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Volume 25 • Issue 558
5/14/19 - 5/27/19
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Page 2 Jersey Sporting News • 5/14/19 - 5/27/19
5/14/19 - 5/27/19 • Jersey Sporting News
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ALMOST PERFECT – ESCANDON CARRIES PERFECT GAME INTO SIXTH; LEADS COLTS TO MCT CHAMPIONSHIP By Mike Ready
LAKEWOOD – Christian Brothers Academy sophomore Joe Escandon flirted with a perfect game through five dominant innings before an error ended his bid in the bottom of the sixth inning of Tuesday’s Monmouth County Tournament championship game at First Energy Park in Lakewood. The eighth-seeded Colts, however, went on to an 8-1 victory over sixthseeded Ocean to claim the title. Senior Anthony Celestre couldn’t come up with a hard-hit grounder to second base and was charged with an error ending Escandon’s shot at perfection. “Losing the perfect game didn’t matter anymore,� said Escandon. “I just wanted to get us out of here with a win as soon as possible.� Escandon then lost his shutout three batters later as the Spartans scored an unearned run without the benefit of a hit. A walk, sacrifice fly and runscoring fielder’s choice ground-out ruined his shutout. Escandon – an Ocean Township native – then lost his no-hitter in the seventh inning when Spartans senior shortstop Ryan Toomey drilled a 1-2 pitch to the warning track in right field for a double. Nick Callano followed with a single to center and Escandon loaded the bases with a two-out walk before the hard-throwing lefty recorded his fifth and final strikeout to complete his tour de force.
“It bothered me most when I lost the shutout,� said Escandon. “I have been playing with most of these guys since I was eight. They’re a good lineup but I just wanted to say, ‘You guys didn’t get a run off of me.’� The Colts (12-4) offense backed Escandon’s gem with nine hits, including three extra-base hits in the win. Escandon’s fastball-changeup combination had Ocean hitters baffled from the first pitch on when he retired the first 15 batters he faced. He finished throwing a tidy 91 pitches with 60 of those strikes. He meticulously worked the outer half of the plate with his fastball setting up his changeup on the inside. “My changeup was the biggest thing working for me,� said Escandon. “Throwing my changeup on any count is so important to me. I think I threw one curve the whole night.� CBA’s defense kept Escandon’s perfect-game bid intact through five with two sparkling plays in the field. Junior right fielder Braedin Hunt made a sliding catch near the right-field foul line for the second out of the third inning and senior Anthony Celestre made a sliding stop on a ball hit up the middle and from his knees fired a perfect strike to first for the first out of the fifth inning. Celestre got the Colts on the board with a one-out RBI double in the top of the third off Ocean starter Kevin Schoenberger (4-1). Senior shortstop
CBA’S WINNING PITCHER JOE ESCANDON Tommy Ditullio then followed with a two-out, two-run single handing Escandon an early 3-0 lead to work with. Hunt, who was a 2018 All-Shore selection when he hit .453 with three home runs and 19 RBI, had been struggling at the plate with an average hovering around the .200 mark, but broke out big Tuesday banging a tworun double to the left-center gap pushing the lead to 5-0 in the top of the sixth to give Escandon a nice cushion to work with. Junior Ben Settino followed with a single, moving Hunt to third, who then scored on a wild pitch to make it a 6-0 game. The Colts then extended the lead to 7-0 on an RBI single by junior catcher Mason Wolf. In the top of the seventh, Hunt drilled an RBI triple to nearly the same spot in the outfield as his double, increasing the Colts lead to 8-0. Prior to Tuesday’s game Hunt had been showing signs of breaking out of his season-long slump and if he can recapture his stroke from a year ago, that would make CBA, which has won 10 of 11 games, an even more dangerous team moving forward. “I feel like I’ve been hitting a lot of balls hard and just missing some pitches,� said Hunt. “So, it was probably just a matter of time before one of them found the gap.� With the win, Escandon improved to 4-0 on the year and was voted the Tournament MVP. He finished allowing one run, zero earned runs, two hits, one walk and a hit batter. The title was their ninth in program history – first since 2016 when current University of North Carolina stars Brandon Martorano and Lucas Dalatri led the Colts to three straight championships – and fourth in six years. “It shows we came here to play and we’re not going to fold after big players graduate,� said Escandon. “We’re just playing as a team and playing good baseball and it’s exciting to get something of our own.�
CBA MCT BASEBALL CHAMPS Photos by Tom Smith
Schoenberger was the victim of three Ocean errors that led to six unearned runs.
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Page 4 Jersey Sporting News • 5/14/19 - 5/27/19
CANYON BIRCH – THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR By Mike Ready
MANASQUAN – It’s been a whirlwind season so far for Manasquan’s record-breaking attackman Canyon Birch as he continues to shatter one New Jersey career and singlegame scoring mark after another while leading the undefeated Warriors (16-0) to the No. 5 ranking in the state. His most recent milestone moment came Tuesday when he passed A.L. Johnson great Matt Poskay, who was a twotime All-American at the University of Virginia and is now the Montclair State men’s lacrosse coach, as the state’s alltime leading goal scorer with a staggering career total of 363 goals and counting. In April, he eclipsed Poskay’s 17-year-old record of 468 career points when he scored five goals and added two assists bringing his career point total to 474 and counting. In last season’s NJSIAA South Jersey Group 1 championship game when the Warriors beat Madison, 15-8, for their second sectional title in three years, Birch scored six goals and had five assists for 11 points to break Teddy Hatfield’s (Morristown-Beard) single-season points record of 170 finishing the day with 174 and finishing the season with 175 points. Birch has already smashed every Shore Conference scoring record available to him including career goals, career points, single-season goals and single-season points. He’s still chasing the only record left for him to disintegrate – Poskay’s single-season goal record of 129. Manasquan defeated long-time rival Rumson-Fair Haven, 14-4, Thursday advancing to the Shore Conference Tournament final as the two-time defending champions. Birch had three goals and two assists bringing his career totals to 366 goals and 515 points. His three goals Thursday gives him 92 for the season, 39 behind Poskay’s record with an undetermined number of games still to be played depending how far they go in the state playoffs. “I’m really not worried about the goals record as much as going as far as we possibly can (in the state playoffs),” said Birch. “If we can get the T.O.C. and I don’t get the goals record I’d be fine with that. I just want to do something for my team.” The Warriors took Rumson down earlier this year making it the first time they’ve ever swept the Bulldogs in a season. When you speak with Birch he comes off as an unassuming, laid-back dude who’s unaware of, or doesn’t care about, all the justifiable hype that surrounds him, but at the same time it’s hard for him to ignore. He’s now being labeled as the “best high school boys lacrosse player in the history of the sport.” He understands the implication of such a statement and is honored by it, but he tends to brush it off as no big deal and would rather spend his time strategizing ways he can get his team to the Tournament of Champions and win it. “It’s awesome and a great feeling hearing that,” said Birch. “But it’s also a great confidence booster and I kind of look at it as each time I step on the field I know I have to perform to live up to that hype and that only motivates me more to help the team get to where we want to get.” Manasquan head coach Sean Cunningham has witnessed Birch’s reputation soar during the four years that he has been coaching him and he understands the hype surrounding him. “When you find yourself in this position where you’re break-
ing these records, the conversation is certainly warranted,” said Cunningham of Birch’s best-player- ever status. “It’s up to whoever’s having those conversations to decide whether or not he is. The important part is and the thing I’ll take away from it is, anytime you’re in that conversation you’ve done something right and you’re there because you’ve accomplished a lot and you’re in the forefront of people’s minds.
“In terms of the numbers, it’s hard to say because they are astronomical numbers,” said Cunningham when asked if ever envisioned Birch having the career he’s had. “Did I think that he could do it? Absolutely. We knew coming in that he was prodigiously talented but he’s also worked extremely hard and
has an incredible work ethic. He’s a very focused, goal-oriented individual that has the talent to back it up. So, in retrospect, when you stop and reflect, it is truly remarkable what he’s accomplished and I’m just very proud of him and honored to be part of it.”
“Very nonchalantly for the most part,” Cunningham said when asked how Birch is handling all this fanfare. “He’s just very focused on the task at hand which is the game, winning the game and moving on and success as a team. It’s never been a distraction or anything of that nature and if anything it’s just been very matter of factly done by him where if he breaks a mark it’s, ‘Okay we got the game ball, now let’s keep playing.’ That’s really all he wants, to play and to play hard and win games.” It’s ironic that Birch started playing lacrosse as a defenseman in the third grade trying to prevent goals before switching to attack in sixth grade and going on to become the most prolific scorers in New Jersey high school history. “By learning to play lacrosse with a long pole, it helped me out a lot early in my career,” said Birch. “I had some growing pains early on but it turned out okay.” Birch got to play with his older brother Jarrett, who was a first-team All-State selection his senior year at Manasquan (2017) and is currently Furman University’s leading scorer, his freshman and sophomore seasons and credits Jarrett for getting him involved in the sport.
