Brick Memorial Baseball: MUSTANG NEWS
Wednesday, May 23Mustang Baseball Camp
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Monday, May 21
Armed and Dangerous - Brick Memorial 3 Marlboro 0
Clink on Link above for Game Story, Highlights, and Box Score from the Shore Conference Tournament First Round vs Marlboro at All Shore Media.
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Happy 40th Anniversary - Jackson Memorial 1 Brick Memorial 0
Click on Link above for Game Story, Highlights, and Box Score of the Ocean County Tournament Final at All Shore Media.
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Monday, May 21
'Stangs Lose Tourney Nail-Biter to Jackson
'Stangs Lose Tourney Nail-Biter to Jackson
Jackson Jaguars ace Brandon Holup blanks Brick Memorial Mustangs 1-0 in OCT.
Before a noisy crowd at Toms River High School North, Jackson’s 6’7” senior ace Brandon Holup and the Jaguars blanked the opposing Mustangs, 1-0.
It was a pitchers' duel from the start, as Brick Memorial also had an ace on the mound in Brian Cottrell (6-0).
After Holup struck out two Mustangs in a 1-2-3 top of the first inning, Jackson scored the only run of the game in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI groundout by junior Spencer Young that plated senior Nick Petrizzo.
That was all the offense Holup would need, as he carried a one-hitter into the fifth inning, where he would surrender a hit but strike out the final batter of the inning, stranding a runner on second base.
The Jaguars appeared to be threatening in the bottom of the fifth until they bounced into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play to end any threat of extending their lead.
Following a scoreless sixth inning, Holup took the mound in the top of the seventh, looking to retire three Mustangs and clinch the title for the Jaguars.
After a leadoff single by first baseman Kevin Corris, his replacement, Kyle Skoog, stole second base to advance into scoring position for the Mustangs.
Once the first putout of the seventh was made, Holup took care of the rest, striking out the final two Brick Memorial batters to seal the deal for Jackson.
After throwing a complete game, three-hit shutout with eight strikeouts, Holup was named Most Valuable Pitcher of the tournament.
Cottrell pitched admirably for Brick Memorial, surrendering just five hits and the one run in the first inning in a complete game effort.
Holup’s teammate, senior shortstop Joe Ogren, was dubbed Most Valuable Player of the OCT for the Jackson Jaguars, who earned their first OCT title since 1972.
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Party On the Roof - Brick Memorial 5 Toms River South 2
Click on the Link above to view Game Story, Highlights, and Box Score at All Shore Media.
Sunday, May 13
Brick Memorial Ousts TR South in OCT Semifinal
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Murray Hits Walk-off Homer to Win Landmark Championship
The Rangers led the entire contest, all the way up until the Greyhounds final at bat. Moravian erased a four-run Ranger deficit in the top half of the ninth inning to tie the game up at nine. Murray, the second batter of the inning, cracked a 1-1 fastball over the right field wall for his third home run of the season and the Rangers 21st win of the year.
Drew took control of the game early, scoring the game's first run in the top of the first inning. Freshman Steve Kowalski (Robbinsville, N.J./Robbinsville) brought home Michael Bodden (Toms River, N.J./Monsignor) who reached earlier on in the inning on one of his two hits on the afternoon.
The Rangers did their damage in the fourth and sixth innings, totaling seven runs. The scoring of the fourth saw Bodden score for the second time in the contest off a two-RBI single by Pete Tuchol (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood). Bodden and Tuchol each had two hits, two runs scored and two RBIs in the game.
In the sixth the Rangers opened up a 9-2 advantage after sending nine batters to the plate. Freshman Mike Chiarella (Harrison, N.Y./Harrison) delivered his second RBI single of the game to kick off the four-run frame. Bodden hurt the Greyhounds again later in the inning, lining a single up the middle that scored two runs and pushed the Rangers lead to seven.
Freshman Matthew Hunter (Forest Hills, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy) turned in another gutty pitching performance on the mound. He allowed only four earned runs in seven and one third innings of work. He pitched the Rangers out of a number of jams early in the contest, eventually giving way to reliever Pat Rock (Cranston, R.I./Providence Country Day) with one out in the eighth.
The Greyhounds staged their comeback in their final two turns at the plate, scoring seven runs between the eighth and ninth innings. After scoring three runs in the eighth, one off Gregg Steinman's third home run of the spring, the Rangers were one out away in the ninth inning from a conference championship.
