Christian Brothers Academy is the 2025 Non-Public A South baseball champions, defeating rival Red Bank Catholic 11-1 in five innings. Photo by Rich Chrampanis 
Shane Langan came on in relief to strike out three straight Caseys to secure the championship. Photo by Rich Chrampanis 
Colts senior Danny Russo is all smiles after his three-run homer put CBA in front 11-1. Photo by Rich Chrampanis
By Rich Chrampanis
LINCROFT – Just 17 days earlier, Christian Brothers Academy was on the losing side when archrival Red Bank Catholic celebrated winning the Monmouth County baseball crown. This time around, the Colts came out on top – and got the higher-stakes trophy – dispatching the Caseys 11-1 in five innings to win the Non-Public A South championship.
“It’s absolutely awesome,” senior Danny Russo said. “There’s so many things that go into this. We lost in the Monmouth County final. It was a little bit of a revenge game coming back here to home field, actually – the last game ever at this field. We’re tearing it down, building a new one. So it was really awesome to be able to do that for everyone and the years and years of athletes that have been a part of this program.”
The final game at the original CBA baseball home saw the Colts put up a crooked number in the first inning. Coach Marty Kenny Jr.’s team got on the basepaths and scored often. After an error got the Colts on the board, Dylan Iwanyk made it 2-0 on an RBI single to left, followed by a Danny Russo squeeze bunt to make it 3-0. After an error and bases loaded walk made it 5-0, Dylan Reynholds delivered the big blow with a blast to left field that cleared the bases. CBA sent 12 to the plate and had an 8-0 lead on just two hits.
Iwanyk pitched comfortably with the lead, allowing just one run on a Jake Frankel RBI single in the top of the third inning. Danny Russo blasted a three-run homer to left field in the fourth that put CBA in range to finish the game with the mercy rule.
Red Bank Catholic sent shock waves around the state in the section semifinals when they rallied from an 8-2 deficit to score seven runs in the seventh inning, stunning defending state champion St. Augustine. The Caseys loaded the bases in the seventh but there would be no magical comeback this time around; Shane Langan struck out three straight to seal the win and the section title.
Last year, the Colts lost to St. Augustine 3-1, ending their quest to sweep the county, conference and state titles on the diamond. This year’s CBA team fell short in the Monmouth and Shore but is one of 12 teams playing for a state title.
“I mean, I was on the team last year,” Reynholds said. “Many of the guys were still on the team this year. It was a heartbreak. Some of the guys were so sad on the way home and I wanted to give back for those guys that lost it last year and the seniors we lost last year, too.”
This is the Colts’ first section championship since 2015, when they went on to shut out Don Bosco Prep 7-0 to finish the year as New Jersey’s No. 1 team.
Editor’s Note: CBA played Don Bosco Prep Wednesday, June 11, at Hamilton Veterans Park after press time. We’ll have a recap of that state championship game in next week’s edition of The Two River Times.
The article originally appeared in the June 12 – 18, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
