Monmouth County Tournament

Opening Round

(15) Mater Dei Prep 5, (18) Shore 2

Vinny Stanziale allowed two runs over six innings and Nick Roditis closed the game with the potential tying run at the plate by inducing a game-ending double play to give the Seraphs (8-3) a win over the Blue Devils (5-6) and senior right-hander James Kelly.

Mater Dei took the lead with three runs in the third inning, the first coming on an error and the next two on a two-run single by Roditis. Cole Hardy tacked on a run with an RBI single in the fourth and Vincenzo Mezzacappa capped the scoring with an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth to stretch the lead to 5-2.

Shore scored both runs in the fifth inning, with Kelly knocking in a run with a single and Matt McCarthy plating another with an RBI double. The Blue Devils looked to score one more on McCarthy's double, but Mezzacappa threw out the runner at home plate from center field for the second out of the inning. Stanziale intentionally walked Devin McLaughlin to loaded the bases and induced an inning-ending flyout by Justin Halper to escape without any further damage.

McLaughlin again came up with runners on first and second in the seventh and one out. The junior hit a ground ball to third base, where Kyle Dowlen scooped it up, stepped on third base and threw across the diamond for the game-ending double play.

Following the win, Mater Dei jumped on a bus headed to Christian Brothers Academy, where they played the No. 2 Colts in the second game of a Saturday MCT double-header.

(12) Freehold Twp. 3, (21) Holmdel 0

Kyle Fenton fired a six-hit shutout with one walk and the Patriots (6-8) topped the Hornets (2-9) to advance to the MCT Round of 16 against No. 5 Ocean. Matt Gorman went 2-for-3 with an RBI and John Carroll finished 2-for-3 with a double in the win. Joe Silvestrone was also 1-for-1 with a pair of walks.

Lukas Gudelis and D.J. Goins each had two hits for Holmdel, with Goins ripping a double for one of his two.

Round of 16

(13) Wall def. (4) Marlboro by forfeit (Illegal Pitcher)

Steve Santigate hit what seemed to be the game-winning two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh to give Marlboro the win, but it was later discovered that the Mustangs (8-4) used an illegal pitcher in the sixth and seventh innings, giving the Crimson Knights (7-4) the win by forfeit.

Steve Epstein started Thursday in a loss to Freehold Boro and pitched to one batter in the sixth inning before his day was done at 66 pitches, according to Marlboro coach Jim Ferraro. NJSIAA Rules state that "a pitcher may not appear as a pitcher again for two calendar days after having pitched five innings" and for three calendar days after having pitched at least six.

Although the six-inning rule applies to Epstein's case (partial innings are rounded up according to the rules), two calender days would not have passed to clear Epstein if he had only thrown five innings.

Ryan Orender went the distance on the mound for Wall and went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Brendan Barcas was 2-for-5 with a triple, two runs scored and two RBI, while Dan Wondrack was 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI. Nick Martinez also went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored and Nolan Cloney was 2-for-3 for the Crimson Knights.

Marlboro starter Phil Saglietto was 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Santigate finished 2-for-4 with three RBI. Jeremy Gerringer was also 2-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI.

(11) Manalapan 10, (6) Howell 4

Tyler Stafflinger contributed an RBI single to a six-run Manalapan second inning and threw six innings on the mound to earn the win as the Braves (9-5) beat the Rebels (6-5) for the second time in three days, this time to advance to the MCT quarterfinals.

Chris Rodriguez and Stephen Hansen each had an RBI double in the second, while Matt Rosenberg knocked in a run with a single as part of a 2-for-2 day with two runs scored and two RBI, as well as a double.

Ryan McGrane later added a three-run home run to push the Manalapan lead to 10-2 in the fifth. John Mollica doubled and drove in a run and Matt Klepper doubled and scored two runs for the Braves.

Rob Napolitano was 3-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI for Howell, while James Wynne was 2-for-4 with an RBI and Troy Miller 2-for-4 with a run scored in the loss.

Manalapan will play the winner of a round-of-16 game between No. 3 Red Bank Catholic and either No. 19 St. Rose or No. 14 Raritan. St. Rose and Raritan are not scheduled to play their first-round game until Thursday.

