5-9-11 Volume III Issue-9

May 9, 2011 Volume-III Issue-9 R BC ' s S la te M akes H is O w n Way Pa g e 3 Manalapan's Winston is All the Way Back Pa g e 4 -5 Jax Liberty Baseball Makes School History Pa g e 6 Playing With Power Pa g e 8 Crimson Comeback Pa g e 9 Boys Lax SCT Preview Pa g e 1 1 Jax Mem. Boys Lax Feature Pa g e 1 2 Stumpy's Corner Pa g e 1 5

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May 9, 2011 I Volume-III I Issue-9

A multimedia company that provides exciting and innovative coverage to high school athletics in the Shore Conference in order to highlight the achievements of local athletes in one of the premier conferences in New Jersey. Whether it’s the star of the team or the last player off the bench, everyone has a story and it is our mission to recognize as many athletes as possible and add to the memories for all of the families, coaches, friends and fans who support Shore Conference sports. Whether in print or on the Web, All Shore Media is your main source for all things exciting in the Shore Conference.

All Shore Media Web Site Features Log on to www.allshoremedia.com regularly to get video highlights of all the important games that Shore Conference fans will be talking about. Catch up on the action you might have missed and watch video clips of everything from the action early in the event to the big finish as well as video interviews with various athletes. If you can’t make it to the game, we’ll bring the game to you, and if you were at the game and want to relive the excitement, www.allshoremedia.com is all you need to get inside the action.

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Volume-III

Issue-9

5/9/11

A SM / 3

CREATING HIS OWN LEGACy: RBC’s Ryan slate

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor An easy way to get Red Bank Catholic junior lefthander Ryan Slate fired up is to refer to him as "the younger brother of former Christian Brothers Academy star pitcher Kyle Slate.''

The younger Slate is out to build his own name while wearing a different uniform, but that comparison was inescapable when he took the mound on May 8 at his brother's alma mater, which Ryan Slate also attended as a freshman before transferring to RBC. His brother, a 37thround draft pick of the Philadelphia Phillies in 2007, was even leaning on the fence and watching with everyone else on the Caseys' side.

"I didn't like to always be referred to my brother (while at CBA),'' Slate said. "I hate that.''

Despite knowing all the drama would be heightened because of what team he was pitching against, Slate was eager for the challenge. It showed in the finest performance of his varsity career, as he threw a complete-game five-hitter on just 87 pitches, not allowing a hit after the third inning to help the Caseys win their 13th straight game by knocking off the host Colts 7-3 in a Shore Conference nondivisional game. Slate (40) struck out three, walked three and only allowed one earned run while consistently getting ahead in the count in a game where there was no shortage of emotion or motivation for him.

While Slate was around the plate all day with his arsenal of a fastball, changeup and splitter, three CBA pitchers combined to issue nine walks and hit two batters. That included six walks and a hit batter that allowed RBC (14-2) to score five runs on one hit in the fifth inning to take the lead for good. In the overall win, sophomore third baseman Mike Rescigno slugged a solo homer and outfielder Andrew LaMura went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in the win. Leadoff man Joe Kissinger drew three walks, including one with the bases loaded, and also scored a run for RBC. Second baseman Jack Whaley added two hits, a hit by pitch, a stolen base and a run scored.

"The pitching generally has been pretty good, especially control,'' CBA coach Marty Kenney said. "This is unusual, and why I don't know. For whatever reason, we had guys who just all of sudden couldn't throw strikes.''

Down 3-1, the Caseys came back with a run in the fourth when Rescigno blasted an 0-1 curveball by sophomore starter Joe Dudek (3-1) over the left field fence for a solo homer that cut it to 3-2.

RBC then made its decisive move in the fifth inning when CBA's pitchers could not "One hundred percent, I throw strikes, leading to the wanted to give it to these Caseys sending 11 men to the guys,'' said Slate, who is now plate in a five-run inning.

7-0 in his varsity career. "I Kissinger drew a leadoff wanted to just get ahead, walk, stole second, went to work ahead, and get out of third on a passed ball and then here with a win.''

Pitcher Ryan Slate scored on an infield single by LaMura to tie the game.

"It's not that he's not Senior catcher Vinny Tranchina followed with a walk, capable, it's just that sometimes his focus is all over the resulting in Dudek, who had eight strikeouts in four-plus place,'' said RBC head coach Buddy Hausmann. "He's got innings, getting pulled in favor of senior reliever Brendan the stuff to be just as good as anyone. If he focuses, he's McNamara. capable of that every day.

"He's been eyeing this game up. He looks up to his brother, but it's his own thing - his own school, and his own tradition he's trying to establish.''

Senior designated hitter C.J. Lucia drew a walk off McNamara to load the bases with no outs, and following a strikeout by Rescigno, rightfielder Nick Liggett drew a walk on a 3-2 count to force in a run to make it 4-3. A

wild pitch brought home another run, and after senior first baseman Dylan Chayes followed by drawing the fifth walk of the inning, leftfielder Trevor Brain hit an RBI fielder's choice for a 6-3 lead. Kenney then inserted reliever John McCarren, who walked Kissinger with the bases loaded to make it 7-3 before getting out of the inning.

Meanwhile, Slate was settling in, as he faced only 15 batters in the final four innings, walking three, to stifle any comeback attempt by the Colts.

"All my pitches just came together today,'' Slate said.

"The adjustment I made was to go first-pitch changeup, 11 changeup, or 3-2 changeup just to keep them off balance the second time through the order.''

Not only that, but Slate was efficient, as he noted that he usually doesn't throw under 90 pitches in any outing because of control issues, let alone 87 in a complete game. After a summer in which his velocity dropped noticeably, he is rounding into form.

