Baseball – All-Shore Final Vote Winners

After 50 players were named to the three Shore Sports Network All-Shore teams, the Shore Sports Network readers chose four more players to recognize in the All-Shore final vote. Here are those four players and their season stories.

Final Vote Winners

Infield

Matt Morro, Jr., SS, Donovan Catholic

AB	H	2B	3B	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLUG	SB
49	23	7	1	13	4	.469	.500	.653	11

Morro was the indisputable bright spot on a two-win Donovan Catholic team. The junior shortstop hit .469, which ranked fifth in the entire Shore Conference and his .653 slugging percentage ranked in the top 25. He also went 1-for-3 vs. Middletown North right-hander and Chicago Cubs draft pick Tyler Ras in a 6-5 Griffins loss.

Outfield

James LaBruno, Sr., OF, Shore

AB	H	BB	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLUG
64	24	6	7	1	2	18	21	.375	.437	.609

LaBruno was a coaches’ all-division selection in A Central as one of the top offensive threats for the Blue Devils, as well as a No. 3 starter on the mound. He faced two All-Shore pitchers in his own division and was effective against both: he went 2-for-3 with a double off Raritan ace Zack Johnston (2018 First Team) and was 1-for-2 with a double against Rumson-Fair Haven ace Alex Burnett (2018 Second Team).

Utility

Eddie Morales, Sr., 2B/OF, Howell

AB	H	BB	2B	3B	HR	R	RBI	AVG	OBP	SLUG	SB
98	34	9	6	2	2	23	11	.347	.404	.510	12

Howell had its typical collection of dangerous hitters and Morales’s versatility as a defender gave coach Eric Johnson the opportunity to play different combinations of players by starting Morales in either the outfield or on the infield. Morales – who was a standout in football and starter in basketball as well – also swung a big bat for the Rebels, including a huge 3-for-5, two-triple, five-RBI game vs. Rumson on May 11 to clinch Howell a spot in the Shore Conference Tournament.

Pitcher

Nick DeCarlo, Jr., RHP, Jackson Liberty

IP	W	L	H	ER	BB	SO	ERA	WHIP
31.2	5	0	13	9	14	39	1.99	0.85

During his junior season, DeCarlo led the No. 5 team at the Shore in ERA, WHIP, winning percentage and strikeout rate, exhibiting both stuff and versatility while pitching as a starter and a reliever. DeCarlo defeated No. 8 Central on April 30 and followed that up with a dominant showing in the Ocean County Tournament: 8 1/3 innings, 2 hits, no runs, one walk and 11 strikeouts in appearances vs. Donovan Catholic and Toms River East.