Monmouth County Tournament - Bracket
Preliminary Round

(15) Middletown North 8, (18) Manasquan 5

Senior Ryan Byrd went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three stolen bases and Connor Youncofski (three), Mike Bartels (two) and Ryan Goscinski (two) combined for seven RBI as the Lions (4-5) woke up their bats in the third inning and held on to beat the Warriors (4-7). Middletown North will travel to No. 2 Shore at 10 a.m. Saturday morning for the round of 16.

Ed Sena went 2-for-2 with to runs scored and Matt Reilly finished 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored for Middletown North, which scored three runs in the third and four in the fourth.

Frank Dente allowed five runs - two earned - on seven hits and a walk with three strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings to earn the win. The Warriors brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh, but Phil Percheski nailed down the one-out save.

Jack Sheehan went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI for Manasquan, while Max Hawkins was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Ty Hawkins also doubled and drove in a run in the loss.

(11) Manalapan 3, (22) Holmdel 2

Senior Jon Strouse capped a two-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning with a game-winning, walk-off single with one out to send the Braves (7-6) to a win over the Hornets (3-10) and into the round of 16 against No. 6 Monmouth on Saturday.

Chris Rodriguez started the rally with a lead-off double and scored on an RBI single by fellow sophomore Stephen Hansen to tie the game at 2. A sacrifice bunt, intentional walk and infield single by senior Dan Russo loaded the bases for Strouse.

Junior Nick Marotta pitched a complete-game, three-hitter with four strikeouts to earn the win, outdueling Holmdel senior Jeff Wischerath, who pitched into the seventh and took the loss while striking out five.

Rodriguez finished 2-for-3 for Manalapan, while Joe Sadler drove in both Holmdel runs, one on an RBI single in the third and another on a sacrifice fly in the fifth.

 

Class A Central

Monmouth 17, Raritan 9

Dan Valerio went 4-for-5 with a triple, three runs scored and five RBI to lead a 15-hit attack as the Falcons (9-3, 7-3) pulled away to outscore the Rockets (3-7, 1-7). John Bonczyk went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI, while Tim Reynolds finished 2-for-2 with two doubles and three RBI in the win.

Brandon Bentley went 3-for-4 with a home run, a double and two runs scored, while Tom Pulcine and Mike Lind added two hits apiece in the loss.

Rumson-Fair Haven 10, No. 8 Shore 7

The Bulldogs (6-5, 5-5) responded to a three-run top of the first inning by Shore by scoring eight in the bottom of the first and went on to hand the Blue Devils (6-5, 4-5) their fourth straight loss while also ending a three-game skid of their own.

Winning pitcher Morgan Maguire and junior shortstop Max Goione each had two hits and scored two runs in the eight-run first and Billy Lyons added an RBI triple in the rally and finished with three runs scored. Kenny Ferrari and Matt Fahey each drove in a run in the Rumson win.

 

Class A South

Southern 4, Toms River South 3

Nick Liantonio hammered a go-ahead three-run double with two out in the top of the seventh and the Rams (4-7, 2-7) knocked off the Indians (8-4, 6-4) to deny Toms River South skipper Ken Frank his 800th career victory.

Spencer Kapp and Ryan Shiffer each had an RBI single for Toms River South.

Toms River North 8, No. 1 Toms River East 5

 

Class B North

Ocean 8, Neptune 2

Dan Verderese struck out 10 in a seven-hit complete game and the Spartans (7-5, 5-3) topped the Scarlet Fliers (2-6, 2-6). Andrew MacNeille, Jimmy McGrorry and John Walsh each had two hits and Zack Godfrey drove in two runs for Ocean.

Class B Central

Keansburg 8, Keyport 3

Josh Heck pitched a complete-game six-hitter and the Titans (7-4, 7-3) topped the rival Red Raiders (3-6, 3-6). Heck allowed two earned runs and two walks, while striking out five.

Nick Thompson went 2-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored to lead the offense, while Mike Politano, Mike Keelan and James McAteer each added two hits. Keelan also had a double in the win.

Eric Chandler went 2-for-3 and Anthony Fernandez was 1-for-3 with a triple and a run scored for Keyport.