"I think I had a dead arm (in the summer), to be honest,'' he said. "Now I think (my arm strength) is back, and I'll just take it from here.''

Slate said his brother, who went 11-1 with a 0.38 ERA as a senior in 2007 and was eventually released by the Phillies in 2009, told him the most important thing in facing his old teammates was that "whatever they say, don't worry about it.''

The older Slate is also certainly aware of his brother having to face the constant comparison to him.

"We talk about that a lot,'' Ryan said before smiling.

"He likes it, though. He never misses a game.''

Video Highlights by:

Scott Stump

www.allshoremedia.com

Photo by:

Bill Normile

www.billnormile.zenfolio.com

Volume-III

4 / AS M

Issue-9

5/9/11

All the Way Back: Manalapan’s Jake Winston

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By Scott Stump – Managing Editor When Jake Winston was a promising freshman pitcher on the varsity team at Bishop Ahr in 2008, he figured his high school career would only get better from there.

Four years later, he feels like he is finally recapturing what he once had as a 15-year-old prospect before life got in the way. The brutal 1-2 punch of the death of his father, Rutgers Hall of Famer and former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Darrin Winston from a ruptured spleen at 42 years old, and mysterious arm trouble that turned out to be a stress fracture threw him into a tailspin. It made that freshman year seem like a distant memory by the time he transferred to Manalapan as a junior last year.

The Manalapan senior lefty and Elon University recruit finally felt like his old self again when he threw six shutout innings against a tough lineup to propel the Braves, ranked No. 1 in the All Shore Media Top 10, to a 3-0 Shore Conference nondivisional win over No. 2

"My freshman year I knew that good things were going to happen throughout my high school career,'' he said. "Then my father passed away, then I ended up hurting my arm, and that just started a snowball effect downward. I was getting nervous and starting to become a headcase, but I was able to bear down, trust God, and find my way back.''

Jackson Memorial in a highly-anticipated game on May 5. The game was a rematch of last season's NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV final, where the Braves lost to the Jaguars in Manalapan's first appearance in a sectional final in school history. Manalapan won its 12th straight game in a match-up of division champions.

Winston, who is Manalapan's No. 2 starter behind Notre Dame recruit Kyle Rubbinaccio, allowed four hits, struck out seven and walked three on 106 pitches before being pulled after walking the leadoff man in the top of the seventh inning. After a shaky first inning in which he walked two batters to load the bases before getting an inning-ending groundout, Winston settled in. Junior Billy Gulino then worked out of a basesloaded jam in the seventh by inducing a game-ending flyout to center field by senior second baseman Andy Lopez to seal the shutout and help Winston improve to 3-1.

After finishing 2-1 with a 6.58 ERA in 22 1/3 innings as a junior while continuing to recover from arm trouble, Winston was still trying to recapture the fluid form that had him eerily resembling his father, who also was a left-handed pitcher.

"After the first inning today, I thought he pitched phenomenally,'' said Manalapan coach Brian Boyce. "I thought this was his best outing.''

"As the game was going on, I was hitting my spots and placing my fastball, which helped a lot,'' Winstno said. "I also Senior pitcher Jake Winston

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Winston outdueled Jackson junior righty Brandon Holup, who pitched a complete game, scattering seven hits, striking out two, walking one and only allowing one earned run.

The Braves scored the only run they would need in the third inning when junior third baseman Joe Serrapica reached on a fielder's choice, went to third on a one-out double by senior shortstop Rich Ricciardi and then scored on an RBI sacrifice fly by senior Nick Kreiger for a 1-0 advantage.

The Braves then took advantage of some defensive breakdowns to score a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to pad the lead. Senior outfielder Alex DeCastro reached on a fielder's choice and then senior catcher Chris Baird hit a single that was misplayed in the outfield to allow DeCastro to score all the way from first base. The relay throw home was out of play, allowing Baird to trot to third base, and senior Derek Kawa followed by ripping an RBI single down the third base line for a 3-0 advantage. Kawa finished 2for-3 with a walk, and second baseman Brian Lamboy also had two hits in the win.

A SM / 5 Jackson had its chances, including a first inning in which senior outfielder Matt Meleo, who went 2for-4, hit a leadoff single, followed by a pair of twoout walks that loaded the bases. Winston escaped by getting an inning-ending groundout to third by Chris Russo to avoid a tough opening frame like he had in his previous start, when he surrendered three firstinning runs in an eventual 5-4 comeback win over Christian Brothers Academy.

"That first inning, I don't know what it is,'' Winston said. "I'm always starting guys out 2-0. I've just got to start getting guys 0-1 and 0-2. I didn't throw enough in the bullpen. I want to end up throwing my first inning in the bullpen to get out there for my second inning.''

He retired 12 of 13 batters between the second through the fifth innings before Jackson put together another threat in the sixth inning with Manalapan clinging to a 1-0 lead. Lopez hit a leadoff single, went to second on a sacrifice bunt and advanced to third on a groundout, but Winston whiffed Russo to kill the threat.

Winston started the seventh inning, but after a leadoff walk to third baseman Spencer Young, who also had two hits in the game, he was pulled by Boyce in favor of Gulino with his pitch count over 100.

"My arm felt great, the adrenaline was starting to kick in, and I felt good,'' Winston said. "I kind of had a feeling it was going to happen, but I didn't want to come out.''

The victory helped salve the wound a little for Manalapan after losing to the Jaguars in a big spot last year, but there is certainly the chance that it is only the first of several meetings this season between two of the state's top teams.

