Baseball Friday Scoreboard, 4/28/17

Tweets by @Matt_Manley

Monmouth County Tournament - Bracket

Opening Round

(11) Manalapan 10, (22) Long Branch 4

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Manalapan responded to a four-run Long Branch third with eight runs in the bottom of the inning and beat the Green Wave to advance to Saturday's MCT round of 16 against No. 6 Wall. Jake Pellecchia clubbed his first career home run - which was also his first varsity hit. Connor Kelly and E.J. Melendez also picked up their first career varsity hits, both doubles.

(13) Marlboro 18, (20) Shore 1 (5 Innings)

Justin Levito went 2-for-3 with two doubles, three runs scored and an RBI while Gene Napolitano, Anthony Brienza and Justin Kapuscinski all drove in three runs apiece as the Mustangs handled the Blue Devils to advance to the round of 16 Saturday against St. Rose.

Noah Hutter pitched three innings and threw 43 pitches to earn the win.

Will Trochiano was 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBI and Mark Ventre went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI.

Regular Season

Class A Central

Raritan 6, Rumson-Fair Haven 1

Zach Johnston pitched a two-hit shutout with six strikeouts and no walks and the Rockets (11-2, 7-1) beat the Bulldogs (3-9, 3-5) to move into a first-place tie with Matawan in the Class A Central standings.

Dan VanMeerbeke homered and finished 1-for-2 with two RBI and Tyler Bruno was 1-for-2 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI to lead the Raritan offense.

Holmdel 12, Red Bank 11

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After running into an out at home plate in the bottom of the seventh, Holmdel won on a game-winning RBI single by Matt Fanelli on the next batter and the Hornets prevailed in a wild game against the Bucs.

Jason Lyons singled to right field with Mike Stoneham on second base, but Stoneham was thrown out at the plate as Lyons moved to second. Lyons then came around to score on Fanelli's single to center. Stoneham pinch ran for Sal Monticciolo, who led off the seventh with a single.

Class A South

Toms River East 6, Brick Memorial 0

Nick DeGennaro pitched a three-hitter for his second straight shutout and the Raiders (2-8, 2-6) took down the Mustangs (3-9, 1-7). The junior right-hander struck out seven and walked one while throwing 85 pitches.

DeGennaro also helped lead the offense by going 2-for-4 with three RBI and was one of five Toms River East players with two hits. Ahmir Cournier and Danny Clemente were each 2-for-4, with Cournier doubling and scoring two runs. Brad Brush (2-for-3) and Fletcher Gest (2-for-2) also added two hits to go with a run and an RBI each.

Jordan Lewis was 1-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI for Toms River East as well.

Mike Sullivan and Justin Hans each doubled for Toms River East and Blaine Netterman added the other hit in a 1-for-2 day at the plate. Trevor Savoia worked 5 1/3 innings and threw 95 pitches in the loss.

Southern 4, No. 4 Toms River North 2

Garret Lange drove in a pair of runs and Noah Brown and Zach Oddo each went 2-for-3 in support of starter Pat Barrett as the Rams (5-4, 4-4) beat the Mariners (6-4, 5-4) for the second time this season.

Brown also scored a run, Oddo drove one in and Lange finished 1-for-2. Barrett, meanwhile, worked 6 1/3 innings and allowed two earned runs on five hits and four walks while striking out four and throwing 105 pitches. Andrew Luongo came on to record the final two outs of the game.

Craig Larsen went the distance in taking the loss. The junior right-hander allowed four earned runs on six hits and a pair of walks to go with four strikeouts. Larsen threw 94 pitches in his outing.

Jared Bellissimo drove in both Toms River North runs and finished 1-for-4, while Mike Nyisztor was 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored.

No. 1 Toms River South 4, Brick 2

Matt Shiffer and T.J. Scuderi both went 2-for-3 and Shiffer pitched the last 3 1/3 innings to earn the save and the Indians (9-1, 8-1) beat the Green Dragons (7-3, 4-2) under the lights at Ken Frank Stadium. Matt Hartshorn earned the win with 3 2/3 innings of work.

