Pitching is the name of the game in the preseason Shore 16 and for the second straight year, the non-public teams of the Shore are leading the field to open the season.
The best 2023 division race in the Shore Conference could be even better in 204, with Toms River East joining Southern, Brick Memorial and Jackson Memorial in the battle for A South.
Saint John Vianney's Anthony Knox, Rumson-Fair Haven's Sonny Amato, Southern's Matt Henrich, and Brick Memorial's Harvey Ludington won boys state titles while Howell's Kylie Gudewitz, Middletown South's Thea Rowland, and Central's Liliana Alicea won NJSIAA state titles on Saturday at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
The Shore Conference has eight NJSIAA state finalists after Southern's Anthony Mason, Saint John Vianney's Anthony Knox, Donovan Catholic's Kurt Wehner, CBA's Alex Nini, Rumson's Sonny Amato, Southern's Matt Henrich, Brick Memorial's Harvey Ludington, and Hudson Skove won their semifinal matches on Friday night at Boardwalk Hall.
Red Bank junior Kevin Ruland advanced to the quarterfinals as the No. 24 seed and Howell freshman Tanner Hodgins showcased his skills and smarts to upset the No. 6 seed and reach the quarterfinals on Thursday at Boardwalk Hall.