MANASQUAN’S CANYON BIRCH
“Jarrett got me into it,” said Birch. “Jarrett was great to have because he was always there to shoot with me in the yard and motivate me instead of being lazy and it was kind vice versa me with him. He taught me so much and now that he’s at Furman he’s still teaching me. Everything he learns at school he kind of brings back to me to helps me out.” Birch still uses his brother’s 2017 Manasquan team, which finished ranked No. 1 in the Shore and No. 9 in the state when he was a sophomore, as the gold standard and strives to emulate that team. “That 2017 class were all so helpful with just the experience they had and the way they helped us all adapt to the program so well my first two years,” he said. “As good as they were, they welcomed us with open arms and we learned so much from them.” A second-team All-State selection as a sophomore and first-team All-State last year, as well as being named the Shore Sports Network Lacrosse Player of the Year, Birch was an All-Shore running back and linebacker rushing for 1,290 yards and 17 touchdowns while recording 76 tackles, 18 TFL, three sacks and three forced fumbles.
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MONARCHS CAPTURE THIRD AT MCT GOLF By Eric Braun
“I started playing football first actually before I started playing lacrosse,” said Birch. “I’ve always loved football; it’s always been a big passion of mine and it was a factor in my college decision because I wanted to be around a big-time college football atmosphere.” Birch is committed to Penn State University to continue his lacrosse career so he’ll definitely get the college football experience he’s looking for while playing for one to the top collegiate lacrosse programs in the country. Penn State (14-1) is currently ranked No. 1 nationally and is the No. 1 seed in the upcoming NCAA Men’s Lacrosse tournament. The two-sport star athlete feels he benefited from playing both sports. “They both helped. As a running back in football I had to use my vision to find holes and that helped my vision on the lacrosse field finding people and cutting and things like that.” Manasquan won the program’s first-ever sectional championship in 2016 when Birch was a starting freshman and repeated the feat last season when they beat Madison, 158. However, they’ve failed to capture the overall Group title in either of those years, falling to Chatham in 2016 and Mountain Lakes last season. That’s first and foremost on Birch’s mind as they enter the postseason with the T.O.C. title looming as the prize at the end of the tunnel. “That’s the goal, that’s the number one thing we’ve always looked forward to growing up before we got to high school,” said Birch of his dream to go out as the team No. 1 in New Jersey. “Now that we’re seniors it’s our last chance to do it. That would be something really special because we’ve never done that as a program and as a senior class we want to leave this program as we found it.”
MANASQUAN’S CANYON BIRCH
As phenomenal a player as Birch has proven to be, Cunningham is still taken aback by the degree of success Birch has been able to achieve on the lacrosse field.
TRINITY HALL GOLF CREAM RIDGE – The 2019 Monmouth County Golf Tournament was played April 9 at Cream Ridge Golf Course. With many talented veterans and newcomers to the Shore Conference scene, this year’s field played some spectacular golf. Trinity Hall golfers once again showed the athletic greatness that the school has to offer and its ability to compete with the elite programs in the Shore Conference at all levels of all sports. Trinity Hall finished the Monmouth County Tournament with a team score of 431 and took home third place. Freshman Anna Clements shot 86; junior Kate Perrone shot 104; junior Alessandra Arege shot 116; and junior Mara Galvin shot 129. Clements was one of four golfers on the day in the entire field to shoot under 90 with her final score of 86. Clements continued on her great freshman campaign with a fourth-place finish at the Shore Conference Tournament on April 16 at Jumping Brook Golf Course with a final score of 91, shooting a 49 on the front nine and a 42 on the back nine.
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5/14/19 - 5/27/19 • Jersey Sporting News
Page 5
HOLMDEL SOFTBALL IS ON ITS WAY TO BEST SEASON IN PROGRAM HISTORY By Mike Ready
HOLMDEL – The Hornets are in the midst of one, if not the most, successful seasons in program history and have a chance to take the team places no other Holmdel softball team has ever been before.
“Emma’s a hard worker and an extremely athletic kid,” said Bosmans. “She really plays with a 100 percent heart and is the type of kid that who wants to do well and she really focuses in. When she’s in game mode she’s there to play and that’s something special. She’s done a phenomenal job for us in the leadoff spot. She’s competent at bat, she works the pitchers well and is the type of player that can beat you with both power and singles. She’s a very smart base runner so that’s dangerous to have as your leadoff.”
With three senior captains and a number of rising underclassmen leading the way, the Hornets have recorded 14 wins against only three losses and at the moment are in a close race with Raritan for the A North crown.
P O E N D ING From Basics to Ch N A R G
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It was the first year this senior class qualified for the tournament and won a first-round game in their four-year careers.
P O E N D ING N A R G HOLMDEL SOFTBALL Photo Courtesy of Holmdel High School
collected and she really is a true player. She’s very unselfish and really wants the team to succeed and that’s extremely special.
we are expected to play – what our expectations are on a daily basis. She’s the one caring for everybody and always putting the team in front of herself. One of the most selfless individuals I’ve ever met.”
underclassmen respect what the seniors say and how they do things and that’s extremely important to our success this year.”
2ND LOCATION IN HOWELL SEPTEMBER 2018
“That was one of the goals that the seniors made at the beginning of the year, making the MCT and getting a win,” said Bosmans. “They really set a lot of goals as a team this year and they were able to accomplish that one.
“She’s US the type player that asks extremely Bosmans also had high praise for junior third 2248 9ofSouth, Howell, NJ (Ideal Plaza) • 732-966-3441
“It’s growing pains and we want to play the best to be the best,” Bosmans said about their loss to the Lions. “We want to see those types of pitchers; we want to see those types of teams because that prepares us for the postseason and we are able to learn from those types of losses. It was a tough loss but a lot of learning came from that type of situation.”
intelligent questions that make everybody else think and that’s really, really rare in a player because she elevates everybody around her by the questions she asks. Even at bat, she’s constantly thinking, going through her mechanics then on the mound she’s constantly talking to herself, working through her mechanics, so she’s constantly evolving and is never satisfied wanting always to be better. 2248 US 9 South, Howell, NJ She’s also a person that elevates the fun in practice keeping it loose bringing lighthearted energy which is extremely important.”
baseman Nicolette Pavlik, who’s hitting .350 and leads the team with 18 RBI along with two triples, four doubles and eight runs.
P O E NING D N A R G Holmdel’s third senior captain, left fielder Abbey Quirk, is a utility player that is hitting .293 with a double, eight RBI and 11 runs scored and can spell Musialowicz on the mound as well if needed.
“Nicolette is another player who has really blossomed and has gained a lot of confidence,” said Bosmans of her cleanup hitter. “We worked Abbey into the outfield last year “I would say she has one of the strongest and in the offseason she put in a lot of work arms in the entire Shore Conference. She’s (Ideal Plaza) • 732-966-3441 in both at bat and in the field,” said Bosmans. extremely well versed in the field and then at “She’s really blossomed her senior year and bat she’s grown confidently. She’s really reis extremely confident and motivated on the laxed at the plate and sees the ball well withfield and a leader on the field by example – out putting pressure on herself when there’s she shows the team what hard work really is. runners in scoring position which is extremely important in the cleanup spot. She plays cool, 9 probably South,theHowell, (Ideal Plaza) • 732-966-3441 “I’ll be2248 honest,US this is most spe- NJ calm and collectively.” cial senior class I’ve ever had because of their dynamics,” continued Bosmans. “Each senior Sophomore shortstop Emma Quirk leads the has a different role on the team and they team with four home runs and 20 runs scored just jell so beautifully. I know practice could and is second on the team with 14 RBI while run even though I wasn’t there because the hitting a solid .333.
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“Tara’s been phenomenal all season,” said Bosmans. “She is in the zone. When she’s on the mound she’s confident, she’s cool, she’s
D O PE N I N G N A R G From Basics to Champions
Fellow senior and captain, first baseman Allison Yan, leads the team with a dazzling .468 batting average along with two home runs, four doubles and 13 RBI. “Allison is our voice,” said Bosmans. “She is the one reminding our girls what our goals are. She’s the one reminding everybody how
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“As we are able to succeed in our minor goals on the day-to-day it’s starting to culminate into those bigger goals,” said Bosmans. “We’re in a situation that we’ve never been in before so it’s a fun and exciting new experience for them. We not only wanted to get into the tournament but win a first-round game and see what happens. That’s something we’re working towards.
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“I’m happy for the girls because it really attributes to all their hard work. They’ve put in the time; they’ve put in the effort and I’ve never seen our team jell as well as they have chemistry-wise. There’s 13 of them that want to be there for each other and it’s the most selfless team that I’ve had in my time at Holmdel. It’s exciting for them and it’s exciting for me in the sense of watching them grow and watching their confidence build day in and day out.”
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The Hornets are guaranteed a spot in the Shore Conference Tournament for the first time since 2014 when they snuck into the tournament on the last day of qualifying, as well as the state playoffs.
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Senior pitcher and captain Tara Musialowicz (12-3, 1.80 ERA) is a huge part of the success the Hornets have had this season not just on the mound but at the plate (.420, 1 HR, 1 3B, 1 2B, 10 RBI, 18 R) and role she plays as a team leader.
