Baseball – SCT Semifinals Set for Thursday

The Shore Conference Tournament semifinals have been moved from Wednesday to Thursday due to a scheduling conflict for Toms River South stemming from a rainout in Tuesday's NJSIAA Tournament schedule.

Toms River South's NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III semifinal against Allentown scheduled for Tuesday was rained out and must be made up on Wednesday, weather permitting.

The Indians are the No. 1 seed in both tournament brackets and will play No. 4 Red Bank Catholic on Thursday as part of the double-header at Count Basie Park at Red Bank. The other SCT semifinal is between No. 3 Wall and No. 7 Toms River North - both of which were eliminated in the opening round of their respective NJSIAA sectional tournaments. Red Bank Catholic defeated Notre Dame in the South Jersey Non-Public A quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Wall and Toms River North are currently scheduled to play the front end of the double-header in Red Bank, which begins at 3:30 p.m. Toms River South and Red Bank Catholic will play the nightcap at 7 p.m., with Toms River South playing as the home team despite playing at RBC's home field.

Both Toms River North and Wall will have their entire pitching staffs available, with junior Ryan Napolitano likely starting for Wall and juniors Craig Larsen and Brendan Mullins on turn for Toms River North after junior left-hander Jared Bellissimo defeated Freehold Township in Wednesday's SCT quarterfinal.

Red Bank Catholic junior Blaise Panzini threw 76 pitches on Tuesday against Notre Dame and will be the only unavailable pitcher for the Caseys. Junior ace Austin Nappi, who is 9-1 this year, threw 24 pitches in relief and will be available to throw 116 on either Thursday against Toms River South or Friday against the winner of St. John Vianney vs. St. Augustine.

Toms River South is due to pitch senior left-hander Justin Fall Wednesday against Allentown. If the Indians stay on turn in their rotation, sophomore right-hander Matt Hartshorn - who threw a 57-pitch complete game in an SCT quarterfinal win over Pinelands - would get the ball on Thursday in Red Bank. If Toms River South loses to Allentown, however, the Indians could turn to junior right-hander T.J. Scuderi.

Shore Conference Tournament - Bracket

Semifinals

At Count Basie Park, Red Bank

(3) Wall v. (7) Toms River North, 3:30 p.m.

(1) Toms River South vs. (4) Red Bank Catholic, 7 p.m.