Baseball – All-Shore Second and Third Teams
All-Shore Second Team
Catchers
Zach Schild, Sr., Middletown South
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG |
91 | 32 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 11 | 16 | .352 | .398 | .527 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
One of the Shore’s best catch-and-throw backstops and a Monmouth University recruit, Schild was one of five catchers with 10 or more doubles this past season. In nine tournament games, Schild was 13-for-24 (.542) with four doubles and seven RBI, including a game-breaking three-run double in the SCT semifinals against Toms River South.
Doug Facendo, Sr., Red Bank Catholic
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG | SB |
92 | 36 | 17 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 18 | .391 | .482 | .576 | 1 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
Only two Shore Conference backstops had more extra-base hits than the 13 Facendo slugged this season and his 25 runs scored matched CBA’s Brandon Martorano for tops among catchers in the conference.
First Base
Brian Markoski, Sr., Brick Memorial
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG | SB |
78 | 28 | 17 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 15 | .359 | .490 | .564 | 15 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
Brick Memorial’s season was ravaged by injuries, but Markoski helped keep the Mustangs respectable by showing off his athleticism in center field when needed. It was just another dimension to the sweet-swinging left-hander's polished game, which included the second-most doubles in the Shore Conference, an on-base percentage approaching .500 and 15 stolen bases.
Infield
Austin Markmann, Sr., Second Base/Third Base, Middletown South
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG | SB |
90 | 34 | 7 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 22 | 22 | .378 | .425 | .611 | 5 |
IP | W | L | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP |
43.2 | 3 | 2 | 43 | 12 | 21 | 43 | 1.92 | 1.47 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: 2014 Third Team
Markmann burst onto the Shore Conference scene as a pitcher in 2014 but his hitting skills may have caught up to his arm after another very productive year at the plate. The only players in the conference with more extra-base hits than Markmann’s 15 were teammate Johnny Zega (22) and Toms River North’s Joey Rose (18).
Sam Monaco, Sr., Shortstop, Point Pleasant Boro
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG | SB |
98 | 47 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 33 | 13 | .480 | .485 | .633 | 15 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
Monaco finished his three-year varsity career with 105 hits after racking up 47 this year, trailing only Ocean’s Brian Kochenash among Shore Conference players in 2016. Over the last two years, he has as many hits as CBA catcher Brandon Martorano (84), which trails only RBC shortstop Evan Madigan (85) for the most in the Shore Conference during that time. Speaking of Madigan...
Evan Madigan, Sr., Shortstop, Red Bank Catholic
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG | SB |
105 | 39 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 25 | 16 | .371 | .454 | .467 | 8 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: 2015 First Team
Luca Dalatri surrendered just two run-scoring hits all season long and Madigan had both of them, knocking in three runs against the CBA right-hander in a 5-3, SCT semifinal loss to the Colts. Although he cooled off after a scorching start to the season, Madigan wrapped up his stellar three-year varsity career with 113 hits and will head to Bucknell next year.
Kyle Johnson, Sr., Shortstop, Jackson Memorial
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG | SB |
79 | 29 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 18 | 16 | .367 | .490 | .594 | 2 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: 2015 First Team
Few players in the Shore Conference were more productive than Johnson over the past two seasons. Johnson’s 27 extra-base hits in that span trail only Joey Rose and Johnny Zega among Shore Conference players. After moving from third base to shortstop full time this year, Johnson will play as an infielder at Rider next year.
Outfield
T.J. Scuderi, So., Toms River South
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG | SB |
93 | 33 | 9 | 10 | 3 | 2 | 22 | 18 | .355 | .407 | .591 | 15 |
IP | W | L | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP |
34.1 | 5 | 0 | 20 | 12 | 14 | 32 | 2.45 | 0.99 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
Scuderi announced his arrival with a seventh-inning home run off Monmouth University recruit and Jackson Memorial right-hander Chris Hawryluk in his first varsity game and hit his second home run in Toms River South’s last win of the season – a 7-0 win over Delsea in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group III quarterfinals. The sophomore also led the Indians pitching staff in WHIP and did not drop a decision on the mound.
Tom Gannon, Sr., Middletown South
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG | SB |
90 | 29 | 13 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 8 | .322 | .440 | .456 | 14 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
Gannon was a consistent presence in center field and at the top of the order for Monmouth County’s best offense and the Shore’s No. 2 team. He also matched up nicely against CBA ace Luca Dalatri, going 3-for-10 for the season. That body of work included a double off the left-field fence in the first meeting between the teams, as well as the first run scored of the season off of the CBA right-hander.