“It’s exciting, super exciting for the girls,” said Bosmans of the team getting ranked. “The seniors on the team have never seen this success before and like I keep reiterating to them, all of this is in preparation for the postseason. It’s fun and exciting and it’s nice to get recognized but we have to keep fighting and keep working on the day-to-day in order to stay there. We don’t’ want to just be there, we want to stay there.”
© George Tiedemann/GT Images.
Holmdel also qualified for the Monmouth County Tournament this season as the 10th seed and upset seventh-seeded Freehold Township, 9-7, in the first round before falling to Middletown North – ranked third in the Shore and 11th in the state – in the quarterfinals.
For the first time in as long as anyone can remember, Holmdel broke into the current NJ.com Shore Conference Top 10 at No. 9.
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“It was a fun and exciting game,” Holmdel head coach Nora Bosmans said of their win against Raritan. “They really went in there and top to bottom they really went in there as a team. They never stopped fighting. They went out and attacked the ball and never stopped playing defense. They just had a lot of fun that day.”
Sophomore catcher Hudson Yan (.344, 1 HR, 1 2B, 15 R), junior second baseman Crystal Carino (.286, five RBI), sophomore right fielder Isabella Lamberti (10 R, six RBI) and freshman centerfielder Madison Yan (11 R) round out the starting lineup for the Hornets.
© George Tiedemann/GT Images.
Last Tuesday, the Hornets defeated the Rockets – ranked fourth in the Shore Conference and 20th in the state – giving Holmdel a split in the season series against Raritan.
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Page 6 Jersey Sporting News • 5/14/19 - 5/27/19
SERAPHS TRACK AND FIELD SPREADING THEIR WINGS By Eric Braun
MIDDLETOWN – What an exciting time to be a part of the Mater Dei Prep family. After a difficult time in the school’s history back in 2015, when the school should have been celebrating its 50 year anniversary as a proven winner in the classroom, community and athletics, the Seraphs were on the verge of closing their doors for good. Fast-forward four years and this small, tight-knit community is shining brighter than ever before. This spring has been a special time to be around both the girls and boys track teams as they both finished undefeated and captured their respective B Central division titles. The girls team consists of six seniors, six juniors, 18 sophomores and seven freshmen. The boys team consists of three seniors, three juniors, 15 sophomores and nine freshmen. The Lady Seraphs quietly put together one of their best runs in school history under head coach Christine Altland. The team struggled in an early season scrimmage with Raritan, but after hours of practice both as a team and as individuals, they took aim at their regular-season foes. After an easy win over an undersized Keyport team, Mater Dei had one of its biggest meets of the season in a tri-meet with Ranney and Point Pleasant Beach. The last couple of years it has usually come down to Point Beach topping Mater Dei Prep, but the fight and determination these Lady Seraphs have was too much for the Gulls to overcome. The meet was run in the rain and cold but all three teams competed at the highest level. Both Beach and Mater Dei Prep beat Ranney and were battling each other to the very last event, the 4x400. The foursome of Kate Braun, Sarah Wickham, Bridget Kamin and Lara Gritzek saved their best race of the day for last, taking first in the event and securing the tri-meet victory. The Lady Seraphs took care of business against Asbury Park and Henry Hudson, setting up the division showdown for the B Central championship against Trinity Hall. The two schools traveled to Point Beach for the meet in perfect conditions for running – sunny and a light breeze. Mater Dei Prep used all phases of its track and field team to defeat Trinity Hall, 83-51, and capture its first title in nine years. “Each meet our top performances have really changed. One minute it’s our jumpers, pole vault, high jump, long/triple that really sneak in and pick up valuable points. Our throwers have been a huge contributor to sweeping every event in our meets and have continued to remain on top,” said Altland of her young squad. “On the track we’ve maintained solid performances for our roster being so heavily on the freshman and sophomore side. They have really showed that they may be young, but their hearts are big!” All season, the Lady Seraphs have used a range of top performers from field events in high jumpers (Harley Amisano, Christina Corsaro and Kaila Fontanetta), long jumpers and triple jumpers (Bella Martino, Brooke Luchina, Tori Kirk and
Amisano), pole vaulters (Mackenzie Urban, Bridgette Blumetti, Kamin and Lindsey Gosse), javelin throwers (Ashley Leache, Nora Stewart), shot putters (Kirk, Madison Ducsai and Abby Zohn) and discus throwers (Kirk, Ducsai). On the track side, the team has a ton of depth and determination in hurdles (Braun, Rose Petry, Jenna Dacquel, Urban, Kirk and Gritzek), sprints (Stewart, Luchina, Bridgette Sullivan and Kamin), and distance runners (Haley Amisano, Alex Corman, Grace Donahue, Emily Smith, Wickham and Fontanetta). “Coming into this season we really wanted to put the girls’ name back on the map and pay tribute to our past head coach Kevin Attridge, who passed away this year. Kevin was the main reason Mater Dei Prep girls cross country, indoor track, outdoor track and field was the way it was and we wanted to bring what he worked so hard to establish years ago back in his honor. This win was a great win for the girls, our school, and also for coach Kevin Attridge,” said Altland. With the season winding down, the Lady Seraphs are continuing to set personal and school records as well as competing at top meets in the Shore Conference and beyond. The future of the program, once thought to be losing steam, is once again back among the top in the area and built for years ahead to set their expectations higher and higher.
MATER DEI PREP’S KYREE DRAKE
“Coming into this year, I was nervous with the numbers being larger and mainly on the younger side and how that would look. I know we had the numbers, but the talent was a mystery,” said Altland of her expectations for this season. “When you look over our roster you see soccer players, cheerleaders, basketball players, tennis players, and runners – but when you are out at practice you see a team. The atmosphere that was created from day one has been the atmosphere of champions. We’ve had several talks with the girls about being on top and what it takes to be there, how we can get there and these girls have continued to prove that they are ready for any challenge that is to come, that they will get through it as a team.” Their goals moving forward are to see what noise they can create at the state sectionals meet. They have the depth in events that they never had before, girls trying new events to add potential points to the team score. They have numbers to make the goal of being sectional champions a very strong reality. These girls are hungry, and that’s what so great about them being so young, they aren’t afraid to get after what it takes to be a champion. “I do want to add that this has been the best year yet with the coaching staff we have put together. We have knowledgeable coaches in every event and more. We work hard day in and down out, off hours figuring out new techniques and ways to continue to get our athletes to grow,” Altland continued. “As one big program we have grown our numbers and talent levels in just a short amount of time, I’m excited to see what the future holds for us, because it is very bright!” The Mater Dei Prep boys team is no stranger to championships the last couple of years and this year is no different under the guidance of firstyear head coach Jeff Papcun. The boys have not skipped a beat this season in defending their B Central stronghold.
MATER DEI PREP’S GIRLS TRACK B CENTRAL CHAMPS Photos by Eric Braun
“Too be honest, I didn’t know what to expect. I was walking into a program that had three head coaches in a matter of three months, including myself. I knew I was walking into a program with a lot of history, a lot of championships and a lot of amazing athletes,” said Papcun of his early expectations. “I came here to help these young men succeed in everything they do. I told my team in the first meeting with them that this team is not about me, it’s about them! Our expectation was to get these kids to where they need to be on the track and in the classroom. Once we were able to come together as coaches and athletes, we built that trust we needed to be a family which led to us winning B Central.”
MATER DEI PREP’S NARAN BUNTIN
These young men are the example of hard work and dedication. Every day they are in the weight room getting stronger and working on their mobility. They are always working above and beyond on the track and in the field. Their mindset every year coming into a program rich in tradition is to take care of the division and then compete with the top teams in the county and Shore Conference which will only push them to get better and focus on win state sections and group titles. The Seraphs wrapped up another undefeated B Central title in a tri-meet against Asbury Park and Henry Hudson in mid-April. On the day, the Seraphs took home first place finishes in 400IH and HH by Patrick Osborn, 100 and 200 sprints by Clarence Lewis, 400 sprint by Sincere Saunders, long jump and triple jump by Naran Buntin, shot put by Amir Coleman, discus by Noah Lawson, javelin by Connor Closs and 4x400 relay by Saunders, Buntin, Kyree Drake and Liam Stewart. At the Raritan Rocket Relays, the foursome of Drake, Eli Johnston, Stewart, and Xavier Chisolm set a new school record in the SMR 1K with a time of 2:09.12. Mater Dei Prep was also represented at the Penn Invitation Relays where Saunders, Buntin, Stewart and Drake competed against teams from across the United States, Canada and Jamaica. “Our 4x400 had an amazing experience when they went to Penn two weeks ago. It wasn’t the outcome that the kids wanted but it was a great day to see these young men compete against not only American teams but Jamaican teams as well,” said Papcun. “The order sets the tone, getting out fast and running the strongest at the race,” said Drake of setting their school record and what makes their group so strong. Saunders added, “We have four dedicated runners who work hard, practice and come to school every day and we have guys who want to win.” “We all have a special bond with quick feet and dedication to each other,” said Stewart. Buntin added, “We have dedicated runners who practice every day, work hard and get out strong in the first 200 and wear and tear our bodies to get a good time.” Buntin also has a school record of his own in the triple jump with a distance of 43-5 at Saturday’s Monmouth County Championship, breaking his own record of 41-8.25 that he set the previous week a the Monmouth County Relays. Of the record, Buntin said, “It means a lot to me, even though I already and everyday feel like I am competing not just against other teams and at states but more against myself. I push myself harder than anyone else can push me.”