"Psychologically, I think it's important, too,'' Boyce said. "I think it's almost a definite that we'll see this team again.''

As for Winston, it was the latest step in a full recovery from a career that was nearly derailed at several junctures. He also has faced some adversity this season, as he was roughed up for six runs by Middletown South in the team's only loss, but has continued to progress and regain the promise he once took for granted.

"I'm just feeling better and better,'' he said. "Ever since that loss to Midd. South, I have gotten more confident and spotted my pitches much better, so I feel like I'm the pitcher I always thought I would be back when I was a freshman.''

Photos & Video Highlights by:

Scott Stump www.allshoremedia.com

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Volume-III

6 / A SM

Issue-9

5/9/11

Exorcising the Demons:

Jackson liberty Baseball Makes History

By Matt Manley – Senior Staff Writer J acks o n Lib er ty co ach J im Rank in ad mits th at he h as r ep lay ed th e s ev en th inn ing o f las t y ear ' s S h or e Co n f er en ce To ur n amen t s emif in al ag ains t J ack s o n M emo r ial in his h ead ju s t ab o u t ev er y day s in ce the J agu ar s b eat Ran k in ' s Lio n s o n a g ame- w in n in g h o me r u n in th e b o tto m o f the s eventh in nin g .

O n A p r il 3 0 , h is team g av e him a n ew, mor e p leas an t memo r y to p lay o v er in his h ead u ntil the n ex t time th e cr os s to w n r iv als meet.

Th ey ' r e ob v io us ly a f ir s t- clas s p r o gr am o ver ther e an d beatin g them s ho w s th at w e' r e cap ab le of play in g at that lev el. " P allante w as th e lo s ing pitch er in las t year ' s S CT s emif in al, a 7- 5 J ack s on M emor ial w in that en ded w h en J ag uar s cen ter f ielder M att M eleo, th en a ju nio r, laun ch ed a th r ee- r un ho me r un w ith tw o o ut in the b otto m o f the s even th to er as e a o ne- r u n def icit an d s tu n th e Lion s .

" I def initely r ememb er las t y ear ' s g ame an d it w as def in itely in th e back of my min d, " P allan te s aid . " I jus t k new I h ad to make my p itch es . I h ad s u cces s las t y ear w hen I executed my p itches , an d that' s all I tr ied to th in k ab o ut."

P allan te h ad to f ace the d emo ns of las t y ear w hen M eleo came up in the b o ttom o f the s eventh as the ty ing r u n w ith men o n f ir s t and s eco n d bas e an d o n e ou t. P allante ju mped ahead w ith a f ir s t- pitch s tr ik e and th r ew an off - s peed pitch o n his f ollow in g o ff er in g and in du ced M eleo - w ho led the S h or e Co n f er en ce w ith 51 h its las t y ear an d is amo n g th e leader s ag ain this y ear - into a f ly - ou t to lef t f ield f o r th e s eco nd o ut o f the inn ing .

Th e Lio n s s cor ed th r ee r u ns in th e s ixth inn ing an d s o p h omo r e Tyler P allante er as ed s ome b ad memo r ies o f h is o w n to n ail do w n the s av e f o r w inn in g p itcher J o hn H o lland in J ack s o n Liber ty ' s his to r ic 3 - 1 w in ov er J ack s o n M emo r ial at F ir s tEn erg y P ar k in Lak ew oo d . The w in is J acks on Liber ty ' s f ir s t o ver its J acks o n cou n ter par t in th e f o u ry ear his tor y of the p r o g r am. " A ny time y o u can b eat a qu ality team, it means s o meth in g, b u t o bv iou s ly, th is o n e is extr a s p ecial, " Ran kin s aid . " Las t y ear w as a to u gh w ay to lo s e and havin g go ne thr o u gh that, o ur g uy s r eally w an ted to play a g o od g ame an d p ull o ut a w in.

U p u ntil th e M eleo ho me r u n, P allan te had p itched mo r e th an ad mir ab ly con s id er ing h is s tatus as a f r es hman an d the s tag e, bu t lef t th e f ield o n a s o u r n ote.

" I ju s t w anted to g et ah ead o f him," P allan te s aid. " H e' s a to ug h h itter, bu t I th o ug ht if I cou ld g et him in a g o od cou n t, I co uld mak e him s w ing at s o methin g he d id n ' t w ant to s w ing at."

A lth oug h he av oided a majo r s peed bu mp in M eleo, P allan te w as n ot o ut of the w o od s , es pecially af ter g lan cing A n dy Lo pez w ith a f as tb all to load th e b as es w ith tw o o ut, w hich p us h ed the ty in g r u n in to s co r ing p o s ition . The J ack s on Lib er ty s o ph o mo r e d ug in and go t ju nio r s hor ts to p J o e O gr en to f ly ou t to lef t f ield to en d the g ame.

Sophomore pitcher Tyler Pallante

P allan te' s w or k in th e s ix th an d s ev en th in ning s mad e a w in n er o ut of H ollan d, a ju nior r igh thand er w ho allo w ed o ne r u n on s even h its in 5 1/3 in ning s an d s tr uck o ut f o ur to ju s t on e w alk .

H o lland w as n ot o n the v ar s ity team as a s op h omo r e las t y ear, b u t s h ow ed th e p ois e of a p itcher w h o h ad p itch ed u n d er th e ligh ts of a big game bef or e. " Th ey h av e a go od lin - up , s o I ju s t had to make pitches , " H o llan d s aid . " I t w as as s imple as that.

