It was a big year for area scholastic baseball with Shore Regional (Group I) and St. John Vianney (Non-Public A) winning state championships while Christian Brothers
Academy was winning both the Shore Conference and Monmouth County titles.
Both Shore and SJV lost a great deal from last year’s teams, but should still be contenders in the A Division Central race while CBA should be the team to beat in the A North.
The B North should be wide open, and it had several changes as Red Bank Catholic and Colts Neck join the division after competing in the A Central and A North divisions respectively last year.
St. Rose is again the team to beat in the B Central, but Mater Dei Prep has the talent to make a run at the title.
Area A North
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS ACADEMY
MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP – If there is any team that you should keep your eye this season it is the Christian Brothers Academy baseball team.
Last season, the Colts finished with an impressive 18-8 record and won both the Monmouth County and Shore Conference Tournaments. The Colts also reached the semifinal round of the Non-Public A South tournament and lost a 139 slugfest against St. John Vianney.
“Our expectations are high this season,” CBA head coach Marty Kenney said.
The top returning players for the Colts this season are senior first baseman John Moschella (.321 batting average last season with 22 RBI), senior outfielder Griffin Arnott (.224 batting average last season, but is injured and will miss bulk of season), senior outfielder/pitcher Will Morgan (.360 batting average last season with 25 RBI), senior pitcher Mike Garvey (3-1 record last season with a 2.73 ERA), senior second baseman Andrew Buccelatto (.294 batting average last season), junior catcher Brandan Martorano (.352 batting average last season with five triples and 20 RBI) and junior first baseman/pitcher Luca Dalatri (.288 batting average last season with 13 RBI and was a perfect 11-0 on the mound with a microscopic 0.39 ERA and 90 strikeouts).
The best of the newcomers for the Colts are senior outfielder/pitcher Shane Turk, senior pitchers James Miller and Austen Tieri, senior second baseman Brendan Shaw, senior shortstop Matt D’Angelo, senior third baseman Trey Nelson, junior catcher Brendan Galvin, junior first baseman Mike Triandafellos, junior infielder/pitcher Kenny Campbell, junior outfielder Cid Porter, junior outfielder/pitcher Luke Chece and junior pitchers Joe Gargana and Ryan Nelson.
Dalatri and Martorano are both committed to UNC, Arnott and D’Angelo are both committed to St. Peter’s and Morgan is heading to Old Dominion next season.
“If we find pitching depth, we could be very good,” Kenney said. “Overall, this team has good speed, will hit and play very good defense.”
MIDDLETOWN NORTH
MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP – The Middletown baseball team finished last season with a 7-14 record and first year head coach Justin Nathanson is hoping that his team can be competitive this season.
The key returning players for the Lions this season are senior designated hitter Conor Youncofski, senior first baseman/pitcher Anthony Pianoforte, senior shortstop Ed Sena, junior first baseman/outfielder/pitcher Phil Pecherski and junior third baseman Kyle Capo.
The best of the newcomers for the Lions are senior catcher/first baseman Vince Pianoforte, senior outfielder/pitcher Chuck Estelle, senior pitchers Josh Brucato, Mike Cavallino and T.J. Vivian, junior catcher Walter Shopf, junior catcher/first baseman/outfielder Anthony Vetrano, junior first baseman/second baseman Seth Ziegler, junior pitcher Hunter Rinn, junior second baseman/shortstop Cole Fluta, sophomore second baseman/shortstop Marc Cerbo and freshman infielder/outfielder/pitcher Tyler Ras.
“The only everyday starters returning this season will be Capo and Youncofski, who will be having Tommy John surgery this offseason,” Nathanson said. “We will be counting on Ras to provide solid defense, a spark to the offense and innings on the mound. We are looking forward to a fresh start to a new season and are looking to surprise many teams in the Shore Conference this year.”
MIDDLETOWN SOUTH
MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP – After finishing with a disappointing 11-14 record last season, the Middletown South baseball team is looking to make some noise in the A North Division this season.
The key returning players for the Eagles this season are senior centerfielder Nolan Pereless, senior infielder/pitcher Zach DeRocco, senior pitchers Colin Bergin and George Putykiewicz, junior catcher Zach Schild, junior catcher/infielder/outfielder Freddy Yahn and junior infielders/pitchers Austin Markmann and Johnny Zega. Markmann had a 5-1 record last season for the Eagles with a 1.91 ERA and had impressive shutout wins against SJV and cross-town rival Middletown North in the Monmouth County Tournament.