5/14/19 - 5/27/19 • Jersey Sporting News
Page 7
RICHARDS, MOORE POWER BRICK MEMORIAL TO OCT CHAMPIONSHIP By Alan Brehm, JSN Intern, Toms River South
TOMS RIVER – The rains cleared out in enough time for the fields at Toms River North to be prepped and ready for the Ocean County Tournament softball championship game between sixth-seeded Brick Memorial and eighth-seeded Toms River South. While the cold damp air was more like a fall Friday night football game, the mood in both dugouts was full of energy and excitement as both teams came in riding momentum. The Mustangs entered the game with a 13-3 overall record that included tournament wins over 11thseeded Toms River East, 20-0; third-seeded Southern Regional, 3-1; and second-seeded Central Regional, 2-0. The Indians entered with a 9-9 overall record with tournament wins over ninth-seeded Barnegat, 6-1; top-seeded Lacey, 4-2; and fourth-seeded Jackson Liberty, 6-4. Brick Memorial came in holding the season series over the Indians defeating Toms River South, 8-2, in April and 6-0, last week.
As was the case last season entering the tournament, Brick Memorial felt disrespected in their draw despite their success. Last season the Mustangs made it to the final before falling to Lacey, 6-2. Brick Memorial head coach Christina Rodriguez kept the trophy face down in a locker and recently brought it out to show her team the trophy with a message that this isn’t the one we want to bring home this year. “I wanted them to remember last year was within our reach and how close we came. I used that to get them excited about this year and just giving them a little gut shot,” said Rodriguez about the message she wanted to send to the team. At stake was the coveted Ocean County Tournament title. The first several innings were a chess match of superb pitching and little offensive production. Brick Memorial threw their ace, Jenna
Pfister, who entered the game riding a superb tournament scorecard that showed just six hits and one earned run. Toms River South countered with Chloe Seluchins. Brick Memorial was first to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third when Kiara Richards powered her first homerun of the day over the right centerfield fence to give Brick Memorial a 1-0 lead.
RICHARDS AND MOORE ALL SMILES AFTER RICHARDS HOMERUN IN OCEAN COUNTY TOURNAMENT FINALS
Brick Memorial added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning when Ava Rendon hit a sacrifice fly to score freshman Ella Moore from third, making the score 2-0.
Toms River South had bases loaded in the fifth, chasing Pfister from the circle. Richards came on in relief and got out of the inning with minimal damage, as South scored just one run, on a throwing error. Brick Memorial answered quickly in the bottom of the fifth when Richards hit her second homer of the game, a two-run blast with Samantha Toro aboard, making it 4-1. Seluchkins was replaced in the circle by Indians pitcher Olivia Byrnes, who came in and retired the side. Richards faced little threat from the Indians in the top of the sixth, throwing just 11 pitches.
BRICK MEMORIAL OCT SOFTBALL CHAMPS Photos by Eric Braun
The Mustangs would blow the game wide open in the bottom of the sixth, all with two outs. After a bunt single from Rendon and a stolen base, Toro advanced her to third on a ground out for the second out. The Indians wanted no more trouble from Richards and intentionally walked her to set up runners at first and third. Pfister drove in Rendon for the Mustangs’ fifth run of the game. Carleigh Luzzo walked to load the bases for Moore, who delivered the final blow with a bases-clearing
double to left center to put the Mustangs up, 8-1. Moore scored on a fielding error to give Brick Memorial a 9-1 lead, which would hold up through the final frame. Pfister picked up the win, allowing just the one unearned run in four and a third innings. Moore’s performance was impressive, even to her coach. “Coming into the season we have heard about how solid a player she is and her bat, it’s a pleasure to watch her grow and contribute for us all season long in big spots,” said Rodriguez. Richards earned tournament MVP honors after going 3-for-3 (two homers, 3RBI, 2.1 IP, 0 earned runs). “At the plate I felt comfortable and took what they gave me, it feels great to be able to do that for my teammates, we really wanted revenge from last year. It feels great to get this win and be a part of this team,” Richards said. Rodriguez knows how fortunate she is to have two ace pitchers to turn to. “It gives me so much confidence in putting either one out there; it provides such a luxury,” she said. “Kiara is known for a big bat and this tops what she’s done this season. It was a big pressure situation and she did amazing,” Rodriguez concluded.
NEPTUNE BASEBALL BACK TO WINNING WAYS PUTTING TOGETHER SOLID 2019 CAMPAIGN By Mike Ready
NEPTUNE – Two seasons ago the Fliers made an unprecedented run into the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III finals where as a 14th seed they took No. 4 seed Allentown into extra innings before losing to the Redbirds, 4-3, in 10 innings. With five starters returning from that team for the 2018 season, expectations were high and it seemed like a given that Neptune would be in position to again contend for a state title as well as make a long-awaited appearance in the Shore Conference Tournament. Things didn’t go as planned, however, and the Fliers suffered through a rotten 3-16 season playing in the rugged A North. “We lost two really good pitchers (Justin Tucker and Dylan Taliaferro – both now starting pitchers for DIII Brookdale [31-14, ranked No. 9 in the country]),” said Neptune head coach Kevin Frederick. “Our expected ace, University of Kentucky commit Ron Cole, had a down year, we had guys out of position and I had to move some guys around and we just didn’t live up to the expectations that we had entering the season. We didn’t have the pitching depth that we had the year before and that was our biggest issue. We struggled, and it was a learning curve for some our young guys. We were young and competed in a tough division and just didn’t play well enough.”
“Bryan’s a sophomore lefty that has a good breaking ball,” said Frederick. “His command is his biggest issue and when he’s on he’s on and when’s he’s off he has to grind it out. He’s going to be a very good pitcher for us and he’s still kind of still learning how to pitch.” JnoBaptiste (17 IP, 2-2, 2.06 ERA) has come on strong on the mound of late for the Fliers as well posting solid numbers at the plate (.273, 13 R, 1 HR) and according to Frederick is one of the best centerfielders in the Shore.
“Ron’s tough because his ball moves so much when he throws,” said Frederick. “Sometimes he can lose command for an inning or two but he usually finds it and the more he throws the better he gets. His ball is electric and he throws hard and really his ERA is a little skewed because of an early-season loss but no one has really hit him this year.
“Sebastian is an athletic kid who can fly,” said Frederick. “The biggest surprise for us from him is he’s been pitching great. He threw six innings of two-hit ball against Wall and five innings of scoreless relief against Freehold Boro. I think he has our best ERA to be honest with you. In the outfield he’s about as good as it gets. He’s an unbelievable defender, the best outfield defender I’ve ever had.”
“He’s a stud at the plate and a strong kid that has the power numbers,” added Frederick. “He’s a workout warrior and came in about 20 pounds heavier than he was last year. He has a great eye at the plate and pitchers want to avoid him but they can’t when you have the kid Gannon (junior catcher John Gannon) hitting behind him in the order.”
Cole has stepped it up a couple of notches this year both at the plate and on the rubber in his final season at Neptune.
Gannon is hitting .410 with a team-high 18 RBI hitting cleanup in the batting order and has been on a home-run
tear lately, hitting three home runs in the last two game giving him four for the season along with five doubles and a triple. “You really can’t throw to him either,” said Frederick of Gannon’s prowess at the plate. “He’s unbelievable. He’s a big, strong kid that also plays linebacker on the football team. He’s crushing the ball now and if can finish off the year strong and duplicate it next year, he has a chance at being the program’ first career 100-hit player – he’s that good.” Frederick also singled out sophomore outfielder Jett Tinik, sophomore shortstop Rocco Richards and senior third baseman Kyle Bailey for taking their game to the next level this season. “Jett’s a kid that chokes up on the bat and does anything he can to get on base. He’s a coach’s dream and really underappreciated. He’s a grinder, he’s fast and he’s a three-sport athlete and you can trust the kid to do anything. Rocco’s a kid that has a ton of potential and he’s a real slick fielder. He’s always been a really good defender but has come into his own as an offensive player. He came in bigger and stronger this year and it’s made a world of difference power-wise. Kyle’s also a big, strong kid and when he hits it he can do damage. He has a good eye and when he makes contact he can hurt you.” The Fliers are currently 11-7 and finished with a 7-7 division record. They’ve qualified for a spot in the Shore Conference Tournament for the first time in over 10 years and that has the team pumped.
Nonetheless, the season did end on a high note, as they won their final two games of the year, including a 13-4 rout of Central Jersey Group I semifinalist Point Beach and a 2-0 decision over a 16-win Ocean Township club in a game that then-freshman Bryan Young tossed a seven-hit completegame shutout for his first career win.
“We’re absolutely excited,” said Frederick about qualifying. “We took our lumps last year and this has been a long time coming. The way we’ve battled this year after what the guys went through last year I couldn’t be any more happy for them.”
