The Shore Daily, 4/16/15
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A group of Shore standouts making their college choices official on Spring Signing Day, baseball division races getting cloudier and Freehold Township lacrosse playing its best game of the season in a Top 10 showdown highlighted Wednesday's action.
Make sure to check out the Signing Day photo gallery, with athletes ranging from baseball and softball to football, track and equestrian all enjoying a proud day.
Here are Wednesday's top 10 performers in no particular order.
Brendan Hueth, So., OF, St. Rose
Hueth went 4-for-4 with a double, a triple, three runs scored and five RBI in an 11-2 win over Mater Dei Prep that handed the Seraphs their first Class B Central loss and put the defending champion Purple Roses right back in the race. Hueth and teammates Mike Gowen and Travis Cloney combined to go 10-for-10 with all 11 runs scored in the win.
Brandon Pallante, Jr., INF, Jackson Liberty
Pallante hit the game-winning, two-out RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Lions a 4-3 walk-off win over No. 9 Pinelands. He finished the day 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI.
D.J. Soriano, Jr., G, St. John Vianney
Soriano had 15 saves to help the Lancers outlast Red Bank 6-5 in overtime on Andrew Poretta's game-winning goal.
Ray Ligouri, Sr., P, Toms River South
Ligouri continues to be one of the Shore's top relievers as he registered a five-out save to run his scoreless innings streak to 20 dating back to last year, and he also went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI in a 2-1 win over Lacey in Class A South.
Tom Rogan, Sr., Midfielder, Holmdel
Rogan had a pair of goals, including the go-ahead goal in the fourth quarter, as the Hornets held off Ranney, 5-4, to pick up their second win of the season.
James Geraghty, Jr., SS, Ranney
Geraghty had two hits, including the game-tying RBI, and also scored the game-winning run in a 9-8 victory over Asbury Park that gave the Panthers and new head coach Glenn Slocum their first win of the season.
Gavin Pabst, So., P, Manchester
Pabst threw a complete-game, five-hit shutout to get the Hawks right back in the Class B South race with a 1-0 win over Central.
Freehold Township's defense
The unit of senior defensemen Mike O’Brien and Collin Bitsko along with junior Ty Sebor and senior long-stick midfielder Mike DeBaere helped slow down a potent Red Bank Catholic offense in front of goalies Billy Patten and Matt Schroepfer in a 10-4 win. RBC had scored 55 goals in its previous three games, but the Patriots held the Caseys to only two after the first quarter.
Brandon Janofsky, Sr., SS, Jackson Memorial
Janofsky went 3-for-3 with a home run to help the Jaguars outlast Brick Memorial, 11-7, in Class A South.
Thijs Smith, Jr., A, Colts Neck
Smith pumped in five goals, including the game-winning score in overtime, to help the Cougars take a 5-4 nondivisional victory over Jackson Memorial.
LACROSSE
No. 7 Freehold Township showed its potential with an impressive 10-4 win over No. 6 Red Bank Catholic in a nondivisional game. Junior midfielder Mike Ferdinandi paced the offense with a hat trick, Kevin Patten scored twice and Brandon Nunez dished out three assists while senior Billy Sasso dominated the face-off circle in going 11-for-11. The defense (mentioned in Top 10 performers) also slowed down a talented RBC attack.
The Patriots will take some momentum into their biggest test of the season on Friday when they face No. 1 Southern.
Also, make sure to check out the latest SSN Players of the Week based on last week's performances.
BASEBALL
The Class B Central and Class B South races are getting more crowded by the minute after more shake-ups on Wednesday.
St. Rose roared back into the picture with an 11-2 win over Mater Dei Prep in B Central, while one-run wins by Manchester and Jackson Liberty pulled Central and Pinelands right back into the pack in Class B South.
In Class A South, Brick bounced back from two lop-sided losses with a 2-1 win over Toms River East thanks to the combined pitching effort of Brandon Weber and Nic Chirichello, the latter of whom got the Green Dragons out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning. No. 1 Toms River North just continues to pound teams, picking up another mercy rule win by rolling past Southern.
FOOTBALL
More football commitments rolling in, plus some high regard for St. John Vianney offensive line prospect Micah Clark.
BASKETBALL
In case you missed it, Tom Stead decided to step down as Matawan's boys basketball coach after the most successful tenure of any Huskies coach in more than 50 years. This will be a crucial transition season ahead to see if Matawan can solidify the foundation he built despite the graduation of standout senior guards Jason Dunne and Joe Piscopo.
In one other note, Manasquan star Marina Mabrey will play in the Jordan Brand Classic all-star game tomorrow night at Barclay Center up in Brooklyn.
More on Thursday:
- CBA grad Andy Toole signed a contract extension as the head coach of Robert Morris men's basketball in the midst of rumors linking him to other programs.
- Reds' starter Anthony DeSclafani (Colts Neck) was lights-out in his last start and even has a new nickname.
- Rough outing on the mound for St. Rose grad Anthony Ranaudo after he got called up from Triple A for his first start for the Texas Rangers yesterday.
- Bergen Catholic quarterback Jarrett Guarantano signed with Tennessee yesterday.
- Speaking of Tennessee, there is a rare ambidextrous high school pitcher there.
- The coach of national football power Hoover (Ala.) got approved by the local Board of Education for a $125,000 salary at a public school.
- The slimy underbelly of youth basketball is on full display in this story on the dissolution of the Elevate circuit.
- A group of runners marked the Boston Marathon bombing anniversary with an emotional tribute.
- Phillip Buchanon said his mom wanted a million bucks after he got taken in the NFL Draft.
- Technology is even putting sheepdogs out of work.
On tap for today: Four of the Shore's six divisions are in action in baseball, including Monmouth hosting St. John Vianney in Class A Central looking to get more separation against the defending champs.
I'll end with the "One Shining Moment" video full of the lowlights from the Knicks season. It made my whole day yesterday.
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