Moravian strung together five-straight hits and made the score 9-7 on an RBI single by Blake Shortall. Two batters later, David Zubia tied the game up at nine with a two-RBI single to up the middle. Rock struck out the final batter of the inning to get the Rangers to the bottom of the inning and set the stage for Murray.
The Greyhounds used four pitchers in the game and allowed a total of ten walks in the contest. Rob Solano gave up three runs on three hits and five walks in three-plus innings of action while Jason Jamula allowed two runs, one earned, on a hit and two walks in a third of an inning. Chris Soltys was touched for four unearned runs on four hits and four walks in 3.2 innings while senior Kyle Longernecker took the loss after giving up a run on a hit to go with a walk and a strikeout in 1.1 innings.
The two wins this weekend over Moravian were the first two since entering over the Landmark Conference in 2008. The Rangers 21 wins are now the second most in school history.
The Rangers will await their NCAA Tournament seedings which are scheduled to come out on Sunday May 13th. The predetermined regional host of will be Kean University and all regional games will be played at First Energy Park, home of the Lakewood Blue Claws in Lakewood, N.J.
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'Stangs Top Dragons in Battle on Diamond
'Stangs Top Dragons in Battle on Diamond
Mustang senior Kevin Corris comes up big in his first start of the year
In a spot start — his first start of the year — Brick Memorial senior Kevin Corris was called on and delivered big time for the Mustangs.
Very few stages are higher than when the Brick Memorial Mustangs and Brick Township Dragons face off at FirstEnergy Park in their annual battle.
Behind the arm of Corris on Sunday night, the 'Stangs pulled through with a 2-1 win.
Corris struck out 10 batters, had just one walk, and yielded four hits and one run in 5 and 1/3 innings of work. Highlighting the day for Corris was taking a no-hitter into the fifth inning as well as striking out the side in the fourth inning.
"It was just his first start of the year," said Memorial head coach Evan Rizzitello. "He pitched a bit last year but we have a great group of juniors who we have leaned on this year. He's a big kid who throws hard, this was his first opportunity to start."
Brian Cottrell came in and closed the game for the Mustangs, pitching the final 1 and 2/3 innings, adding three strikeouts.
Corris was given a lead before he toed the rubber for the first time. Three Dragon errors in the top off the first inning allowed Zach Santos to score the first run of the game for the 'Stangs.
The run was unearned for Brick starter Dan Mnich, who had a quality night overshadowed by the performance of Corris.
Mnich pitched four innings and struck out five while walking three batters. Evan Lobato pitched the final three innings, allowing one run to score in the fifth inning. Corris led off the inning with a double and was singled home by Ryan Melia. Lobato struck out two.
After falling behind 2-0, the Dragons put back to back hits togeter for the first time all day. Senior catcher Brian Mayer tripled to start the bottom of the fifth and was brought home by a John Kizmann RBI single. Following Kizmann's hit Tyler Blendowski pinch ran for the Dragons. Evan Lobato would line a single into the outfield and the speedster Blendowski ran through the stop sign of head coach Jason Groschel at third base and was eventually thrown out at the plate.
That would be as close as the Dragons would get to tying it.
"We're dealing with some inexperience but the guys fought hard today," said Groschel. "(Lobato and Mnich) battled on the mound. We made some mistakes that costed us today and I'm sure some of the guys are feeling it but I'm proud of the way they fought."
Memorial out hit their crosstown rivals 7-4 and Dragons players committed four errors to Memorial's none.
Kyle Cala was the only player for either side to have a multi-hit game as he went 2-for-4 for the Mustangs.
"After losing last year, it feels good to bring the trophy back," said Rizzitello. "It was a tough game, every year you always have to throw the records out the window when we play each other."
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Cottrell, Mustangs overwhelm Indians
Cottrell, Mustangs overwhelm Indians
Brick Memorial made sure it had its say in the Shore Conference Class A South race on Wednesday.
Junior Brian Cottrell had a shutout going into the seventh inning and pitched a complete-game five-hitter to lead the Mustangs to a 6-1 win over Toms River South.
The result snapped a 10-game winning streak for Toms River South, which is ranked No. 5 in the Asbury Park Press Top 10.