(9) St. John Vianney 2, (8) Middletown North 1 (8 Innings)

Victor Jamandron lifted a sacrifice fly to plate the game-winning run in the top of the eighth inning and the Lancers (8-2) edged the Lions (4-7) to advance to the MCT quarterfinals next Saturday against No. 16 Middletown South.

(2) CBA 11, (15) Mater Dei Prep 5

CBA scored six runs in the third inning to break a 2-2 tie and Luca Dalatri put the game away with a three-run double in the bottom of the sixth as the Colts (11-1) staved off the Seraphs (8-4).

Shane Turk knocked in two runs with a single in the third to make the score 5-2 and Brendan Galvin added an RBI double in the rally. James Miller and Brandon Martorano also added a double each for CBA.

Ryan Fanner doubled home a run and Nick Massaro plated a run with an RBI single during a three-run top of the sixth that sliced CBA's lead to 8-5.

CBA will host No. 7 Monmouth in Saturday's MCT quarterfinals.

 

Regular Season

Class A North

Middletown North 5, Freehold 4

Chuck Estelle pitched six strong innings on the mound and drove in three runs at the plate to help lead the Lions (4-6, 3-5) to a win over the Colonials (7-8, 4-5), snapping their six-game losing streak.

 

Class A Central

Raritan 12, Monmouth 11 (9 Innings)

Matt Vincenti went 6-for-6 and hit for the cycle, but the Rockets (8-3, 5-3) overcame the huge day by the Monmouth senior to beat the Falcons (5-5, 4-3) in extra innings. Tom Pulcine went 3-for-5 with six RBI to lead Raritan, which scored six runs in the top of the sixth inning to send the game int extra innings.

Michael Lind and kenny Friend each went 3-for-4 for the Rockets, with Friend scoring four runs and knocking in a run as well.

Vincenti hit two doubles to go with a triple and a double, and also drove in four runs and scored four in the loss. Monmouth had the tying run on third base and the winning run at first, but shortstop Ryan Ruziecki and second baseman Sean Ennis turned game-ending double play to strand the runners.

 

Class A South

At FirstEnergy Park

Brick Memorial 12, Brick 7

 

Class B North

No. 5 Colts Neck 13, Neptune 0 (5 Innings)

Tyler Kapuscinski was 3-for-4 with a double and four RBI and Brendann Clarke hit a home run as the Cougars (11-2, 8-0) coasted to a win over the Scarlet Fliers (2-8, 1-7). Sam DeVitis also doubled twice and Justin Hanewald pitched three shutout innings to earn the win.

No. 8 Ocean 2, Red Bank 0

Jake Talarico threw a three-hit shutout with three strikeouts to help lead the Spartans (9-3, 3-3) to a win over the Bucs (4-7, 3-5). Sam Maxwell picked up two hits, scored a run and knocked in Talarico with an RBI single in the fourth.

Nick Massa allowed two runs over six innings of work in taking the hard-luck loss. Drew Cook, Ryan Santos and Leo DiGuilio each went 1-for-3 for the Bucs.

No. 4 Red Bank Catholic 5, Matawan 4 (8 Innings)

Anthony DeRosa singled in Aaron Ahn with the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth and the Caseys (9-1, 7-1) walked off with their second extra-inning win over the Huskies (3-8, 3-5). DeRosa, Evan Madigan and Tom Merlo each had two hits for Red Bank Catholic.

Nick Smith tied the game in the top of the seventh with a two-run triple and finished with two hits. Adam Elliot also had two hits for Matawan, including a double.

No. 8 Ocean 9, Long Branch 1

Frank Henry drove in four runs while collecting two hits in support of sophomore starter Travis Lillie, who earned his first varsity win in a Spartans (10-3, 4-3) victory over the Green Wave (2-11, 1-7). Lillie struck out four in five scoreless innings.

Sam Maxwell, Brian Kochenash and Marc Chernin each added two hits, with Maxwell driving in two.

 

Class B Central

St. Rose 19, Ranney 10

Kyle Missry drove in three runs to highlight an offensive explosion by the Purple Roses (9-3, 7-1) in a win over the Panthers (1-7, 1-7).