“I think that game solidified that we had two pitchers that we could count on to compete this year,” said Frederick. “Bryan was pitching J.V. and he was a kid we wanted to take a look at and he ended up throwing a shutout. We definitely started playing well at the end of the year and we were looking to gain some confidence going into this year.” For most of the year, Young (4-2, 27.2 IP, 17 K, 18 BB, 4.30 ERA) has been counted on as the number two starter behind Cole in their three-man rotation, which also includes TCNJ commit Sebastian JnoBaptiste.
As their No. 1 pitcher and ace of the staff, he has 39 strikeouts in 26.1 innings pitched, going 4-3 with a 3.99 ERA and is hitting .400 with four home runs and 17 RBI – all team-highs.
Neptune would also like to make another run in the state playoffs and Frederick feels the opportunity is there.
NEPTUNE BASEBALL Photo by S. Smith
“We’re going to be either the seventh or eighth seed; I think right now we’re the seventh,” said Frederick on where his team will be seeded. “We have the talent to make a run – we can really hit – and if our pitchers can consistently find the strike zone, we’ll be fine. I don’t think we’re an easy out for anyone in our bracket.”
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Page 8 Jersey Sporting News • 5/14/19 - 5/27/19
3-PEAT FOR WARRIORS IN SCT LACROSSE HEALTH SERVICES By Jim Rosa
WEST LONG BRANCH – Much like this year’s girls Shore Conference final, the boy’s championship game featured many of the same elements. On one side, you had the Manasquan Warriors, who came into the game with a multi-year Shore Conference championship streak. This year’s outright A Central champions had all the skill and chemistry needed to come away with three Shore Conference titles in a row. Manasquan’s seniors have been very important for a team that has emerged as a state power throughout recent years.
The Warriors came into the game with a perfect 18-0 record and played very well against CBA earning a 12-7 win over the Colts to give Manasquan the title and their 19th win of the season. Their path to the final featured wins against Rumson-Fair Haven, 14-4 and Howell, 18-4. On the other side of the bracket, CBA hoped to battle Manasquan and avenge a loss to Warriors earlier this season. While the Colts were competitive to start the game, Manasquan eventually found their winning formula. In Class A North, CBA finished first with a record of 11-
6. The Colts had previous wins over Red Bank Catholic, Freehold Township, and a tough semifinal game against Shore Regional. In that game, the Colts defeated the Blue Devils, 8-7. CBA had one previous meeting with Manasquan when the Warriors came away with a 15-4 victory. The goal for the Colts was to fight Manasquan for every possession, and in the beginning of the game the Colts had some success in doing so. Manasquan’s James Pendergist opened up the scoring for the Warriors early in the game after missing the Shore Conference semifinals with an injury. Manasquan would then make the score 2-0 after Rob Pendergist connected on a shot which was assisted by Canyon Birch.
After CBA got on the board to make it a 2-1 game, Birch connected for his first goal of the game. Birch has had a stellar career for Manasquan as he recently became New Jersey’s all-time leading scorer. At that point, Manasquan was staked to a 3-1 lead before CBA would strike again to make it 3-2.
At 4-2, Manasquan looked as if they were gaining momentum after a James Pendergist goal. However, CBA eventually evened the game and at 4-4, it was a brand new game. Manasquan would eventually go on a run and outscore CBA, 8-2, the rest of the way with Birch scoring five goals in the game. There is no doubt that Birch is the leader of this Manasquan team. However, it took a team effort for the Warriors to come away with this win. It only takes one shot for opposing defenses to take a step back when facing Birch. Therefore, he has plenty of opportunities to open up the scoring.
Birch talked about his team’s persistence throughout the game as well as finding a way to dominate the game throughout the final three quarters on their way to the win. “It all started with our defense. Once our defense started making stops and getting the ball back to our offense, our offense started to click eventually,” Birch explained. “Our defense got on a really good hot streak in that second quarter. Their offense couldn’t really do anything during that time and that got us a lot of
extra possessions that we were able to capitalize on,” he added.
Lacrosse is a game of momentum and that was something that the Warriors were able to capture throughout the entire tournament, including the final. Like many teams that win the Shore Conference, they know that there is plenty of season left to be played as Shore Conference teams match up with perennial state powers. Birch explained how the Shore Conference Tournament win has been able to provide his team momentum going into the state tournament in the past as well as this current season. He explained that this year’s win will only help gain more momentum as the State tournament approaches. “We are definitely happy with this win. We will celebrate it today. Tomorrow we will be back to work whether it is watching film or shooting on our own, we will be getting back to work. Monday we will get back to practice as a team where we will be working towards our next championship,” Birch added. One of the things that separate Manasquan from other teams is their
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MANASQUAN’S MICHAEL PAGE high-powered offense. Birch explained what has helped the Manasquan offense click in so many ways. “We just have so much chemistry that it really helps our offense. We have all been friends for years and we practice a lot on our own time so that really helps our offense be so efficient,” he added. “I have to thank my past and present teammates forhelping me to reach that milestone,” said Birch of his status as the state’s all-time leading scorer. “There are many things that have helped me get to the point that I am at today. Whether it’s alumni that have come back and taught me things that they have learned in college or my brother coming back and being there for me, these are all things that have really helped me achieve that milestone,” he explained. Birch hopes to have a lasting reminder of his high school career as the Warriors look to be contenders for a state title this season. It certainly is not easy for an undefeated team to keep the momentum going; however, Manasquan’s senior-led group knew exactly how important the Shore Conference title would be for their legacy in Shore Conference lacrosse.
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5/14/19 - 5/27/19 • Jersey Sporting News
Page 9
Rumson-Fair Haven Defeats RBC for Seventh Straight SCT Title By Jim Rosa WEST LONG BRANCH – The Rumson-Fair Haven girls lacrosse team has been nothing short of a state power over the last few years. Cited by many as a top five team in New Jersey, the Bulldogs came into Saturday’s Shore Conference Tournament lacrosse final with one thing in mind, “continue the streak.” Rumson had won the last six Shore Conference titles, with Red Bank Catholic being the last team standing in their way to a seventh straight title. Each team has had a great season. The top-seeded Bulldogs came into the game with an 18-2 record which saw them win the outright A Central division title. Their path to the final showed just how dominant of a team they are, winning each of their first three games of the tournament by a least three goals. The team opened with a 16-6 win over Howell in the first round, a 19-3 win over Wall in the second round, and 12-6 victory over rival Red Bank Regional in the semifinals. The run for the Bulldogs continued on Saturday when they earned their seventh straight SCT title, defeating Red Bank Catholic, 9-6. RBC never backed down and proved that they can certainly make some noise as state sectional playoffs commence later this month. Overall, the Caseys had a very good tournament run as third-seeded Red Bank Catholic rolled to wins over Jackson Liberty and Middletown South in the opening two rounds. The biggest test for the Caseys came in their semifinal win against Manasquan. RBC and Manasquan have always been rivals, so the emotions during the game were at an all-time high. With that said, RBC was able to advance to the final by defeating
Manasquan, 9-8. Not only did the win send the Caseys to the Shore Conference final but it also erased some sour feelings after falling to Manasquan by one game in the A Central Division. It was RBC’s first appearance in the Shore Conference final since the 2014 season. Red Bank Catholic came into Saturday’s came with a 16-3 record. RFH and RBC previously met back on April 11. In that game, Rumson-Fair Haven found a way to keep their Shore Conference winning streak intact, winning the game, 11-10. In the final, RBC once again gave the Bulldogs all that they could handle as they opened the game with two straight goals. It was Riley O’Connor who converted twice from the free position to give the Caseys the early lead. Rumson knew that this game would come down to execution and from there the Bulldogs showed everyone why they are one of the best teams in the entire state. Shortly after RBC was staked to a two-goal lead, RFH was able to get on the board via a Cassie James goal. Chase Boyle then converted a nice shot as Rumson drew even at 2-2. Rumson earned their first lead of the game with 10:53 in the first half as Jordan Johnson made it a 3-2 game. RBC, however, would not back down as O’Connor scored once again for the Caseys. Rumson would add two more goals before the break as they went into the half with a 5-3 lead. The second half would go down as a competitive one as Mackenzie Boyle and Ava Smith helped get the game within a
RUMSON - FAIR HAVEN SCT CHAMPS one-goal margin. At 6-5, it was looking as if this game could come down to the wire. With continuing persistence, Rumson knew that they would have to give it all they had if they wanted to continue their Shore Conference winning streak. They did just that as James once again found the back of the net to stake Rumson to a 7-5 lead. RBC then came back once again to make it a one-goal game when Smith netted what would be the last RBC goal of the game. From there, RFH would tack on two more goals, eventually coming away with the 9-6 win. It was a close game which showed RBC’s ability to keep pace with the Bulldogs throughout the entirety of the game once again. One of the added story lines of the game was the battle between sisters Mackenzie Boyle of RBC and Chase Boyle of RFH. After the game, Chase explained that it is ultimately an exciting time playing against her older sister, one that she is quite grateful for.
