Baseball – Underclass All-Star Game Highlights Monmouth and Ocean’s Best
The second annual Monmouth-vs.-Ocean Underclass All-Star game on Tuesday night will be the culmination of of the standout seasons had by its participants, but event creator Mike McGarrell would like to think the game is secondary to the players it recognizes and the message is emphasizes.
McGarrell is the director of County All-Stars, which he is in the process of converting to a 501(c)(3) non-profit to further its mission statement centering around community service.
This year's crop of underclass all-stars from Monmouth and Ocean Counties will compete on Tuesday night, 7 p.m. at Toms River South High School but the celebration of the game began last Tuesday with the Underclass Awards Dinner at Eagle Ridge Country Club in Lakewood. Each player was presented with a plaque to commemorate their selection and the group got a chance to watch an exclusive interview with Al Leiter in lieu of his presence.
Leiter was initially scheduled to attend the dinner but was in Washington to broadcast a make-up game between the Nationals and the Yankees.
"The message of the dinner is about community - serving your community," McGarrell told Town Square Media's Vin Ebenau. "It's about getting out and doing something for someone else.
"These are tomorrow's leaders. We want to tell them, 'Hold yourself to a higher standard and do more. Get out of your space and do something for someone else. Help transform someone else's life and at the same time, you'll transform your own."
The dinner also honored the Player of the Year in each county and two winners of the Ken Frank Character Award. Wall junior pitcher Trey Dombroski was the Monmouth County Player of the Year and Jackson Liberty junior catcher David Melfi was the Ocean County Player of the Year. Freehold Township junior Cristian Corcione and St. John Vianney junior outfielder Spencer Margulis, meanwhile, were the winners of the Ken Frank Award.
Frank will be the coach of the Ocean County team and will oppose a Monmouth County squad led by Christian Brothers Academy coach Marty Kenney. Frank is New Jersey high school baseball's all-time leader in coaching victories with 881 while Kenney joined Frank this year the only two coaches with 800 or more career wins in N.J.
Tickets for Tuesday's game will be sold at the game site for $10 each.
2018 Monmouth-Ocean Underclass All-Star Rosters
Monmouth County All-Stars
Head Coach: Marty Kenney, CBA
Max Winters, Ocean, 2019, Catcher
Justin Kapuscinski, Marlboro, 2019, Catcher
Dan Cowles, Colts Neck, 2020, First Base
Braedin Hunt, CBA, 2020, Outfield/Pitcher
Cristian Corcione, Freehold Twp., 2019, Second Base
Brandon Smith, Freehold Twp., 2019, Shortstop
Tommy DiTullio, CBA, 2019, Shortstop
Ryan Toomey, Ocean, 2019, Shortstop
Vincent Bianchi, Red Bank Catholic, 2019, Shortstop/Pitcher
Aurelio Licata, Middletown South, 2019, Shortstop
Grant Shulman, Wall, 2019, Third Base/Pitcher
Chris O'Connor, Middletown South, 2020, Third Base
Liam Meyer, Keansburg, 2019, Outfield
Ryan Kasmer, Raritan, 2020, Outfield
Spencer Margulis, St. John Vianney, 2019, Outfield
David Glancy, Red Bank Catholic, 2019, Outfield
Ramon Fontanes, Marlboro, 2020, Outfield
Trey Dombroski, Wall, 2019, Pitcher
Brendan Martin, St. John Vianney, 2019, Pitcher
Ryan Bearse, Howell, 2019, Shortstop/Pitcher
John Nimeth, Red Bank Catholic, 2020, Pitcher
Joe Escandon, CBA, 2019, Pitcher
Jack Povey, Red Bank, 2019, Pitcher
Ryan Kurczeski, Freehold Twp., 2019, Pitcher
Dante Ciaramella, Monmouth, 2020, Pitcher
Bryan Bernard, Howell, 2019, Pitcher
Ocean County All-Stars
Head Coach: Ken Frank, Toms River South
Sam Collins, Point Boro, 2019, Shortstop/Pitcher
Ahmir Cournier, Toms River East, 2019, Shortstop
Greg Hanlon, Brick Memorial, 2019, Second Base
Jonathan Giordano, Toms River North, 2019, Outfielder/Pitcher
Lukas Torres, Barnegat, 2020, Outfield/Pitcher
Phil Antoniotti, Point Beach, 2020, Shortstop/Pitcher
Colin Mackle, Toms River South, 2019, Outfield
Maximus Rivas, Toms River South, 2020, Shortstop
Jordan Erbe, Toms River South, 2019, Second Base
Matt Morro, Donovan Catholic, 2019, Shortstop
Carmine Petosa, Jackson Memorial, 2020, First Base
Nick Beetel, Jackson Memorial, 2020, Pitcher
Alex Iadisernia, Jackson Memorial, 2019, Outfield
Evan Scala, Manchester, 2021, Outfield
Jack Felipe, Manchester, 2019, Catcher
Shane Hickey, Jackson Liberty, 2020, Third Base
Connor Keenan, Jackson Liberty, 2019, Outfield
Scott Wierciszewski, Jackson Liberty, 2019, Outfield
David Melfi, Jackson Liberty, 2019, Catcher
Sam Sramaty, Lacey, 2019, Pitcher
Jorden Jurkiewicz, Lacey, 2019, Catcher
T.J. Rosace, Brick Memorial, 2019, Shortstop
Noah Dean, Pinelands, 2019, Pitcher
Joey Ventresca, Pinelands, 2019, Shortstop/Pitcher
Anthony Diaz, Pinelands, 2019, Third Base