Keansburg 8, Henry Hudson 2

Ian Terry went 3-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI in support of starter Jim McAteer as the Titans (4-5, 4-5) topped the Admirals (1-6, 1-6). McAteer went the distance for a three-hitter, struck out 11 and did not allow an earned run in picking up the win. McAteer also added a two run single at the plate.

Austin Blum also pitched in two hits for Keansburg.

 

Class B South

Pinelands 12, No. 10 Donovan Catholic 6

Jared Strang hit a three-run home run in a four-run fourth and Mitch Merrill hit a three-run double in the five-run sixth as the Wildcats (4-6, 3-4) beat the Griffins (8-3, 5-2) to snap a six-game losing streak while halting the Donovan Catholic's five-game winning streak.

Matt Drake was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI for Donovan Catholic while Charlie Dimino was 2-for-3 with a triple in the loss.

Pinelands 10, Lakewood 9 (13 Innings)

Mitch Merrill tied the game with an RBI single in the 13th and Sage Sysol won it with a walk-off single as the Wildcats (5-6, 4-4) pulled out a marathon win over the Piners (1-9, 1-8) in a game that was suspended on Thursday in the 11th inning.

Sysol pitched three innings to earn the win and went 3-for-5 with two RBI. Merrill was 3-for-6 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored, while Chris Burke finished 2-for-7 with three RBI in the win.

Harry Brown finished 2-for-5 to lead Lakewood.

 

Non-Division

Point Boro 10, Holmdel 9

Mark Leyble doubled twice and drove in four runs to lead the Panthers (6-7) to a win over the Hornets (2-8). Frank Graziano and Sebastian Severio also knocked in two runs apiece, with Graziano scoring two and Severio finishing 1-for-3.

Tyler Kiss went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Will Van Name was 1-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI for Holmdel

Brick Memorial 3, Freehold Twp. 2

Justin Bates capped a three-run seventh inning with a two run single and the Mustangs (6-8) rallied to beat the Patriots (5-8) for their third straight win. Alec Merritt allowed one earned run over six innings to earn the win for Brick Memorial

Middletown South 16, No. 10 Donovan Catholic 0 (5 Innings)

Ben Porpora and Johnny Zega both homered, with Zega belting a grand slam in the fifth to help lead the Eagles (9-5) to a win over the Griffins (8-4), their ninth in their last 10 games.

No. 1 Toms River North 8, Central 4

Ryan Larsen keyed a five-run second inning with a three-run double and the Mariners (8-2) held on to beat the Golden Eagles (5-6). Larsen finished 2-for-2 with two runs scored, while Mike Nyisztor went 2-for-3 with two RBI and Mike Tiplady finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

Owen Sulfrain was also 1-for-2 with two RBI and Joey Rose went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

Anthony Arneth gave Central a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the first and took a 3-0 lead into the bottom of the second before Toms River North's five-run inning.

 

Non-Conference

Long Branch 3, New Brunswick 2

Saione Washington pitched a complete game with five strikeouts and the Green Wave (2-10) topped the Zebras. Nick Conklin hit an RBI triple while Sean Cuddy and Zach Piakowski each added RBI singles.

Manalapan 9, Bayonne 1

Nick Marotta struck out 11 and allowed one hit over five innings and got plenty of offensive support as the Braves (10-5) scored eight runs in the fourth inning to beat the Bees for their second win of the day.

Ryan McGrane, Chris Rodriguez and Mike Mollica all tripled, with McGrane finishing 2-for-2 and Rodriguez and Mollica each driving in a run. McGrane also homered in a 10-4 win over Howell earlier in the day.

Nick Surhoff was 2-for-2 with two RBI, while Matt Klepper and Stephen Hansen were each 2-for-3, with both of Hansen's hits going for doubles.

No. 7 Toms River South 12, Ferris 6

Starting pitcher Anthony Carfora went 3-for-4 at the plate to help his cause on the mound as the Indians (7-3) rolled to a win over Ferris under the lights.

Jake Ryan went 2-for-5 with a triple and three RBI and Ray Liguori added a solo homer in the win. Ryan Shiffer fiinished 1-for-2 with a double and also threw out two runners from left field, one at home and another at third base.

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