G et ah ead an d f in is h o ff th e at- bat." " H o llan d w as impr es s iv e," J ack s on M emo r ial coach F r an k M alta s aid. " H e th r ew th e ball w ell, mad e his p itch es and s h ow ed po is e. I do n ' t k no w w hy w e cou ldn ' t q uite f ig u r e ou t h ow to g et the big hit, b ut a lo t of cr ed it h as to go to th eir tw o pitcher s ."

Video Highlights by:

Matt Manley

www.allshoremedia.com Photo by:

Bill Normile

www.billnormile.zenfolio.com

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Volume-III

8 / ASM

Issue-9

5/9/11

Playing With Power

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

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or much of the season, they h a ve seen a steady diet of p i t c h e s in the dirt, breaking balls o ff t h e plate and opposing coaches s i m p l y p ointing to first base for an i n t e n t i o nal walk.

That’s life when you are among the most feared home run hitters in the Shore Conference, which Red Bank Catholic senior designated hitter C.J. Lucia and Christian Brothers Academy sophomore first baseman/pitcher Joe Dudek have become.

They have put their names up there with other well-known sluggers like West Virginia recruit Jon Roszel of Manchester and Manasquan junior first baseman Tyler Saito.

It’s one of those good news-bad news scenarios in that the home runs lead to wins and excite the fans, but they also make headlines and get opposing coaches talking about how they are going to pitch around you.

Through May 6, Lucia had a Shore Conferenceleading six home runs and Dudek was right behind him with five. Lucia is part of a power-packed lineup, as his teammate, sophomore third baseman Mike Rescigno, has four home runs after a solo shot off Dudek in a 7-3 win over CBA on May 7.

Lucia’s power surge, which included two home runs in a win over Freehold on May 5, has come after a slow start in which he was often putting too much pressure on himself to come up with the big hit. Early last season, current Seton Hall freshman Chris Selden was the one coming up with clutch hits to carry the Caseys, and Lucia and senior catcher Vinny Tranchina, who bats one spot ahead of Lucia in the No. 3 hole, were trying hard to assume that role.

An early loss to Ocean that dropped RBC to 1-2 illustrated how much the Caseys were pressing at the plate. Since then, they have rattled off 13 straight wins through May 8 thanks to a more relaxed approach.

Lucia, who was once an offensive lineman in RBC’s football program before deciding to focus on baseball, has been among the most productive hitters in the Shore. In addition to his six homers through RBC’s first 16 games, he also was among the Shore Conference leaders with 28 RBIs while batting over .400.

He has 14 home runs in his career, including eight last year to rank among the Shore Conference leaders as a junior. Lucia has also hit some of the most prodigious blasts in recent memory, including a 500foot home run at Count Basie Field that went to the train tracks next to Maple Avenue.

“I just try to stay focused and see the ball,’’ Dudek said.

“I’m seeing a lot more offspeed this year, so I’m just trying to see the ball better out of their hands.’’

Sophomore Joe Dudek

Lucia has also learned patience and a more level swing after trying to lift everything out of the park in the early going of this season. In the recent win over CBA, he walked twice in five atbats and scored a run.

"Early on he was lifting it up and swinging at bad pitches,'' Hausmann said. "I think he and the rest of the guys are letting the game come to them a little more now and backing off things a bit.''

Dudek is another one who has had some issues with pressing at the plate while serving as the anchor of CBA’s lineup in the cleanup spot.

The sophomore, who bats left-handed, still has opened some eyes among even veteran coaches with some of his longball feats. He golfed a ball in the dirt for a home run early in the

season against Freehold Township, resulting in the Patriots intentionally walking him with no one on base late in a tie game rather than risk him belting another one over the fence.

“We talked for about 45 minutes after the Ocean game about how their approach was off,'' said RBC coach Buddy Hausmann. "The feedback I was getting from Vinny (Tranchina) and CJ is that they were putting a lot of pressure on themselves.

They felt like they had to get the big hit every time without Selden, who carried us early on last year.''

Senior C.J. Lucia

the only run of the game to help the Colts advance to the quarterfinals. In a 5-4 loss to topranked Manalapan, he gave CBA a 4-3 lead by slamming a hanging breaking ball from a Division I pitcher, Elon University recruit Jake Winston, for a solo shot.

In a 1-0 win over Holmdel in a Monmouth County Tournament Round-of-16 game, he took another ball in the dirt and lifted it over the scoreboard for

After becoming just the fifth freshman to start on varsity in the 37-year tenure of head coach Marty Kenney, Dudek has become a centerpiece of the team as a sophomore. Through May 5, he led the team in hits (16) and runs scored (13), but

only had 10 RBIs despite his five home runs along with a batting average under .350.

“To be honest, I think he's pressing a bit at the plate,’’ Kenney said. “I probably expected a little bit more. He's hit well in situations where nobody is on base, but with runners in scoring position he's really pressed and hasn't been as productive as he should be. He's only got 10 RBIs, and I can't totally say it's because of the lack of hitting in front of him. Sometimes it's him pressing and not having good at-bats, and his strikeouts are a little higher than what I expected.’’

He has had to learn to deal with teams not giving him much to hit, and patience can be one of the tougher things to learn for a young hitter who wants to help his team by coming up with the big hit. When opposing coaches see things like Dudek taking what looks like a wasted pitch in the dirt and somehow putting it over the fence, it only makes them avoid him more. However, other coaches have had their pitchers challenge him, so he sees different approaches from game to game and has to adjust.

If he can get it rolling on a regular basis to ignite the lineup, it may be the spark CBA needs to get over the hump and start taking down Top 10 opponents to return to its usual place among the Shore’s elite.

