Baseball – 2021 Shore Conference Preview: Brick Memorial
With no 2020 season, Brick Memorial did not get a chance to develop some of its newer varsity talent, but the Last Dance World Series gave the Mustangs a great opportunity to put some of the younger players to the test. The Mustangs were grouped with eventual tournament runner-up Jackson Memorial and after winning an extra-inning game in the first round, Brick Memorial got to play that loaded Jaguars team.
Now that they have seen the best, the Mustangs know what to shoot for heading into Class A South play. There is still a lot of varsity inexperience to overcome, but senior Max Cala will be a lineup lynchpin after an all-division season as a sophomore. Cala played the outfield in 2019 but coach Evan Rizzitello has been looking forward to giving Cala a look behind the plate.
Senior Cole Manfro also comes back with some varsity at-bats in his history, while classmates Reese Hackett, Aiden Patella and Joe Gioia were also starting-lineup hopefuls heading into the 2020 season that wasn’t. Anthony Martino will be a key at shortstop and junior classmates Ryan Turner and Jack Flood hope to make an impact.
Sophomore Brady Leach is a sophomore to watch both at the plate and at the mound as a possible middle-of-the-order bat and starter on the mound sooner rather than later. Manfro and Patella will also be asked to produce on the mound for a pitching staff that will be a major x-factor when it comes to Brick Memorial competing with A South’s best in 2021.
Brick Memorial at a Glance
Head Coach: Evan Rizzitello, 11th season
Key Losses: Nick Gillen (RHP/UTIL), Colin Turner (P/1B), Andrew White (1B), Kyle Cline (RHP/OF), Joe Terkildsen (INF/RHP), Sean Beck (UTIL), Nick Doubt (C), Matt Terkildsen (1B)
Around the Diamond (Returning 2019 starters in bold with available stats)
Catcher: Max Cala, Sr. (.333/.352/.430, 3 2B, 2 HR, 17 R, 22 RBI)
First Base: Brady Leach, So.
Second Base: Joe Gioia, Sr.
Shortstop: Anthony Martino, Jr.
Third Base: Cole Manfro, Sr.
Leftfield: Aiden Patella, Sr.
Centerfield: Reese Hackett, Sr.
Rightfield: Ryan Turner, Jr.
Other Key Hitters
Jack Flood (Jr., 3B)
Nick Riker (Sr., OF)
Ryan Mulcahey (Jr., OF)
Joe Cordi (So., INF)
Nick Tanella (Sr., C/OF)
Brandon Hulsart (Sr., 1B)
Gavin Atkinson (Jr., 1B)
Joe Kearney (Jr., C)
Tim Quackenboss (Jr., OF)
Joe Nolan (So., C)
Pitchers
Cole Manfro, Sr., RHP
Aiden Patella, Sr., RHP
Brady Leach, So., RHP
Brandon Hulsart, Sr., RHP
Kyle Kohlmann, Sr., RHP
Joe Gioia, Sr., RHP
Joe Studva, Sr., RHP
Gavin Atkinson, Jr., RHP
Ryan Mulcahey, Jr., LHP
Matt Mancini, Jr., RHP
Joe Lyndon, Jr., RHP
College Commitments
Cole Manfro – Penn State-Abington
Aiden Patella – St. Elizabeth University
Nick Tanella – Rosemont College
Brandon Hulsart – Centenary University
Reese Hackett – Delaware Valley University
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