St. Rose 14, Henry Hudson 0 (5 Innings)

Pat Fullman threw a five-inning, one-hit shutout with six strikeouts and the Purple Roses rolled to a win over the Admirals. Kyle McKeown hit a three-run homer in the win, while Conor Gammond had three hits, including a double and a triple.

Mater Dei Prep 10, Point Beach 0 (5 Innings)

Senior Sam Miles threw a five-inning shutout and the Seraphs (7-5, 7-2) handled the Garnet Gulls (6-5, 5-5) to sweep the season series. Miles allowed two hits and a walk while striking out two.

Danny Poracky finished 2-for-2 with four RBI, including a two-run single to give Mater Dei Prep a 3-0 lead in the second inning, as well as a two-run double in the fifth.

Geno Antongnoli had both Point Beach hits and finished 2-for-2.

Ranney 17, Asbury Park 14

Corey Natofsky went 4-for-5 with a home run, double, four RBI and three runs scored to lead the Panthers (2-7, 1-7), who scored 11 run in the fifth inning en route to a win over the Blue Bishops (1-8, 1-8).

James Geraghty also went 3-for-4 with a double, four runs scored, three RBI and three stolen bases for Ranney, while Joe Murphy went 2-for-3 with three RBI in the win. John Mejia also went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI.

Will Wells and Jahmel Dixon each went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and three stolen bases in the loss, with Dixon also driving in two runs. Angel Rosario 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBI and Jarrod Fletcher finished 1-for-3 with a triple, a run scored and an RBI for Asbury Park.

 

Class B South

No. 6 Barnegat 11, Lakewood 2

Nik Fraim hit a three-run double to give the Bengals the lead in the bottom of the third and freshman shortstop Aaron McLaughlin went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI in his first varsity start as Barnegat (8-3, 6-3) topped the Piners (5-8, 2-7).

Fraim's double highlighted a six-run third for Barnegat, which fell into an early 2-0 hole thanks to a two-run double by Lakewood junior Jaison Jerez. Jared Kacso, Conner Hoeler and Matt Owens each drove in a run during the third.

Junior right-hander John Corbett settled down to allow two earned runs on five hits and a walk over six innings to earn his second win. Corbett also struck out six.

Hoeler and Ed Rogan each added a double for Barnegat.

Jackson Liberty 9, Manchester 2

Howard Taylor allowed two runs on five hits in four innings and the Lions (8-4, 6-3) beat the Hawks (6-6, 6-4) for the program's 100th win, all of which have come under coach Jim Rankin.

Central 10, Monsignor Donovan 0 (5 Innings)

Junior right-hander Anthony Arneth pitched four shutout innings and senior Christian Bearden went 2-for-3 with a two-run home run in the first and three RBI as the Golden Eagles (6-5, 5-4) rolled past the Griffins (3-11, 3-7) at Al Leiter Field.

Arneth struck out five and walked two while allowing only three hits. Junior Frank Rose went 2-for-2 with a double and three runs scored and an RBI, senior Rich Galati was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI, and senior Andrew DiPiazza finished 2-for-3 with two RBI in the win.

Point Boro 2, Pinelands 1

Sophomore Frank Graziano delivered a walk-off single to center field with none out in the bottom of the seventh and the Panthers (5-5, 5-3) scored twice in the final inning to stun the Wildcats (5-8, 4-6).

Point Boro scored the tying run on an errant throw on a sacrifice bunt by Sebastian Severio, which preceded an intentional walk that loaded the bases with none out for Graziano.

Sophomore Tim Rossi earned the complete-game victory, allowing one run on five hits with no walks and six strikeouts. Sam Monoco also went 2-for-3 with a double for Point Boro.

Mitch Merrill drove in the lone Pinelands run with a double in the top of the fifth.

Non-Division

Red Bank 15, Holmdel 5 (6 Innings)

The Bucs blew open a three-run game by scoring 13 runs over the fifth and sixth innings and Red Bank (4-7) rallied in a big way to upend the Hornets (3-9).

Connor Kelly, Jacob Nappi, Jesse Mack and Ryan Santos all drove in two runs each, and Kyle Mulholland led Red Bank with three hits. Sha'Mere Williams also had two hits in the win.

D.J. Goins drove in two with a double during a three-run fourth inning that put Holmdel up 5-2.

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