“I feel like we're turning the c o r n e r, ’’ D u d e k s a i d . “ We j u s t n e e d t o e x e c u t e b e t t e r. ’’ Phot o by:

Bill Normile

www.billnormile.zenfolio.com

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A SM / 9

C RIMSON C OMEBACK

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

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ltrasounds, biopsies, seemingly endless blood t ests - wit h e v er y tr ip t o a hospit al or a doct or’s office last y ear, Wall’s Br ian Per r ino w onder ed if he was watc hing his outst anding lacr osse car eer come t o an end wit h eac h pr ic k of a needle or hum of a mac hine.

A s a jun ior, th e Cr ims on K n ig hts ’ attack man h ad p lay ed th e s eas on op en er, a los s to r iv al M an as q uan, bef o r e co min g do w n w ith a 10 3 .5 deg r ee f ev er. Th at p u t h im in th e ho s p ital, w h er e a s er ies of tes ts w er e p er f or med to d eter min e th e cau s e o f his illn es s , in clu d ing a ly mp h no d e bio p s y to s ee if h e had can cer.

At that point, the fact that Wall’s all-time scoring record for its young lacrosse program was in reach for Perrino as a junior was not even a consideration.

That’s why it made it so satisfying when the now-senior eventually reached that milestone with his 124th career goal in a win over Marlboro on May 7.

“Ever y w eek th ey w er e tak in g a p in t o f b lo o d an d tes tin g me f o r ev er y vir u s th at th ey co uld po s s ib ly think o f , b u t n o th in g came b ack po s itive, ’’ he s aid . “G ettin g the ly mp h no d e b iop s y w as a cr azy ex p er ien ce.

J us t th e tho u g ht th at ( can cer ) co u ld b e a p os s ibility w as s car y.’’

P er r in o w as d iagn o s ed w ith an en larg ed s pleen , b u t he s aid th e cau s e o f it has n ev er tr u ly b een d eter mined. H e s aid h e w as b o r n w ith a co ndition in w hich h is r ed b lo od cells ar e s maller than n o r mal that may h av e co ntr ibuted to it, b u t h e “nev er g o t a d ef initive ans w er ’’ on w h at cau s ed th e enlarg ed s p leen .

H e w as clear ed by his d octo r s to r etu r n to th e lin eu p an d p lay ed f ive mor e g ames as a ju n ior bef o r e h e w en t f or an oth er b loo d tes t an d an u ltr as ou nd o n h is s p leen . The u ltr as o u n d in d icated th at h is s pleen h ad enlarged to 1 6. 6 centimeter s lon g . A no r mal s p leen is 1 2 cen timeter s lon g .

Th at meant the en d o f P er r in o’s ju nio r s eas o n.

A s f r u s tr ated as he w as by having to s it o n th e s id elin es an d w atch his teammates p lay, h e als o k new th e f lip s ide o f w h at cou ld h app en if he w as o ut th er e.

“O n e b ig h it to my lef t s id e a n d th at was it f or me,’’ h e s a id. “I was r ea lly s ca r ed I wou ld n ever pla y a con tact s por t aga in .’’

Perrino’s condition improved enough in the offseason that even though his spleen is still slightly enlarged, he was cleared to play as a senior.

He wears a special rib pad to protect that area from a big hit and has been able to overcome the fear of what could happen if an opponent got a good shot on his midsection.

“Of course it's in the back of my mind, but the adrenaline pretty much takes it away,’’ he said. “I forget about it as much as possible. I haven't been more timid than I have been in the past years.’’

Making up for lost time, Perrino has been one of the Shore Conference’s top scorers all season long with 60 goals, and he entered the game on May 7 against Marlboro needing two goals to pass 2009 graduate Tom Gavaghan as the Crimson Knights’ all-time leading scorer in the five-year history of their varsity program. By the end of the first quarter, he had scored twice to get the record with his 124th goal on his way to a four-goal afternoon in a win over Marlboro that cemented Wall as Class A North’s top public school program this season. “(Perrino) has a nice shot that is very accurate with nice speed that changes planes,’’ Wall coach Chris Knight said. “I remember watching him as a freshman coming through and thinking, this kid just knows how to score.’’

It was another memorable accomplishment in a season in which Wall has also defeated Manasquan, its rival and one of the oldest boys lacrosse programs in the Shore, for the first time in program history. That was in addition to wins over established programs like Howell, Freehold Township and Colts Neck in Class A North that allowed Wall to be the top public school finisher in the

division behind parochial powers Christian Brothers Academy and Red Bank Catholic.

The next accomplishment Wall is seeking is its first Shore Conference Tournament win in school history. To do so, the sixth-seeded Crimson Knights will once again have to go through Manasquan, which is the 11th seed. It will be up to Perrino and fellow offensive standouts Tim Gill, Kyle Warnick, Tyler Becht and Freehold Township transfer Raul Pola as well as a defense anchored by senior Will Avon to help the Crimson Knights add some more history this season.

“We can be the shocker hopefully,’’ Knight said. “We got a pretty good seed, so if we could get into the semifinals that would be great. It’s going to take a team effort, but you never know. We’re definitely the underdog, and the kids are believing in themselves, so it wouldn't surprise me if we shock someone.’’

As for Parrino, he is glad to be back on the field, fighting alongside his teammates to bring Wall’s program to the next level. He is heading off to Moravian College, where his older brother plays on the club team with Gavaghan, and said he is not sure if he is going to play at Moravian or not. These could be the final few games of his lacrosse career.

“The season we have had as a team and that I have had as an individual has been unbelievably satisfying so far,’’ Perrino said. “We just want to get that win in the first round for the first time and see where it goes from there. I’m just happy to be back and be a part of it again.’’