RUMSON - FAIR HAVEN CELEBRATES SCT VICTORY Photos by Jim Rosa
“I love playing against my sister. It’s a great opportunity because she calms me down easily and I can calm her down easily when we are playing against one another. Even though we are playing on differ-
ent teams we are still working together throughout the field,” Chase said. “This is my favorite thing to be able to play against my sister.” Chase also spoke of her team’s big win and what the Shore Conference final meant to her and her team. “We have one of the most competitive leagues in the state in the Shore Conference. We know that when we play a team like Manasquan or RBC that we are going have a competitive game. Those are our favorite games to play,” she explained. Of course, the Bulldogs knew just how much work they were going have to put in to achieve a “seven-peat” in the Shore Conference Tournament. “We knew that RBC was going to come out here and play like they had nothing to lose. We knew exactly what we had to fight for and I think that is what kept us going in this game,” Chase added. RFH’s dominance has been nothing short of one of the greatest Shore Conference runs. That run should ultimately help them in their state sectional bracket as well. With a core group of seniors and underclassmen, RFH will be looking to make a deep state tournament run.
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Page 10 Jersey Sporting News • 5/14/19 - 5/27/19
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CBA Golf Continues Winning Tradition By Jim Rosa
LINCROFT – At Christian Brothers Academy, there are certain programs that you can always keep an eye on. In the spring, a CBA program with great success is typically the golf team. It has been a great season so far for the Colts as they’ve captured Monmouth County Tournament and Shore Conference titles. In addition to their spectacular tournament performances, CBA has performed well throughout their regular season matches. When a team plays well in both the regular season as well as in tournaments, there is greater chance that a team could very well finish the season with plenty of success and accolades. Currently, the team is 13-0 overall and has been led by their top three players in Brendan Hansen, Jack Wall, and Randall Lazzaro.
“It’s always fun to play with my teammates. Jack, Brendan, and I have been playing ‘against’ each other since we were little,” said Lazzaro of the tournament and how friendly competition between members of his team allows them to enjoy the game.
All three Colts played exceptional golf at the SCT as Hansen finished first, Wall finished second, and Lazzaro finished fourth. With big performances from their top three guys, CBA was able to hold off Toms River North for a 292-312 win.
“It was really cool for Brendan and me to finish at the top because it shows that we are both playing well going into the final stretch of our high school golf careers,” said Wall of the Shore Conference Tournament, as well as his golf career at CBA thus far.
“We just go out there and take it shot by shot and see where it falls,” Lazzaro explained. “Winning the SCT and the MCT were great, but we have bigger goals as team. We all take pride in being able to play for such a well-established program. There have been so many great golfers that have graduated from CBA throughout the years that it has been such a great honor to be able to be on the tournament team.”
“We always have a ton of fun playing with each other because we are relaxed and we don’t worry a ton about golf. We are able to take the pressure off of each other and just play fun golf,” Wall continued. He ultimately credits the brotherhood that the CBA Golf program creates which has helped him and his teammates have lasting success playing for the school. “What makes CBA golf great is the brotherhood. We are all very close and it makes playing the game that much easier. We are all having fun out there. We are always passionate about golf because we set goals and push each other to accomplish those goals every year,” Wall explained. “We all go out in tournaments with the mindset that ‘it’s just another round of golf’ and I think that’s what helps all of us be successful,” Lazzaro added when asked what it takes to be successful. Golf has certainly played a big role in the lives of all three. Hansen will be continuing his career at Rutgers University, while Wall will be heading to the University of South Carolina. CBA’s success this season started with a 153-176 win over Howell. From there, the Colts defeated RumsonFair Haven, 142-165. After some local wins, the Colts made their way to the Garden State Cup, where they dethroned Bergen Catholic, and came away with the team title. Once again, it was Hansen, Wall, and Lazarro who has big days to lead the Colts to the 302319 win. This was a big win for CBA as the Colts and Home Moments Crusaders came into this tournament as the best teams in New Jersey. Bergen Catholic had won each of the previous three Garden State Cups by a wide margin of victory making this an exciting early season tournament win for CBA. Wall and Hansen each shot a 1-over 73, which was tied for the second best score of that day. Wall came into the season and the two-time reigning T.O.C. champion and hopes to make it three in a row this season. Currently, the Colts are one of two undefeated teams in their section. In South Jersey Non-Public A, both CBA and Saint Augustine have undefeated records at 13-0 and 14-0, respectively. Saint Joe’s (Metuchen) and Paul IV currently have the next best records in the section at 13-1 and 10-8.
CBA’S JACK WALL Photos by Tom Smith
The Colts know that their ultimate goal is to win another T.O.C. title. For CBA, however, the goal will be to focus on their growth as a team and playing good golf as the postseason comes near. “We just really need to focus
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While CBA has certainly had a tradition of winning, Lazzaro explained that playing golf at the school has helped him and the team both on the greens and in life. “Coach (Tim) Sewnig always stresses to us to do the right thing in life and in golf. I couldn’t have had a better experience representing CBA and playing with my friends,” he said. “We know that there are a few teams that could go really low. We are really just focused on the things that we can control and how we play as a team.” Lazarro added when asked about the competition that stands between the Colts and another T.O.C. title. As of right now, the Colts will look to continue building off of the success that they have had this season while looking to continue their recent success come postseason time. With a close knit team, and a ton of experience, CBA knows that this season could definitely end with that ultimate goal of winning the T.O.C. title.
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5/14/19 - 5/27/19 • Jersey Sporting News
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Page 12 Jersey Sporting News • 5/14/19 - 5/27/19
The Upper Back Knots That Won’t Go Away By Chris Pepitone D.C. SOT® Certified
Upper back knots are a common complaint amongst the regular massage clientele. Especially those knots that are resistant to being worked on in between the shoulder blade and the spine. The therapist is great at finding them and the pain you feel with the pressure is a ‘good hurt.’ There even tends to be multiple in a line down the upper back. What if you were to find out that those ‘knots’ may not be knots at all. They may actually be where the rib meets the vertebra of the spine. That knot can actually be the rib head that is misaligned, fixated, and irritated. Like any irritated joint when pushed on it hurts, but with a regular pressure you get an endorphin release which provides a temporary, but well needed relief.
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FALCONS SOAR TO NEW SCHOOL RECORD AND MCT RELAY CHAMPIONSHIP By Eric Braun
There are other symptoms that can be tied into this problem even though you may not think them related. Some of these include chest tightness (difficulty taking a deep breath from either tightness or pain), pain with coughing or sneezing, it can spread out and create neck tightness and even in some cases reflux or GERD, chronic cough, and chronic chest colds can also be tied into this condition. Other areas that can stem from this are different types of shoulder pains which can get in the way of you being active or playing with your children or grandchildren. For such a simple problem to fix don’t let it nag you for years to come. If you would like to know more about how this problem is treated you can consult a Sacro Occipital Technic ® certified practitioner who specializes in conditions just like this. You can call us at 732-747-0083 or visit us at www.PureHealthNJ.com.
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MONMOUTH REGIONAL TRACK TAKES 1ST AT MCT DISTANCE RELAY Photo courtesy of Monmouth Regional’s Twitter page MIDDLETOWN – A day that started out as a beautiful spring afternoon with perfect conditions for outdoor track in the low 70's and plenty of sunshine, quickly turned into a gloomy afternoon, as the fog and cold made their way back to the Jersey Shore, making for typical weather conditions for this spring season. The weather may have changed, but the athletes showed no negative change as they all showed why they deserved to be at the Monmouth County Relays at Middletown North. This was the case for the Monmouth Regional girls distance medley relay team that sprinted out to the lead early and never looked back. Samantha Ragenklint, who ran a 3:46 on her opening 1200 meters, got the Falcons off to a flying start, followed by Kayla Anthony with a 64 on her 400 meters, then Sydney Todd with a 2:18 on her 800 meters, and finished with Amanda Stone running 5:14 on her 1600 meters. The four runners combined to take home gold in the event with a time of 12:24.7 and along the way set the new Monmouth Regional High School record with the time.
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5/14/19 - 5/27/19 • Jersey Sporting News
Page 13
SAINT JOHN VIANNEY DOWNS MIDDLETOWN SOUTH, 5-0 ADVANCES TO 10TH STRAIGHT MCT FINAL By Mike Ready
WALL – Even the senior prom couldn’t slow down the Saint John Vianney softball express. Only hours after Saint John Vianney’s five senior starters celebrated their senior prom, they were back at it on the field without missing a beat and helping the top-seeded Lancers beat fourth-seeded Middletown South, 5-0, in Saturday’s semifinal at Wall High School. With the win, the undefeated Lancers (20-0) – ranked No.1 in the state – advance to their 10th straight Monmouth County Tournament and earn the chance to raise their record in those games to a perfect 10-0.
“I felt good out there,” Parker said after the game. “I felt confident and knew everyone behind me was going to make the play and everyone was going to deliver at bat.” There’s a reason Parker is confident in her defense behind because they don’t make mistakes. The Lancers’ signature defense again played error-free softball – a trademark of head coach Kim Lombardi’s teams – while the Eagles’ two errors in the bottom of the third led to three-unearned runs for the Lancers.
Junior Julia Parker put the seniors on her shoulders Saturday going the distance picking up her 15th shutout of the season and 20th win.
For teams to have any shot at beating this juggernaut of a team, rule number one is that you must play mistake-free softball and Middletown South did not do that and it cost them.