Stephen Hansen, Sr., Manalapan
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG | SB |
86 | 31 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 27 | .360 | .385 | .500 | 4 |
IP | W | L | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP |
30.2 | 1 | 3 | 22 | 12 | 10 | 24 | 2.74 | 1.04 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
Manalapan’s biggest win of the year was a 4-0 victory over CBA and Hansen delivered the game’s biggest hit when he ripped a three-run double in the top of the seventh to extend Manalapan’s lead to 4-0. He also hit his lone homer of the season against No. 2 Middletown South, albeit in a loss.
Designated Hitter
Nick Hohenstein, So., Outfield/Pitcher, Christian Brothers Academy
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG |
89 | 33 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 22 | .371 | .442 | .551 |
IP | W | L | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP |
25.2 | 1 | 1 | 27 | 6 | 13 | 14 | 1.64 | 1.56 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
Not only did Hohenstein give CBA a fourth hitter to fear in the lineup along with Brandon Martorano, Luca Dalatri and Cid Porter, but Hohenstein stepped his game up when Dalatri was on the shelf with a bad hamstring. Once the lineup was complete again, the Colts now had a new weapon in Hohenstein, who hit homers against Marlboro and Manalapan a week apart and capped his season with an RBI double in the Shore Conference final.
Utility
John Martin, Jr., Pitcher/First Base, Middletown South
IP | W | L | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP |
46 | 5 | 3 | 36 | 8 | 12 | 34 | 1.22 | 1.04 |
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG |
51 | 19 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 14 | .373 | .508 | .549 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
As great as Martin was on the mound this season, he might have been even better in his 51 at-bats. He was one of 20 Shore Conference players with an on-base percentage of .500 better and Martin was the only one of those 20 to pitch more than 40 innings – and he did it in the Shore’s most competitive top-to-bottom division.
Pitchers
Justin Fall, Jr., Left-Handed Pitcher, Toms River South
IP | W | L | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP |
56.2 | 6 | 1 | 45 | 8 | 16 | 60 | 0.99 | 1.08 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
If not for a brief injury hiatus, Fall might have put himself in the running to lead the Shore in innings pitched. He appeared in 14 games while starting eight and capped a six-game winning streak by pitching back-to-back gems in the Shore Conference Tournament. He allowed one unearned run in a round-of-16 win over Brick and shut out Freehold Boro in the quarterfinals on six hits. He is also one of only four pitchers (Dalatri, Tommy Sheehan and Chiusano) to record an ERA below 1.00 while pitching at least 45 innings.
Tyler Ras, So., Right-Handed Pitcher, Middletown North
IP | W | L | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP |
48 | 4 | 5 | 34 | 10 | 9 | 35 | 1.46 | 0.90 |
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG |
77 | 26 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 7 | .338 | .361 | .416 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
Ras pitched his finest game on April 6 against CBA in a losing effort, allowing one run on four hits and a walk while striking out 10 – all in front of a hoard of scouts who were on hand to watch Colts ace Luca Dalatri. The sophomore battled throughout the season both as a starter and reliever and finished his year off on a high note with a three-hit complete game against St. John Vianney in the Shore Conference Tournament.
Ian Scheuer, Sr., Left-Handed Pitcher, Middletown South
IP | W | L | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP |
60 | 8 | 1 | 49 | 9 | 24 | 47 | 1.05 | 1.22 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
Scheuer took the ball on opening day and became the Eagles’ most dependable starter from there, leading the team in wins, innings, strikeouts and ERA. His only loss of the season was a 3-0 loss to CBA in which Luca Dalatri pitched a one-hit shutout.
Jake Talarico, Sr., Right-Handed Pitcher, Ocean
IP | W | L | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP |
56 | 7 | 0 | 53 | 12 | 13 | 52 | 1.50 | 1.18 |
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG | SB |
90 | 31 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 13 | .344 | .408 | .356 | 3 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
With a void at the top of the rotation following a pair of key graduations, Talarico emerged as the ace of a Spartans team that reached the Central Jersey Group III final for the first time since 2007. He pitched shutout ball into the seventh inning against Brick in the sectional semifinals, shut out Manchester over six innings in the SCT opening round and struck out a career-high nine in a win over Red Bank Regional.