Photos by:

Cliff lavelle

www.clearedge.zenfoli o.c om

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Boys Lacrosse: a look at the shore Conference tournament

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor

Wi t h t h e S h o r e C o n f e r e n c e To u r n a m e n t g e t t i n g u n d e r w a y , i t ’s t i m e to take a look at the teams that will be fighting to hoist that championship plaque in the final on May 18 on the artificial turf at St. John Vi a n n e y .

The Heavy Favorite – Rumson-Fair Haven

This team has seen it all and also has played a tough nonconference schedule in which it has faced some of the state’s top teams, so it is clearly battle-tested and out to finish the job by winning its first SCT title since 2007 and its second in program history.

The Contenders –

Jackson Memorial, CBA, Holmdel, Red Bank Catholic Out of this group, Jackson Memorial and CBA look like the main threats to reach the final and face off against Rumson. That’s not exactly a shock considering Jackson is the No. 2 seed and CBA is No. 3, but things have gone fairly true to form this season among the upper echelon in the Shore.

Jackson is looking to become the first Ocean County team to ever reach the SCT final since the tournament’s inception in 2005, so it is not only carrying the torch for its own program but for an entire county that has lived in Monmouth County’s shadow in the infancy of boys lacrosse in the Shore.

With a potent offense led by junior attackmen Nick Wolf and Connor Cunningham along with senior midfielder Bryan Specht, and a defense that features seniors Brad Maier, Ryan Totin and Max Sunder, the Jaguars are poised to make history. The biggest question is whether they are battle-tested enough, as they ran roughshod over Class A South and did not have many nondivisional games other than the loss to Rumson in which they were tested.

Rumson goalie Artie Tildesley

The top-seeded Bulldogs have taken a good amount of suspense out of the tournament before it has even begun considering they already boast regular-season victories over No. 2 Jackson Memorial, No. 3 Christian Brothers Academy, No. 4 Holmdel and No. 5 Red Bank Catholic.

Led by a talented, deep and experienced offense that includes Beau Bennardo, P.J. Maher, Jack Curran and Mike Huttner and a tough defense anchored by senior Matt Gilbertson and junior goalie Artie Tildesley, Rumson is dangerous for multiple reasons. It can win a high-scoring shootout because of its offense, and it can also win a lowscoring game because of its defense and Tildesley, who has done a great job in replacing the graduated Trevor James, one of the Shore’s top goalies last season.

Jackson Mem.'s Connor Cunningham

As for CBA, the Colts are one of the most well-established programs in the Shore, having won four of the first six SCT titles, with the last one coming in 2009. With an offense led by junior attack Donny Finn and a top goalie in senior Matt Deiner, they are certainly dangerous. They came up short in a regular-season loss to Rumson, but are definitely a threat to come back stronger the second time around, especially while playing in the rare role of the underdog.

Holmdel is only in its third varsity season as a program but has a loaded senior class that is built to win now. The Hornets also lost to Rumson during the regular season and recently were stunned by Manasquan, but they have the ability to make run to the final after having only won their first SCT

game just last year.

Senior Mike Cantelli is one of the top midfielders in the Shore and is joined by his brother, Rob, a sophomore, and seniors Christian Isola and Chris Scherzer on one of the top midfield units in the Shore. Senior Steve McGrory anchors the defense. The main question may be how CBA attack Donny Finn well senior goalie Matt Micali, a first-year varsity player, responds in the heat of tournament action given his inexperience.

Finally, Red Bank Catholic is the defending SCT champion, but may have lost too much offensive firepower to graduation to mount a run back to the final, especially if it has to face Rumson in the semifinals. Junior midfielders Dave Stickle and Doug Whitlock and senior midfielder Hunter Adams will lead a team that must play outstanding defensively and find a way to score some timely goals after struggling in that department against top teams during the regular season.

Best of the Rest Entering the tournament, sixth-seeded Wall has never won an SCT game in its first-year existence but was the top public school program in the tough A North this season, defeating perennially solid teams like Howell, Freehold Township and Colts Neck to claim that honor. With scoring machine Brian Perrino leading the way, the Crimson Knights hope to open some eyes.

Seventh-seeded Colts Neck is a sleeper team to watch and will look to try and stun Jackson Memorial in the quarterfinals if that scenario unfolds. Another dangerous team is 11th-seeded Manasquan, which showed its potential when it stunned Holmdel during the regular season. However, the Warriors have to face rival Wall in the first round after losing to the Crimson Knights for the first time ever during the regular season.

No. 10 Howell is also one to watch with high-scoring sophomore Alec Dambach and his older brother, Ryan, a standout midfielder.

CBA Photo by: www.sportshotswlb.com Rumson Photo by

D a v id Th o rn e w ww .d ave tho rne.s mugmug. com Jackson Mem. Photo by

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Volume-III

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Issue-9

5/9/11

Boys Lacrosse: Jackson Memorial looking to Make History

By Scott Stump – Managing Editor Jackson Memorial’s boys lacrosse team has never advanced past the quarterfinals of the Shore Conference Tournament since the tournament’s inception in 2005.

This season, as the No. 2 seed entering the tournament, the Jaguars are expected to do that and more. No Ocean County team has ever reached the SCT final, yet just by virtue of its seed, Jackson is expected to be the one most likely facing top-seeded RumsonFair Haven on May 18 at St. John Vianney in the championship game.

The Jaguars’ response to all that pressure? Bring it on.

“This year we’ve played with a target on our back all year, and our kids love it,’’ said Jaguars head coach Nick Caruso.

They also have handled it well, as their only loss heading into the SCT was a 105 setback to Rumson, a team that has beaten every Shore Conference squad it has faced this season and enters the SCT as the heavy favorite.