The top newcomers for the Eagles are junior first baseman/pitcher Ian Scheuer, junior infielder/outfielder Tom Gannon, junior outfielders David Mangarelli and Tom Frandsen, junior pitchers Zach Grant, Bobby Gyurindak and Joe McLaughlin, sophomore infielder Jeremy Joyce, sophomore outfielder Maxx Imsho, sophomore outfielder/pitcher Jeff Lewandowski, sophomore pitcher Jon Mar tin and sophomore third baseman Ben Porpora.
“Zega is being heavily recruited by a number of colleges and projects to be one of the best players in the Shore Conference this season,” said Middletown South coach Ryan Spillane, whose Eagles reached the semifinal round of the MCT last season and lost a 6-5 heartbreaker against Colts Neck in 11 innings. “In 28.1 innings pitched, Zega struck out 28 batters and posted a 1.73 ERA. We had a very young team last year, but are looking to emerge as one of the top teams in the A North Division this season.”
Area A Central
HOLMDEL
HOLMDEL Holmdel struggled last year with a 6-15 record, but coach Gene Crimoli is optimistic this year and has four returning starters.
“It’s looking pretty good,” said Crimoli. “We’re deeper than we’ve been in a while. We need a little more pop in the middle of the lineup and we have to do a better job of scoring runs, but we should be better than last year.”
The top returnees are shortstop/pitcher Tyler Fischer and designated hitter D.J. Goins, who hit .333 and .358 respectively last year. Others coming back are pitchers Tyler Kiss and Ashwin Jain.
Top newcomers are utility player Erik Alvino, catcher Will Van Name and pitchers Corey Nuzzi and third baseman Matt Fanelli, outfielder Chris Ammirati and shortstop Mike Carranante.
RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN
RUMSON – Rumson went 14-11 a year ago and reached the Central Jersey Group II finals before losing, but coach Kevin James expects improvement this year with five returning starters.
“If our junior group grows up quickly, we have a chance to make a run at the division title,” said James. “Our defense has been looking good.”
James was impressed with last week’s opening season 8-2 win over Holmdel.
“We looked very good,” he said. “We made 13 hits and are more advanced then we were last year at this time.”
The best of the returning starters is pitcher Morgan Maguire, an Old Dominion recruit who hit .600 a year ago while going 7-3 with a 1.45 ERA.
He pitched a four hitter and had seven strikeouts in the win over Holmdel.
“Maguire is a top-flight competitor and is the most competitive player I’ve had in my three years here,” said James.
Other key players back are shortstop Max Goione, a Sienna recruit who hit .367 a year ago, first baseman Kenny Ferrare, catcher Mickey Schluter and outfielders Shane McCabe and Luca Scinto.
Newcomers include infielders Jackson Risucci, Sam Chandler and Jake Caruso, outfielder Matt Fahey and pitcher Ted Sourlis.
SAINT JOHN VIANNEY
HOLMDEL St. John Vianney scored the major upset of the season when it defeated top-seeded St. Joseph’s (Montvale) in the Non-Public A title game last year, but it has lost eight of nine starters from that team by graduation.
Nevertheless, coach Mike Morgan is looking for another good season despite only five returning lettermen.
SJV opened its season impressively with a 10-2 win over Red Bank Regional as Nick DeLuise collected three hits and two RBIs.
“We can’t improve on what we did a year ago,” said Morgan. “We’ll have to work hard every day, but we’ll be a contender for the division again.”
SJV does return its number two pitcher from last year, Dan Schirmacher, who won some big games for the Lancers.
Other returning players that got considerable playing time a year ago are shortstop Vinnie Durso, infielders DeLuise, Brandon DeKovics and Vic Jamandron, outfielders Nick Gugliara and Steve Adami, pitchers Jeff McPeek, John Michael Broderick, Chris Perez and Dan Gesior, designated hitter Seth Bellone and catcher Ciaran Devenny.
SHORE REGIONAL
WEST LONG BRANCH Despite losing a good deal from last year’s Group I state championship team, Shore Regional still appears to have enough players back for another fine season. Shore was 19-9 a year ago.
“We return about half of last year’s team,” said Shore coach Pat O’Neill. “Hopefully, the experience and winning the championship will help our younger players. We should do well in the big games.”
Shore lost four of its top hitters from last season, but it does bring back senior pitcher-third baseman James Kelly, a Monmouth University recruit who got off to a good start with nine strikeouts and a home run in a 5-4 win over Manasquan last week.
“Kelly’s fastball can reach into the high eighties and he is a excellent hitter,” said O’Neill.