Jack Sheehan, Sr., Right-Handed Pitcher, Manasquan
IP | W | L | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP |
44 | 6 | 2 | 42 | 7 | 9 | 53 | 1.11 | 1.16 |
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG | SB |
61 | 20 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 9 | .328 | .446 | .475 | 7 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
An all-around player, Sheehan had the best ERA among the 38 players who scored at least 20 runs this past season. Sheehan’s losses were 2-1 loss to Manasquan and a loss to Delran in which four of the eight runs charged to him were unearned. He will continue his playing career at Notre Dame next season.
All-Shore Third Team
Catchers
Tom Ruscitti, So., Central
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG | SB |
62 | 25 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 29 | .403 | .456 | .758 | 2 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
Ruscitti moved from the infield to behind the plate this year and led all Shore Conference catchers in extra-base hits and RBI. In a 16-1 state tournament win over Hammonton, Ruscitti went off to the tune of 2-for-3 with two doubles and four RBI.
Tyler Wisnewski, Sr., Toms River South
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG |
94 | 34 | 4 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | .362 | .415 | .479 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
Wisnewski tied Ruscitti for the most doubles in the Shore Conference by a catcher. As much as Wisnewski became a constant in the Toms River South lineup, his handling of a diverse pitching staff that featured four pitchers with at least 34 innings, 10 appearances and an ERA of no worse than 2.67 might have been the best part of his season.
First Base
Tom Holdorf, Jr., Freehold Boro
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG | SB |
69 | 26 | 13 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 17 | .376 | .476 | .551 | 5 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
Holdorf was one of the Shore’s top two-way first basemen, but he also showed he could get it done on the mound by pitching a no-hitter with 10 strikeouts against Keyport in the MCT and holding Toms River North to one run over four relief innings in an SCT win. He also went 2-for-4 with a double and four RBI in that win over the Mariners.
Infield
Kyle Capo, Sr., Third Base, Middletown North
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG | SB |
74 | 29 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 17 | 12 | .392 | .464 | .595 | 3 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
Capo hit safely in his team’s first 10 A North games and during a nine-game stretch from April 9 to April 21, he was 13-for-24 (.542) with six doubles and two home runs, including a walk-off double in a win over Marlboro.
Aaron Ahn, Jr., Second Base, Red Bank Catholic
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG | SB |
82 | 26 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 23 | 18 | .317 | .447 | .573 | 3 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: 2015 Second Team
Although hampered by injuries for part of the season, Ahn still unleased six long balls to finish third on the Shore Conference home run list. The most dramatic of his homers was a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the seventh to beat Wall during the regular season.
Joe Volpe, Jr., Shortstop, St. Rose
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG | SB |
80 | 32 | 17 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 34 | 33 | .400 | .500 | .587 | 5 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
The third team infield crop might as well be known as “Team Walk-off” since Volpe also hit one of the four game-winning, walk-off home runs in the Shore Conference over the course of the year. Volpe’s came in a wild 10-8 win over Ocean and his was a three-run blast to turn a one-run deficit into a win.
Jeremy Joyce, Sr., Shortstop/Third Base, Middletown South
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG | SB |
88 | 33 | 13 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 14 | .375 | .456 | .477 | 8 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
Joyce had his best offensive season hitting in the No. 2 hole for the No. 2 team in the Shore Conference, but his worth stemmed as much from his versatility as his offensive production. He started games at second base, third base and shortstop over the course of the season.
Outfield
Cid Porter, Sr., Christian Brothers Academy
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG | SB |
103 | 32 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 25 | 8 | .311 | .372 | .437 | 8 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: 2015 Third Team
If anyone needs proof that Porter is a big-game player, check out his overall numbers from the season and then consider these: against pitchers on one of the three All-Shore teams, he hit 8-for-23 (.348) with a double, both of his home runs (off left-handers Ian Scheuer and Dan Schiusano) and half of his eight RBI.
Christian Gedell, Sr., Howell
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG | SB |
78 | 30 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 18 | 13 | .385 | .448 | .462 | 5 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
On the subject of tough competition, Gedell also stepped up against All-Shore pitchers, going 9-for-18 with a walk and two hit-by pitches. He also collected all four of his extra-base hits in consecutive games in April, which included a 3-for-3, four RBI against Middletown North in which he hit his only career home run.
