Baseball – Players of the Week, May 7 to May 14
Player of the Week
Trevor Wagner, Sr., RHP/OF, Toms River South
In the biggest week of the season for the Indians, Wagner was the workhorse that helped lead Toms River South to its first outright Class A title in six years. In a span of eight days from May 7 to this past Saturday, he appeared in four games on the mound and won three of them. In total, Wagner pitched 15 innings, allowing one earned run on seven hits while walking six and striking out 19. In two Ocean County Tournament appearances, he struck out nine in three innings in a five-inning win over Point Pleasant Beach on May 7, then pitched a two-hit shutout in a 1-0, walk-off win over Brick a week later.
Wagner also pitched three innings of relief to win a regular season game against Brick on May 9 and earned a two-inning save Thursday against Brick Memorial in a game that clinched the Indians no worse than a share of the A South title. Wagner also had a big week at the plate, going 8-for-17 with a home run and a double. In a double-header on May 7 against Point Beach and Bayonne, Wagner went a combined 6-for-7 with a double, home run and three RBI in two South wins.
Pitcher of the Week
Luca Dalatri, Sr., Christian Brothers Academy
After missing the better part of two weeks due to a hamstring injury, Dalatri returned to the mound to pitch two Monmouth County Tournament games in five days and was somehow better than he has ever been. He pitched a one-hitter with 11 strikeouts in no walks against Middletown South on May 7, then followed that up with another one-hitter with no walks and 15 strikeouts in a 4-0 win over Red Bank Catholic in the championship game.
Dalatri has helped lead CBA to three straight Monmouth County titles and his two one-hitters this past week stand out as they came against two of the top teams in the Shore Conference. He also went 2-for-2 with an RBI triple in the win over RBC, drove home a run with a double in a 6-5 regular-season win over Middletown South on May 10 and went 3-for-3 with a home run and a double in a loss to Howell on Thursday.
A North
Player of the Week
Ryan Ford, So., INF/P, Freehold Twp.
Ford showed a workhorse mentality in pitching a complete game in an 8-6 Patriots win over Manasquan last Monday, but it was his hitting that made that game and his whole week special. Ford blasted two home runs in the win over the Warriors and finished the week 8-for-13 with a double, two home runs, four runs scored and six RBI in four games.
Pitcher of the Week
Luca Dalatri, Sr., CBA
A Central
Player of the Week
James Harmstead, Fr., 1B, Manasquan
Harmstead went 3-for-3 with a home run, double and six RBI as Manasquan clinched the outright Class A Central title for the first time since 1999 with its 11-0 win over Rumson on Thursday. Harmstead drove in a total of seven runs last week.
Pitcher of the Week
Tommy Sheehan, Jr., Manasquan
After taking a perfect game into the seventh inning last Tuesday against Monmouth, Sheehan settled for a one-hit shutout with one walk and 10 strikeouts. The win clinched Manasquan no worse than a share of the division title. Sheehan also drove in the lone run of the 1-0 win.
A South
Player of the Week
Trevor Wagner, Sr., P/OF, Toms River South
Pitcher of Week
Jared Bellissimo, So., Toms River North
The sophomore left-hander fired a no-hitter with one walk and 10 strikeouts in a 4-0 win over Lacey last Monday and also helped his cause with a 2-for-4 day at the plate. He also went 2-for-3 with an RBI in a win over Toms River East later in the week and on Saturday, May 7, he went 1-for-3 with a run scored against Barnegat ace Jason Groome.
B North
Player of the Week
Mike Antico, Sr., CF, Colts Neck
Colts Neck enjoyed a 4-0 week that included a win over Red Bank Catholic with Antico providing the spark from the leadoff spot. He went 2-for-2 with four stolen bases and a spectacular catch in center field in that win over the Caseys and finished the week 6-for-11 with a double, triple, six runs scored and seven stolen bases.
Pitcher of the Week
Connor Metelski, Sr., Wall
Metelski pitched one of three individual no-hitters in the Shore Conference this week – his coming in a 9-0 win over Long Branch. Metelski struck out 12 and walked two in his no-no after beginning the week to a scoreless inning to close out a win over Neptune.
B Central
Player of the Week
Ian Terry, Sr., INF/P, Keansburg
The senior right-hander helped pitch and hit the Titans to a huge win over Point Beach last week. In the win, Terry allowed one earned run in six innings and also went 2-for-3 with a run scored and two stolen bases. He alsowent 2-for-2 with a triple, two runs scored and an RBI in a win over Asbury Park later in the week.
Pitcher of the Week
Brandon Mology, Jr., St. Rose
The junior right-hander delivered on the mound Wednesday to lead the Purple Roses to a statement win over Manalapan. Mology allowed one unearned run on four hits in a complete game while walking two and striking out one.
Class B South
Player of the Week
Matt Bryant, Sr., P, Manchester
Manchester won four huge games to close out the week and qualify for the Shore Conference Tournament and Bryant was a big part of two of them. He pitched a complete game in a 5-2 win over Class A South champion Toms River South and also went 1-for-4 with an RBI in that win. Bryant also belted a home run in Saturday’s win over Keyport that clinched an SCT berth.
Pitcher of the Week
Zach Mann, Jr., Donovan Catholic
Along with Bellissimo and Metelski, Mann fired one of the three Shore Conference individual no-hitters this week when he blanked Manchester last Monday prior to the Hawks’ four-game surge to make the SCT. Mann walked only one and struck out six on his career day.