point Beach 7, Ranney 2

The Garnet Gulls scored four runs in the bottom of the first in support of winning pitcher Geno Antongnoli and Point Beach (2-1, 2-1) held off the Panthers (0-3, 0-3). Antongnoli allowed two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out six.

Antonio Garcia and Mike Frauenheim combined to go 4-for-8 with two runs and two RBI at the top of the batting order and senior Noah Yates also went 1-for-3 with a triple, a run scored and an RBI.

Sophomore Corey Natofsky doubled in a run and scored on a single by sophomore James Geraghty in the third, one of two hits in the game for Geraghty for Ranney.

Class B South

Point Boro 4, Manchester 1

Senior Mike Dunham threw his second complete game in as many games and the Panthers (2-0, 2-0) beat the Hawks (2-4, 2-2). Dunham allowed a run on four hits with a walk and six strikeouts.

Junior Jack Fitzsimmons went 2-for-3 with an RBI, sophomore Mike Falconetti doubled and drove in two runs, and senior Dan Gonella finished 2-for-2 with a double.

Senior Devin Tomei doubled for one of the four Manchester hits.

Barnegat 4, Jackson Liberty 2

Sophomore left-hander Jason Groome struck out 13 in a complete-game four-hitter to lead the Bengals (2-1, 2-1) to a win over the Lions (1-4, 1-3). Groome allowed two earned runs and walked three.

Junior catcher Nik Fraim went 2-for-3 with an RBI double in the bottom of the fifth to give Barnegat a 3-0 lead and came around to score on a pinch-hit, RBI single by Marcus Nasce that capped the Barnegat scoring.

Jackson Liberty senior James Sofield went 2-for-2 and scored on a two-run double by Joe Santonello in the sixth.

No. 9 Central 9, Lakewood 0

Senior Andrew DiPiazza pitched four one-hit innings with eight strikeouts and no walks and the Golden Eagles (2-1, 2-0) shut out the Piners (1-2, 0-2). Joe Firetto allowed three hits over the final three innings to nail down the four-hit shutout for Central.

Senior Christian Bearden went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored to lead the Central offense. Junior Frank Rose added two hits and two runs scored while junior John Forrester knocked in two runs with a double in the sixth.

Lakewood junior Jaison Jerez went 2-for-3 with a double in the loss.

Monsignor Donovan 2, Pinelands 0

Junior Alex Loffredo gave Monsignor Donovan its first runs of the year with a two-run homer in the third and senior Dante Pagano fired a two-hit shutout to make those runs hold up and give the Griffins (1-2, 1-1) a win over the Wildcats (1-3, 1-2).

Pagano struck out six and walked three while earning the win. Senior Bryan Mulligan singled and scored on Loffredo's home run and finished the game 3-for-3.

Non-Division

Monmouth 15, Long Branch 1 (5 Innings)

Senior Dan Valerio's three-run triple highlighted a 10-run first inning that propelled the Falcons (2-1) to a win over the Green Wave (0-4). Senior Jon Bonczyk went 2-for-2 with three RBI and two runs scored, while junior Matt Vincenti doubled to go with three runs scored. Christian Hoplock also added two hits, while Zach Centrella earned the win on the mound.

Connor Mullan went 1-for-2 with an RBI double for Long Branch.