The hard-throwing righty allowed just three base runners through six innings of work courtesy of a first-inning single, fifth-inning hit batsman and a sixth-inning base on balls.
“Julia doesn’t give up many hits and she has great defense behind her,” said Lombardi. “When she’s on the mound she gets a chance to win every single game.”
She finished with a three-hit shutout, striking out five, walking one and hitting one batter in another dazzling performance by the Lancers’ dominant ace.
In that third inning, senior second baseman Alexis Agrapides laced a two-out single down the third-base line. Sophomore shortstop Haley Ahr followed with a line single to right that was misplayed into an error, allowing Agrapides to score all the way from first and Ahr to advance to second.
The Eagles’ two hits in the top of the seventh were both the seeing-eye variety that Parker shrugged off and then promptly struck out the last batter of the game in true Julia Parker fashion.
“I try to tell my kids to be aggressive and good things come from being aggressive on the base paths,” said Lombardi referencing Agrapides scoring all the way from first. “Sometimes you’re going to get out being aggressive, but rather them get out trying to take that extra base than not score that run because we were passive.” Senior catcher Ally Jones then skied a fly ball to right that was dropped, allowing Ahr to score for a 2-0 lead with Jones taking second on the play. With Jones now in scoring position, senior right fielder and cleanup hitter Gabby Polera drilled a single to center scoring Jones for a 3-0 lead. Parker then recorded a 1-2-3 fourth before the Lancers tacked on another run in the bottom half of the inning. Freshman centerfielder Mackenzie Bloss stroked a one-out double down the third-base line and senior third baseman Jess Campana followed with a perfect bunt single to put runners at the corners with only one out. Campana then bluffed going to second initiating a throw from the catcher to second base that resulted in a rundown with Campana eventually being tagged out, but it got the job done as Bloss scampered home on the throw for a 4-0 advantage after four innings of play.
SJV’S ALLY JONES Photos by Tom Smith
In the fifth, Agrapides led off the inning with a shot off the base of the left field fence for a double and went to third on a groundout. Jones then brought her home, drilling an RBI single to centerfield pushing the Lancers lead to 5-0.
SJV’S HALEY AHR The Lancers’ opponent in Tuesday’s final will be second-seed Middletown North (17-5), a team they’ve already beaten twice this season and the team they beat, 5-2, in last year’s Monmouth County Tournament final. “We just want to take it game by game, but it feels great getting back there,” said Parker of the MCT final. “North’s a great opponent and we know what to expect and we’re just going to come out to win.” However, the Lions – ranked No. 11 in the state – are not to be overlooked. They’re a veteran team that boasts one of the premier pitchers in the state in Malori Bell. Bell has recorded 270 strikeouts in 142 innings pitched while allowing just 22 earned runs for a miniscule 1.08 ERA. “I don’t even think about that,” Lombardi said when asked about getting that 10th MCT title in a row. “I just think about winning the game ahead of us so we’ll be up against Middletown North and this will be the third time we’ve seen them. They’re a great team that’s coached well so it should be exciting.” Jones finished going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI, while Polera was 1-for-3 with two RBI and Apgrapides had two hits in three at bats, including a double and two runs scored. Freshman Hope Mulane pitched gallantly for the Eagles, but took the loss going six innings allowing five runs (2 ER), eight hits without issuing a walk.
Become a Lancer! Saint John Vianney High School 540A Line Rd., Holmdel, NJ 07733 732-739-0800 www.sjvhs.org
For more information or to set up a tour contact Director of Admissions, Patti Gilmartin, gilmartin@sjvhs.org / 732-739-0800 Ext. 155
Page 14 Jersey Sporting News • 5/14/19 - 5/27/19
MARINERS SAILING TO SUCCESS ON THE FAIRWAY By Casey Krish TOMS RIVER – The high school golfing community is a calm one. The sport always allows for these young adults to grab their clubs and enjoy a nice relaxing evening out on the range. Over the past few years, one thing has been a certainty – expect Toms River North to not always take things lightly. There is no doubt they’ll be battling to the 18th hole. Since the 2011 season, Toms River North has dominated the golfing greens across the Shore Conference, picking up at least 11 wins every season and never losing more than four head-to-head matchups on their schedule.
Course in Little Egg Harbor. In this year’s 45th annual event, the Mariners not only won the team championship for the second straight year, but senior Connor Bekefi won the individual title after edging out freshman teammate Leo Kean by four shots. In 2018, Bekefi fell just short of the individual crown after being defeated by Kyle Rogers of Jackson Memorial in a playoff hole.
With all the dominance that the program has displayed over the past decade, what would make a 12-0 start to the 2019 season so special?
“Connor is a very special young man who inspires everyone around him to have the same work ethic that he does,” Fazzini said of the Ocean County champion. “He can be hard on himself at times on the course, but he has the wherewithal to put aside his mistakes and just focus on the next shot.”
“The catalyst of this year’s team is the bond these young men have with one another,” head coach David Fazzini said. “They are like brothers and have great chemistry with one another. They all have the drive and determination to improve their game and that is something to be admired.”
The team title speaks volumes to the depth that the Mariners employ in their lineup. Not only did Bekefi finish first in the individual standings with a score of 75, but Kean was right behind him in second at 79, while Bill Fluery finished in ninth place, only 12 shots off the lead pace.
Toms River North has become a staple in the annual Ocean County Tournament at the par-72 Sea Oaks Golf
“This success is a testament to the work ethic and perseverance of our players,” Fazzini said. “They all work on their golf game year round and take lead from their captain. They are never satisfied and know they can always continue to improve.” With the team title from the Ocean County Tournament newly minted in the trophy case in the halls of Toms River North, the next challenge for the Mariners was making some noise at the Shore Conference Tournament on the greens of the Charleston Spring Golf Course in Millstone. Bekefi had yet another strong performance in the individual standings, ultimately falling just one stroke short to Christian Brother Academy’s Brendan Hansen –- who would ultimately win the title on a playoff hole against his teammate Jack Wall. Bekefi shot a 70 on the par-under-72, 6,377 yard course, and North also got strong showings from Kean (77) and John O’Donnell (80), who both finished in the top 15. Anthony Mazzola finished 31st at 85 strokes.
TOMS RIVER NORTH’S BILL FLEURY
TOMS RIVER NORTH’S LEO KEAN Photos by Tom Smith recent success, Fazzini noted that his entire lineup gets the attention that they each earned.
away exceeded the expectations placed on him,” Fazzini said of the freshman. “He really has risen to the challenge and competed at the highest level of golf in the area.”
“John O’Donnell and Bill Fleury have been instrumental in our undefeated campaign thus far,” Fazzini said. “They have been posting score after score that have been keeping us in matches.” O’Donnell and Fleury are both in line to return to the roster in 2020, with Fleury set to become a senior leader to the group. O’Donnell will be a junior who has started since his freshman year.
Kean was a major reason for the Mariners capturing the Ocean County Tournament championship for the second straight year, needing just 79 strokes on the par-72 course, second behind Bekefi. His strong effort helped TRN finish 18 strokes ahead of second place Southern Regional.
“John made a 20-foot putt on the last hole against Wall Township in our closest match of the year, and Bill fired an impressive one-under-par to defeat Brick Memorial, our closest division competition.”
As the regular season comes to a close, the Mariners will shift their attention to the NJSIAA Central/South Sectional Tournament at the Charleston Springs Golf Course, the same location as the Shore Conference championship.
Anthony Mazzola, the fifth man in the Mariners lineup, has also been a welcome addition this season as a sophomore.
Toms River North will give it their best effort when they take to the course in the coming weeks, and regardless of the outcome, the Mariners will certainly be the team giving it their best. They might have the goal to be at the top once the Tournament of Champions meet breaks later in May, but the desired results will take a back seat in the coming weeks, because they know the only thing they can control are the results they post themselves.
“We had a very strong finish at the Shore Conference finals, but we were not satisfied by any means,” Fazzini said. “We certainly learned that we have the ability to play with some elite teams such as CBA, but we know we still have to continue to strive toward our goals.”
Freshman Kean burst onto the scene this year, slotting into the starting lineup and producing numbers that have already put the rookie into the conversation of top golfers in the Shore Conference. Kean has had no problems fitting into the lineup as the lone newcomer on the roster.
While Bekefi has the accolades and trophies to back up the notion of being the leader for a program bestowed in
“We knew coming into high school that Leo was going to be a competitive addition to the team, but he has far and
“Our goal is to just be a competitive team in both our group sectional, and the T.O.C. if we can get there.” Fazzini said.
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Central Regional Tennis Making a Comeback on the Court By Casey Krish
ing in this direction,” Van Hise said. “We also have a strong base of alumni who are always willing to come back to work with our guys during the offseason, and to really keep tennis alive and well in a community that really isn’t considered to be known as a tennis hot bed.”
BERKELEY TOWNSHIP – The Central Regional Golden Eagles have been one of the more consistent teams on the Shore Conference boys tennis scene over the past several years. With the recent history of success on the courts in Berkeley Township, there was much head scratching among those associated with the program in 2018.