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That multi-faceted attack allowed the Jaguars to run roughshod over the rest of Class A South on their way to a division title. They beat every team in the division by at least nine goals, making them far and away the best team in Ocean County.

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“We really haven’t been challenged too much,’’ Caruso said.

Jackson’s dominance over a mediocre schedule is the one question mark for the Jaguars as they try to make school and county history. They played a tough Barron Collier team from Naples, Fla., in a 9-5 win over holidays A big reason is a down at Disney Junior Connor Cunningham relentless offense in World, but as for local which five players competition, the loss to Rumson was the only stern test have scored 20 or more goals. Through 12 games,

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senior midfielder Bryan Specht leads the Jaguars with 42 points on 25 goals and 17 assists, junior attackmen Connor Cunningham and Nick Wolf each had a teamhigh 27 goals, and Evan Farrar had 23 goals for a team averaging 14 goals per game.

The defense also has been outstanding, only allowing just over four goals per game. Seniors Brad Maier, Max Sunder and Ryan Totin have led a stout back line along with senior goalie Nick Adams.

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Senior Nick Adams

in the midst of a string of blowouts.

Caruso said that budget constraints limited the Jaguars’ ability to travel far around the state when searching for quality opponents to get them ready for the SCT and NJSIAA Tournament. The question remains as to whether they are as battle-tested as some of the Monmouth County squads that played stiffer schedules and faced tougher divisional play.

“Unfortunately that's a sign of the times that we were not at liberty to play games out of Shore Conference because of budget constraints,’’ Caruso said. “W would love to do that, but we’re not allowed to do that. We're pretty deep, and in practice our offense is going to see

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Winning One for a Friend

By Matt Manley – Staff Writer Before he even took the mound for his start in the Ocean County Tournament first round against No. 3 seed Point Pleasant Beach on May 7, Lacey senior pitcher Pat Jensen made his mark on the game with a home run to open the scoring.

Once he took the mound, he paid tribute to a man Jensen said made his mark on the Lacey High School community.

Jensen took a no-hitter into the fifth and final inning and finished with a complete-game one-hitter to go with a 2-for-3, two-homer, four-RBI game at the plate in his team's 10-0 win over the Garnet Gulls in five innings, a performance he said he dedicated to the late Matt Blum, a security officer at Lacey High School who died this past March.

struggled on the diamond this season after losing Rutgers recruit Vinny Zarrillo, a senior outfielder, to seasonending shoulder surgery.

Jensen has been searching for the same comfort level that allowed him to break out at the beginning of last year as one of the Shore's toughest pitchers. Despite battling some short bouts with his control on Saturday, he began to find it.

Jensen walked three and hit a batter through the first three innings, but found the strike zone in his final two innings.

"Everything with me is mechanics," Jensen said. "When I settle down and finish my delivery, I'm comfortable. I had a couple of walks today, but when I needed to make pitches I was able to."

Outside of the third-inning After playing a recreational trouble and the lead-off walk to ice hockey league game at start the game, Jensen was on Winding River Park on Feb. 27, cruise control, allowing only one Blum, 32, collapsed in the hit. He recorded the first out of parking lot in died of natural the fifth inning on a fly out to causes, according to his father, Senior Pat Jensen right field and then jumped ahead retired Lacey history teacher and of catcher Sean Driskill with a 1current girls track coach Charles 2 count. Driskill battled back to a 3-2 count and poked Blum. Blum’s widow, Melissa, is expecting the couple’s Jensen's 3-2 fastball through the middle to end the no-hit first child in the fall. bid.

"It happened very suddenly and Blum was the kind of "I was just throwing fastballs in the last couple of innings," guy that everyone liked, and I think everyone was Jensen said. "That's what was working for me and if they affected when he passed away," Jensen said. "As soon as the season started, I wanted to dedicate it to his memory. I were going to beat me, they were going to beat me with my even said before the game to one of my coaches that I was best pitch. I don't know if (Driskill) was trying to hit it like he did, but you have to give him credit or battling until he got going to pitch a good game for him today. He said, 'Why something to hit." not throw a no-hitter?' It turns out I almost did."

Blum was a beloved figure at Lacey, which has

The Lacey right-hander retired the last two batters on

flyouts to right.

Jensen finished with a 67-pitch outing in which he threw 40 for strikes and struck out four Gulls hitters.

"I knew I had the nohitter in about the third inning and I was kind of thinking that I wanted to make sure the game went seven innings so I could try for the seven-inning no-hitter," Jensen said. "But at that point, it was still early and this is a tournament game, so we just needed to win anyway we could."

As solid as Jensen's effort on the mound was, he was just as good at the plate. He opened the scoring with a long drive off Point Beach starter Joe Sherbo that cleared the temporary fence in right-centerfield in the first inning. He later scored after he was intentionally walked in Lacey's three-run third inning that made the score 4-0.

He then belted a two-run shot in the fourth inning that went over the temporary fence and cleared the fence behind it, bouncing onto Chicago Avenue to make the score 6-0.

Jensen now has four home runs this season.

"I thought they were going to walk me (in the first inning)," Jensen said. "I was a little surprised that they were even pitching to me, let alone giving me something good to hit. I've been feeling good at the plate, so when I got those pitches, I knew I was going to do something with them."

Video & Photos Highlights by:

Matt Manley

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Continued from page 12

While the Jaguars know a whole county will be rooting for them, they will not just be content to be on the field if they are staring acrosss at Rumson on May 18 on the turf at St. John Vianney. They are out for more than moral and symbolic victories.

four of the best poles in the conference, so that gets us prepared for that next game. I'm confident our guys will make those adjustments and be fine with it.’’