The other returnees are first baseman Matt McCarthy and outfielders Doug Halper, Ryan Campi and Sam Parrino. Campi and Parrino will also get pitching duty.
Among the newcomers are second baseman Alex Mango, outfielders Kevin Donegan and Matt Recchia, shortstop Mike O’Halloran, third baseman Devin McLaughlin and catcher Dhillon Barbetti.
Area B North
RED BANK CATHOLIC
RED BANK – When a baseball team loses its top five pitchers to graduation, along with much of its offense, the season’s outlook would appear to be uncertain. But Red Bank Catholic might be an exception.
RBC, competing in the B Division North after two years in the A Central, was 20-7 last year and finished second behind St. John Vianney. It could be a B North contender this year. RBC got off to a good start Thursday when it beat Matawan, 5-4, in eight innings.
“We have a younger group then we have had in the past,” said RBC coach Buddy Hausmann, “but we have a talented group. Our defense is very good, especially in the infield, but we have a young pitching staff.”
The top players returning are outfielders Chris Bender and Tom Merlo, catcher Doug Facendo, shortstop Evan Madigan and designated hitter Mike Spinelli.
The best of the newcomers are third baseman Aaron Ahn, who will play at the United States Naval Academy, designated hitter Mike Ianelli, first baseman-pitcher Anthony DeRosa, outfielder Dom Caraballo, and pitchers Jack Ipsen, John Poccia, Justin Liggett and Joe and Tom Montano.
RED BANK REGIONAL
LITTLE SILVER – Although losing its first two games of the season to St. John Vianney and Wall, coach Nick Tucker still believes the Bucs will better last year’s 7-17 record with seven returning starters.
“All of last year’s starting pitchers are back and we have a good core of players,” said Tucker. “They did well in our scrimmages and will be our biggest strength.
“The biggest problem last year was not getting the clutch hits. We are working hard on that this season,” said Tucker. “We should be improved and our goal is to qualify for the Shore Conference and state tournaments.”
The top pitcher returning is Nick Massa, who pitched a three-hitter and struck out nine in a 1-0 loss to Wall Thursday. The other returnees are shortstop Ryan Santos, outfielders Leo DiGuilio and Isaiah Sestito, infielder Drew Cook, and
pitchers Matt Santos and A.J. Forgione.
Newcomers include outfielder Connor Kelly, infielders
Matt Reardon and Will Grant, and third baseman Claudio LoBracio.
Area B Central
HENRY HUDSON
HIGHLANDS – The Henry Hudson baseball team is looking to improve upon last season’s 5-10 record.
The top returning players for the Admirals this season are senior catcher Alonso Olson, senior infielder Tim Belicose, senior infielder/pitcher Kyle Rauen, junior infielder Steve Stockton, sophomore infielders/outfielders/pitchers Brandon Carlstrom and Ryan Doelger and sophomore outfielder/pitcher Tom Colantino.
The key newcomers for the Admirals are senior infielder/outfielder Joe Vamvakidis and sophomore outfielder Jack Slocum.
“We have seven starters returning from last season and we are trying to fill a couple of holes through graduation,” Henry Hudson head coach Vinnie Whitehead said.
MATER DEI PREP
MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP – The Mater Dei Prep baseball team finished last season with a 13-9 record and is hoping to competitive in the B Central Division this season with St. Rose being the team to beat.
The key returning players for the Seraphs are senior catcher/outfielder Vincenzo Mezzacappa (.359 batting average last season with two homeruns and 14 stolen bases), senior first baseman/pitcher Liam Olausen (3-0 record last season with a 2.02 ERA and 27 strikeouts), senior outfielder/second baseman Patric Donohue (.297 batting average last season), senior shortstop Ruben Rodriguez, junior catcher/pitcher Joe Ruth (.333 batting average last season) and junior outfielder/ second baseman Cole Hardy.
The best of the newcomers for the Seraphs are senior first baseman Matt Bender, senior outfielder Ryan Fanner, junior catcher/first baseman Nick Massaro, junior outfielder/pitcher Nick Roditis and sophomore pitchers/third basemen Kyle Dowlen and Vincent Stanziale.
“I return only 27 innings of varsity experience so the season will come down to how well guys with little varsity experience can step up taking the ball all year long,” Mater Dei Prep head coach Pat Riddell said. “St. Rose is still the team to beat and Point Beach can also be a threat in what I think will be a pretty weak division this year.”
— By Jim Hintelmann and Sean Simmons