John Prato went 2-for-4 with a double and a stolen base and Chris Salsano was 2-for-3 for Brick. John Zurawski took the loss for the Green Dragons.

Class B North

No. 9 Red Bank Catholic 5, Ocean 4

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No. 6 Manasquan 7, No. 8 Middletown North 5 (12 Innings)

Senior Tommy Sheehan launched a game-winning two-run home run down the right-field line in the bottom of the 12th inning and the Warriors (9-4, 8-2) beat the Lions (8-5, 6-4) in an extra-inning classic.

Junior Tommy Antonucci tied the game at five in the 12th with an inside-the-park home run before Sheehan's blast won it while Middletown North's bench made the case that the ball should have been ruled foul, according to a post on Twitter by Coast Star reporter Adam Young.

Manasquan hit four home runs Friday and all four either tied the game or put the Warriors in front. Adam Schreck belted his fifth home run of the year in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 3-3 and junior Ethan Thompson hit a game-tying solo shot with one out in the bottom of the 11th to pull Manasquan even at 4.

Sheehan finished 2-for-6, as did winning pitcher James Harmstead.

Connor Muly pitched eight innings and allowed three earned runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out nine on 106 pitches. Harmsetad finished off the game with four innings and earned the win. Harmstead allowed two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five on 64 pitches.

Tyler Ras finished six innings and took the no-decision despite allowing only two hits. One of those was the game-tying home run by Schreck. Ras struck out nine, walked three and threw 96 pitches.

Ras also had a huge day at the plate by going 5-for-6 with two doubles and two RBI on a two-run home run. His home run cleared the left-field fence and gave the Lions a 2-0 lead in the third.

Jason Timmons also hit an inside-the-park home run, blasting a long fly ball to center field and circling the bases to extend Middletown North lead to 3-1 in the top of the sixth.

Mike Mercier was 2-for-6 with a go-ahead RBI single in the top of the 12th to give the Lions a 5-4 lead. Middletown North took a 3-2 lead in the 11th with a safety squeeze.

Cody Sharkey took the loss with 5 2/3 innings of work for Middletown North.

Class B Central

Mater Dei Prep 8, Keyport 3

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No. 5 St. Rose 16, Ranney 3 (5 Innings)

Seven different St. Rose players doubled and the Purple Roses (9-0, 7-0) coasted past the Panthers (0-8, 0-7) to remain unbeaten. Brody Maypother, Riley Maypother, Joe Volpe Sam Sestito, Brian DiPasquale, Adam Cohrs and Frank Bellezza all hit one double in the win.

Cohrs was 2-for-2, Dan Rose was 3-for-3 and Evan Peeke and Phil Morelli each drove in three runs.

Nick Schmitt allowed three unearned runs on six hits over five innings to earn the win. He struck out seven and threw 70 pitches.

Kiran Shah was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI and Ryan Batista doubled and drove in a run for Ranney.

Henry Hudson 11, Asbury Park 9

Class B South

Jackson Liberty 11, Lakewood 0 (5 Innings)

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Point Boro 5, Manchester 2

Josiah Gliddon pitched into the seventh inning and Pat Feehan went 3-for-4 with two RBI to lead the Panthers (6-7, 4-6) to a win over the Hawks (6-5, 6-3). Gliddon allowed two earned runs on seven hits while walking three and striking out six on 87 pitches. He recorded the first out of the seventh inning before Andrew Laspina came on and recorded the final two.

John Duggan was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI and Justin Rafi and Kyle Lauria each finished 1-for-3 with an RBI, with Rafi's hit a double. Sam Collins also went 2-for-3 with a run scored for Point Boro.

Jack Felipe went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, while Kirk Montanye and starting pitcher Gavin Pabst each went 1-for-3. Montanye drove in a run and Pabst doubled and scored a run.

Pabst lasted five innings and 64 pitches, allowing five runs on 12 hits while striking out four without a walk. Patrick Carney pitched two scoreless innings in relief.

Lacey 4, Pinelands 1

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