Ocean County Sports Medicine Week 5 Pitchers of the Week

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Each week during the 2022 high school baseball season, Shore Sports Network will recognize the top pitchers in each Shore Conference division and give fans a chance to pick the overall winner of the Shore Sports Network Baseball Pitcher of the Week. The nominees include a Pitcher of the Week from each of the six Shore Conference divisions, plus two wild cards who are worthy of consideration as well.

Check out this week's group of nominees and vote for the one you think stands out in the poll at the bottom of the post. With a late start to the poll, voting will carry into Friday afternoon, with the polls closing at noon. The winner will receive a Player of the Week shirt courtesy of Ocean County Sports Medicine.

Class A North Pitcher of the Week

Mike Weinbel, Middletown North

Weinbel did it all last week for a Middletown North team that needed some wins to get back in the Shore Conference Tournament picture. The senior allowed one run in six innings in a win over Freehold Township, and also went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI to help his cause. Weinbel also crushed a two-run homer in a 7-2 win over CBA later in the week.

Class A North Honorable Mention: Chris DiMaggio, Manalapan; Lawrence Elinson, Marlboro; Dan Furlong, Howell; Colin Dowlen, Middletown North

Class A Central Pitcher of the Week

Ryan Rogers, St. Rose

Rogers has had a strong season at the plate, but it was his pitching that stood out last week. The senior left-hander pitched a three-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts and one walk in a 4-0 win over Ocean. Rogers indeed had a big day at the plate as well, going 3-for-3 with a double, a run scored and an RBI.

Class A Central Honorable Mention: Elliot Chun, Holmdel; Dom Mallamaci, Red Bank Catholic; Aiden Denton, Monmouth; John Goodes, Rumson-Fair Haven; Jackson Gallagher, Rumson-Fair Haven

Class A South Co-Pitchers of the Week

Zach Crotchfelt, Jackson Memorial; Cam Leiter, Central

We try to avoid ties at all coasts, but it’s just too hard to separate the two games that Crotchfelt and Leiter pitched last week. First, Leiter pitched a one-hit shutout with 16 strikeouts and two walks in a 7-0 Central win over Brick Memorial. Two days later, Brick Memorial had to deal with Crotchfelt and it was Crotchfelt that did the dealing, pitching a one-hit shutout of his own with 14 strikeouts and one walk.

Class A South Honorable Mention: Brandon Safoschnik, Toms River East; Brady Leach, Brick Memorial; Shane Sajewicz, Central; Chris Hastings, Toms River South

Class B North Pitcher of the Week

Vinny Zaffarese, Colts Neck

Colts Neck had to burn its top two pitchers in a 12-inning tie with Neptune on Tuesday, so it was up to Zaffarese to take the ball in a crucial game against Freehold Boro the following day. The junior came through big-time, pitching six scoreless innings in a 2-0 Cougars win that set them up to clinch the outright Class B North division title this week.

Class B North Honorable Mention: James Cosgrove, Manasquan; Andrew Fischer, Wall; Triur Brown, Wall; Ryan Cole, Neptune

Class B Central Pitcher of the Week

Chris Parmigiani, Henry Hudson

The Admirals got several strong pitching performances in two wins last week and Parmigiani gets the nod for eating up a lion’s share of the innings. The sophomore left-hander pitched six no-hit innings with nine strikeouts in a win over Keansburg and also went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI at the plate for good measure.

Class B Central Honorable Mention: Kyle Kolans, Point Beach; Carter Williams, Keyport; Chris Parmigiani, Henry Hudson; Marcello Mastroianni Ranney

Class B South Pitcher of the Week

P.J. Craig, Barnegat

Craig went head-to-head with another of the top pitchers in the division – Pinelands ace Stephen DeMilio – and dominated the matchup. Barnegat’s senior right-hander pitched a three-hitter with 10 strikeouts, no walks and one earned run allowed in a 9-2 Bengals victory.

Class B South Honorable Mention: Joe Sclama, Manchester; Chris Sasso, Jackson Liberty

Wild Card

Brady Leach, Brick Memorial

Leach was untouchable for five innings last Thursday, matching zeros with Jackson Memorial ace Zach Crotchfelt. Brick Memorial’s junior right-hander did not allow a hit in five innings, struck out nine and walked four before being lifted with 91 pitches.