With the regular season in the rear view mirror, Central Regional can shift its attention to postseason play – something that the program did not get much experience with last year. Central qualified for the Shore Conference Tournament as the 22nd seed, setting up a first-round matchup with 11th-seeded Manasquan. Central lost the match, 5-0, but being able to participate in the tournament and to put up respectable scores against a quality opponent in the Warriors shows the strides that were made during the offseason.
Central Regional is coming off a 4-14 showing just a year ago, and came into this season without the services of last year’s number one, JT Murray. Central Regional head coach Troy Van Hise says the reason behind the rare losing season was the lack of depth the Golden Eagles employed the seasons prior. “The big difference this year is the varsity depth is there,” Van Hise said while commending the current Eagles squad. “My seniors bring some varsity experience that we were lacking last year with the exception of JT Murray.” Replacing Murray – the third-place finalist at the Ocean County Tournament at first singles – was certainly a big question mark entering the 2019 campaign, but the majority of last year’s supporting cast have returned – mostly in new roles. Jake Wilfrid, a second-year starting senior, has slotted up from second singles to fill the void left by Murray. Wilfrid is coming off a solid debut in 2018, which saw him place third in the Ocean County Tournament at second singles. “We had confidence that Jake would step up for us, and it was a help with adding more depth in other returners like AJ Abode, Luke Tallman and Shane Scarella,” Van Hise said. Abode and Tallman have been instrumental pieces to the successful turnaround by the Golden Eagles as well. Both have made the transition from playing on each of the double pairs last season to fill voids in the lineup. The trio of Wilfred, Abode and Tallman has been the ignition needed.
“Every year, one of the goals set as a team is to qualify for the SCT and for the state tournament,” Van Hise said. “Qualifying for the SCT and putting up respectable individual scores against a very solid Manasquan team was a nice spring board moving forward.”
CENTRAL REGIONAL TENNIS “All three of our singles players have stepped up numerous levels this season, and have improved on their performances,” Van Hise said. “Wilfrid was solid last season and finished about .500, but this year he is up over 10 wins at first singles. Abode and Tallman went to playing at second and third singles, and they are winning some big matches as well.” Following the trio at the top of the lineup, Central employs two doubles pairs at different points in their scholastic careers. The first pair of sophomores Gavin McPartland and Jason Trapp are making their varsity debuts this season. The second pairing of seniors Pheonix LaRocca and Shane Scarella provides the Eagles with more experience from players entrenched in the program since freshman year. Scarella also received some playing time at second doubles as a junior with Tallman.
“Our first doubles pair of Trapp and McPartland have shown great improvement every step of the way. They are simply just natural athletes,” Van Hise said. “As for second doubles, LaRocca and Scarella have been with the program for all four years and have consistently been improving their games over that time.” Kwando Bekoe has also provided the Eagles with another option to slot in where needed, and has gotten most of his playing time this year at second doubles. Bekoe also filled third singles during the 2018 season. Van Hise credits the team’s string of successful seasons to the program itself. “We always field a solid junior varsity team. I have been lucky over the past few seasons to be able to have a JV program and a coach who helps keep the program mov-
Central has also qualified to compete in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group III tournament, claiming the seventh seed. Central defeated Winslow in their first-round matchup on May 8, but will most likely need to find success away from home to advance deeper into the tournament. The Golden Eagles will also take part in the Ocean County Tournament, in which Murray and Wilfrid each placed third individually just a season ago. In this year’s tournament, Wilfrid will slot in at first singles. “I am looking forward to our matchups in the state tournament, as well as the OCT coming up.” Van Hise said. Regardless of the time spent in the NJSIAA tournament, or the individual or team success at the OCT, Central Regional has proven that it can take a few hits, but it will always find a way to get back up quickly.
5/14/19 - 5/27/19 • Jersey Sporting News
Page 15
Southern Regional Gearing for More Success Behind Maxwell By Casey Krish
MANAHAWKIN – When it comes to boys volleyball, Southern Regional quickly comes to mind as one of the premier programs around, not only in the Shore Conference, but the entire state of New Jersey. Being able to play into early June, deep into the NJSIAA state tournament is what many teams would consider to be a great season. In fact, many teams would be honored to be one of the 64 clubs that get invited to play for the state crown. For Southern Regional, the only thing that constitutes a successful season is being the final team standing.
course of his four-year career, the Rams have accumulated a record of 136-10, and have won two state championships. Being labeled as the best team in the state can come with its challenges. There is a target on the collective backs of the Rams, who have remained on their perch for most of the last decade. However, there are very few teams that have been able to knock the Rams from the top of the state rankings. In the latest rankings by New Jersey Advanced Media, Southern Regional was ranked No. 3, and has not dropped out of the top five during this season.
ETES, WE CAN HELP YOUR PAIN! The run for the Rams has been dominating to say the least. Southern has won 10 straight South Jersey Tournament championships, reaching the overall state title game in all 10 seasons.
Southern has won six overall state titles since 2009, claiming their spot in New Jersey volleyball history in 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017. The six titles rank second all-time in the state behind only Bridgewater-Raritan, who has won seven overall state titles – with five of those coming between 1989 and 1994. Among the senior cast has been Matt Maxwell, a four-year varsity starter and son of head coach Eric Maxwell. Over the
So far this season, Southern Regional has gone 27-2, and much of the success can be attributed to Maxwell’s excellent senior campaign. The 5-10 senior has racked up over 500 assists this year alone, putting up at least 20 assists in 12 of his team’s first 29 matches. Over his career, Maxwell is approaching 1,600 assists, and has just recently eclipsed the 1,000 plateau in digs as well.
Perhaps the highlight of his senior season to date has been being named the Most Valuable Player at the annual Southern Regional Invitational tournament that the Rams host in Manahawkin every spring. On April 27, the Rams defeated Colts
SOUTHERN REGIONAL VOLLEYBALL
Neck in the semifinals and Sterling in the championship game to once again win the title.
Maxwell produced 41 assists on 10 digs during the two games to earn him the MVP for the second time in his career, becoming just the second player to accomplish that feat at the event.
Southern would not be on pace to win at least 30 matches for the 11th straight season without a strong cast of seniors, and a mix of younger players who are making the preparations to carry the torch once the upperclassmen graduate. Flanking Maxwell on the court have been fellow seniors Logan Lipositz and Derek Medenilla, who are first and second on the squad in digs this season, respectively.
ties:
ing in on 200 service points. Medenilla is approaching 100 service points on the year and has accredited 121 digs to his name so far. Behind the senior heavy lineup has been some contribution from the underclassmen as well. Juniors Justin Kean and Jack Healy have made significant efforts at the varsity level this year, while Ethan Case and Tommy Deakyne are two sophomores getting playing time this season.
Kean has been the Rams’ go-to offensive threat; leading the team with 220 kills, over 100 more than the next closest Ram in the category. Kean has also been a help on the defensive side as well and should reach triple digits in the upcoming weeks.
this season. He returned to the court on May 2 and has 36 kills and 13 digs in just four contests. He will be a welcomed edition to a lineup that was already capable of challenging for another state title without him. The Shore Conference Tournament final is scheduled for May 16 at Georgian Court University in Lakewood, and Southern is expected to be one of the finalists after earning the top seed. The Rams won the SCT title in 2018, defeating second-seeded Christian Brothers Academy, 2-0.
rts Injuries daches & Concussions e injuries ulder injuriesWE CAN HELP ATHLETES, WE CAN H ATHLETES, injuries WITH YOUR PAIN! ATHLETES, WE CAN HELP WITH YOUR PAIN! ATHLETES, WE CAN HELP t and ankle injuries WITH YOUR PAIN! Specialties: Specialties: ATHLETES, WEPAIN! CAN HELP WITH YOUR • Sports Injuries Sports Injuries k &• Back pain Specialties: & Concussions • Headaches & Concussions • Headaches WITH YOUR PAIN! • Sports Injuries • Knee injuries •Specialties: Knee injuries generative medicine • Headaches & Concussions • Shoulder injuries •• Shoulder injuries Sports Injuries Specialties: • Knee injuries • Hip injuries tomized physical therapy programs •• Hip injuries Headaches & Concussions • Shoulder • Sports Injuries injuries • Foot and ankle injuries Corey Galloway, Zack Hem, Anthony LeBlanc and Drew Wligus are also members of the class of 2019 that have made contributions to the team’s streak this year.
SOUTHERN REGIONAL VOLLEYBALL MATT MAXWELL Photo courtesy of Rams Twitter
Lipositz has taken a major step forward in his second season on the varsity squad, and entering postseason play, is leading the team with over 200 digs and is clos-
Kean has stepped up for a team that has lost all three of their top offensive threats from last season’s state finalist team. Arvind Kumar (306) and Shane Bent (244) are no longer with the program, but replacing the offense has not appeared to be a problem for Southern.
Zach Hem had 264 kills as a junior a year ago, but had missed the first 25 games
Southern would like an SCT title to be an appetizer for the main course; an 11th consecutive trip to the state championship game on June 6 at South Brunswick High School. There are still weeks remaining before the final game of the season, and the Rams will not take the road lightly. The notion of keeping “the streak” alive will be enough to motivate this group to try and finish off the job for the seventh time in school history, and bring another trophy to the halls in Manahawkin.
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