The good news is that Jackson has already seen the team everyone is chasing, Rumson, and played the Bulldogs to a standstill for a half.

The game was tied at two at halftime “I'm happy everybody before Rumson blew it open in the is rooting for us, but third quarter. Jackson was up 2-1 we're in it to win it,’’ Senior Bryan Specht before the Bulldogs scored with only Caruso said. “We're not seconds remaining in the half and playing for respect, we're playing for wins. We want to rode that momentum to a big third quarter that put the win this tournament. It’s not enough for this team to game away. just be happy to there.’’

“We feel if we play well, we can beat them,’’ Caruso said. “That's our ultimate goal - to see them again. They are really talented and really deep, but in the end, we

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A SM / 1 5 parents didn’t go nuts and pull him out of the school.

He just worked harder, because just being able to put that blue-and-white uniform on would mean so much to him. He could have transferred to a public school where he would have gotten an automatic spot on a varsity roster, but that never crossed his mind.

It wasn’t a right to him.

It was a privilege.

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o r ma n y a th letes o f th is cu r r en t h ig h s ch oo l gen er atio n , gettin g cu t f r om a tea m is a devas ta tin g even t.

This is the age of entitlement, where everyone gets a medal, and everyone is supposed to be part of a team because it’s a right, not a privilege. That’s why being told you’re not good enough can often send the average player into a tailspin and have his parents sprinting to the phone to lay into whatever coach had the nerve to tell their son or daughter that they don’t measure up.

“I just never wanted to give up,’’ Sawyer said. “I just love the game so much. Sometimes I did question why I kept coming back, but I always stayed true to it. All I wanted was to just make the team.’’

Sawyer took the criticism from 37-year head coach Marty Kenney to heart and did his best to improve despite each successive disappointment. His junior year was his best tryout yet, but it was not enough. That’s where the majority of most athletes would have simply thrown in the towel.

“We love Sawyer, and we respect how he came out for the team again,’’ said sophomore star Joe Dudek, who bats third ahead of Sawyer. “He's been a big part of this lineup so far and hopefully he continues to hit.’’

Sawyer’s refusal to give up on himself or sulk in the face of adversity has been rewarded with his moment in the sun.

He has almost done so well that it begs the question of why he was cut in the first place.

“It’s not that he’s been a total surprise, but I think hitting is where he needed to excel to find a place in the lineup,’’ Kenney said. “He has done that, and he’s hit the ball fairly well.’’

Three times, and they might need professional counseling. That goes double at a program like CBA, where new waves of talent are coming in every year. Fall behind one year and soon players who are two or three years younger than you might take your spot.

Sawyer is a humble and softspoken player, quick to emphasize CBA senior RF Ben Sawyer that he just wants to “I thought it was great of him to try out again, and I help the team and do his part to get the Colts some wins. told him I was going to give him an honest tryout,’’ He also has had to deal with the pressure of hitting Kenney said. “What happened in the three years prior, behind Dudek, a top slugger whom many opponents pitch that was in the past. He earned a around rather than risking the ball flying over the fence. spot.’’

“I don’t feel pressure because I know (Dudek) will get Sawyer worked on his speed in the the job done and then pitchers will be facing me and the outfield along with his defense, and rest of the guys if they don’t pitch to him,’’ Sawyer said. he knew his main asset was his Even though he incredibly is one of the top offensive hitting ability. Before he knew it, he players on the team despite this being his first and only was wearing No. 34 and standing in season of varsity baseball, whatever happens the rest of right field when the first pitch of his the way, Sawyer can always look back and think one senior year was thrown. thing: I did it. Just his presence is a reminder to his “He had to take the hitting to the teammates that a starting spot on a varsity team is not next level because he doesn't have something to be taken for granted. good footspeed so he's going to be a “It just feels good contributing to the team,’’ Sawyer very average outfielder,’’ Kenney said. “It’s my only season, so I just want to make the best said. “He's gotten a whole lot of it.’’ stronger, and he hits the ball as hard as anyone on the team.’’

Whatever life may throw at Ben Sawyer after his one season with the Colts is done, two things will be clear.

That’s perhaps the most amazing He won’t give up, and he will make the best of it. part of Sawyer’s story. Not only did his persistence and his hard work land Those are called coping skills, and they are not him that coveted jersey as a senior, he always taught in a classroom or some guidance is a starting rightfielder who bats counselor’s office. cleanup. Through May 5, the big lefty led the team with five doubles and 13 RBIs, was second with a .369 average, and third with 14 hits.

Three times, Sawyer tried out for the Colts, and three times he was told that there was not a spot for him in the program. Yet he didn’t sulk. He didn’t complain. His

Seeing what he has gone through and what he has now accomplished has given Sawyer instant credibility among his teammates.

Either that, or the ink will barely be dry on the transfer papers by the time the irate parents are off the phone with the coach.

That is what makes a player like Christian Brothers Academy senior outfielder Ben Sawyer and his family such a rarity.

Three times he was cut from the team at CBA. Three times.

Freshman, sophomore, and junior years. Not just cut from the varsity team. Cut from any team, freshman and JV included. That can be a massive blow to your ego at any school, let alone a place like CBA, where many of the incoming players were stars at the youth levels.

Most players either find another sport or blame someone else if they are cut once. Others can’t handle the stigma and potential ridicule of failure and what their classmates might think of them.

“I just kept thinking that maybe if I just work that much harder, maybe I’ll make the team,’’ Sawyer said.

Photo by:

Bill Normile www.billnormile.zenfolio.com

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Volume-III

Issue-9

5/9/11