John Prato, Jr., Brick
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG | SB |
95 | 35 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 10 | .368 | .430 | .474 | 6 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
No team brought out the best in Prato quite like crosstown rival Brick Memorial. Against the Mustangs, the junior center fielder went 7-for-12 with a double, triple and three RBI. He also helped spark Brick’s run to the Central Jersey Group III semifinals by going 4-for-5 with two doubles against Hamilton West in the opening round.
Designated Hitter
Jeff Ciervo, Sr., Right Field, Toms River North
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG |
77 | 28 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 21 | .364 | .454 | .454 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
Ciervo had a solid senior season that was made whole when he launched a Jason Groome fastball over the left-field fence at Ryan Field for a two-run homer – the exclamation point on Toms River North’s 7-1 win over the MLB first-round pick and Barnegat.
Utility
Ryan Ford, So., Third Base/Pitcher, Freehold Township
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG | SB |
68 | 28 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 16 | 22 | .412 | .500 | .618 | 2 |
IP | W | L | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP |
31.2 | 2 | 1 | 38 | 11 | 8 | 27 | 2.43 | 1.45 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
After getting his feet wet over the first few weeks, the sophomore caught fire at the plate and held his own on the mound as well. His big performance was a two-homer, four-RBI game against Manasquan in which he also earned the win on the mound.
Jared Kacso, Sr., Third Base/Pitcher, Barnegat
AB | H | BB | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | AVG | OBP | SLUG | SB |
77 | 27 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 6 | .351 | .439 | .441 | 8 |
IP | W | L | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP |
44.1 | 5 | 4 | 33 | 12 | 17 | 21 | 1.66 | 1.15 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
Kacso won two huge games for Barnegat on the mound, defeating Red Bank Catholic in a regular-season game and Point Boro in the OCT quarterfinals. Both teams were unbeaten at the time and Kacso also delivered the go-ahead RBI double in the win over the Caseys.
Pitchers
Brandon DeKovics, Sr., Right-Handed Pitcher, St. John Vianney
IP | W | L | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP |
63.2 | 5 | 4 | 54 | 12 | 15 | 70 | 1.32 | 1.08 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
DeKovics struck out double-digits in three different starts this season and beat two fellow All-Shore pitchers – Nick Massa of Red Bank and Jared Kacso of Barnegat – head-to-head. He also pitched a solid game against Non-Public A finalist St. Augustine, allowing two runs over six innings in a 2-0 Lancers loss.
Nick Massa, Sr., Right-Handed Pitcher, Red Bank Regional
IP | W | L | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP |
49 | 2 | 6 | 26 | 8 | 27 | 77 | 1.14 | 1.08 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
Don’t let the record fool you. Massa officially finished second in the Shore Conference in strikeouts (third if you count Jason Groome’s first two starts) and 13th in ERA and did so while facing tough competition. His season included outings against St. John Vianney, Red Bank Catholic, Colts Neck, Brick Memorial and Steinert. He went toe-to-toe with John Poccia in a 2-0 complete-game loss to RBC and he later pitched a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts against Holmdel at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood.
Mario Ferraioli, Sr., Left-Handed Pitcher, Colts Neck
IP | W | L | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP |
42 | 2 | 2 | 25 | 10 | 26 | 67 | 1.67 | 1.21 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: 2015 Second Team
Ferraioli pitched in short spurts this season both as a reliever and as a starter and his explosive fastball and sharp breaking ball were just as tough to hit as they were last year. He closed out Colts Neck's win over RBC with 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Tito Morales, Sr., Left-Handed Pitcher, Brick
IP | W | L | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP |
51.2 | 4 | 3 | 36 | 9 | 19 | 46 | 1.22 | 1.06 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
Along with Nic Chirichello and Mike Soldo, Brick had a trio of left-handed starters that emerged as one of the more reliable staffs in the Shore Conference down the stretch. Morales earned the win with four innings against top-seeded Steinert in the Central Jersey Group III quarterfinals and fell victim to poor defense the following round, when he allowed four unearned runs in a loss to Ocean.
Jeremy Dyzenhaus, Sr., Right-Handed Pitcher, Marlboro
IP | W | L | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP |
55 | 7 | 2 | 49 | 13 | 21 | 41 | 1.65 | 1.27 |
Prior All-Shore Selections: None
Dyzenhaus capped his high school career with an 8-inning effort in a Marlboro win over Hillsborough in the opening round of the NJSIAA Tournament – one of his five complete games this past year.