Zach Santos went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and scored two runs and Ray Triano was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base for Brick Memorial, which handed the Indians’ Rutgers University-bound right-hander Kyle Driscoll his first loss of the season.
Toms River South is now a game behind No. 2 Jackson Memorial (11-1, 5-1). Brick Memorial (6-6, 4-2) is also a game back.
Toms River South and Jackson Memorial meet on Monday at Jackson Memorial.
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Game Reports and Team News
Click on Individual Games under the Recent Games Section to View Box Scores and Game Stories.
Follow Brick Memorial Baseball on TWITTER - BM_Baseball
Wednesday, March 28
MEDIA OUTLETS - Scores, Feature Stories, Standings, Rankings
Please refer to the following Media Outlet Websites for the above:
http://www.msgvarsity.com/new-jersey
http://www.app.com/section/NJSPORTS01
http://highschoolsports.nj.com/baseball/
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Wednesday, October 26
One - Year Wonder - Brick Memorial's Zach Santos
One-Year Wonder: Brick Memorial's Zach Santos
Brick Memorial head coach Walt Currie acknowledges that senior cornerback Zach Santos is an excellent athlete with good instincts in the secondary. Still, would Currie have thought that Santos would be second in the Shore Conference after Week Seven with six interceptions, including three that he has returned for touchdowns? “No, if you had told me in the spring time that Zach would have six interceptions at this point of the season, I hate to say I would have laughed at you,’’ Currie said. “But I would have laughed at you.’’ That’s not a knock on Santos, that’s just a reaction to the eye-opening impact that Santos has made in his one and only season with the Mustangs. Up until this year, Santos had never played organized football, instead focusing on playing baseball year round.
The Mustangs’ centerfielder now snatches up opposing passes like flyballs and has made some of the biggest plays of Brick Memorial’s season on defense. He is second only behind Manchester senior safety Joe Johnson, who has seven interceptions, for the most in the Shore Conference. “I would have never thought that it would be like this,’’ Santos said. “I just wanted a break from playing baseball all year, so I tried football. Now I love it as much as baseball.’’ During the offseason, Santos got the hard sell from his three good friends, senior wide receiver/defensive back Jack Phair, senior lineman Dan Cuccinello, and senior running back/cornerback Justin Mueller. They told him about the long walk to the Brick Memorial field as the butterflies build in pregame, the roaring of the crowd, and the adrenaline of the game. “My friends have been nagging me since sophomore year to play,’’ Santos said. “I figured it was my senior year, so why not give it a shot?’’ Before he could officially throw the pads on, he had to convince an important skeptic. “My dad didn’t want me playing at all,’’ Santos said. “I had to convince him. My dad’s a big baseball guy, but he loves football now. He’s always at every game, and he supports it 100 percent.’’ Currie and his staff immediately pegged Santos for a defensive back because of his athleticism and because learning Brick Memorial’s flexbone option offense can take more time than Santos really had to get it down. Santos also already had a good hip turn for a cornerback because of his experience as a centerfielder. In addition, it helped that the Mustangs graduated four of five starters in their secondary, which employs two strong safety/linebacker hybrid positions, from last year’s Central Jersey Group IV finalists. Spots were available, and Santos was part of the group auditioning for them. “We didn't have to simplify anything, specifically at corner, because his job is to just make sure nobody beats him deep,’’ Currie said. “All the skills and techniques are a lot to learn, but the reads are fairly straightforward, which is perfect for a kid like Zach. He has a nose for the football, and he understands where to be instinctively. You add a little technique, a little preparation and weight training, and that really can go far.’’ Secondary coach Ed Sarluca helped Santos get down the basics, and he was one of nine players competing for three spots in the offseason. He won the job as one of the starting cornerbacks along with senior Anthony Fontana and has flourished. It also helped that the position was up for grabs considering the potential bitterness that might have bloomed if a player who had been in the program for four years had his position taken by a kid who decided to play as a senior. “There was nothing like that,’’ Currie said. “Zach just performed the best at his position and won the job. He’s made the most of his opportunity.’’ “I was working my butt off,’’ Santos said. “I just wanted to get on the field. I had no clue I was going to have this kind of year. I just wanted to start and excel at my position.’’ That still doesn’t mean his heart wasn’t beating out of his chest in the season opener against cross-town rival Brick when he realized he had gone from watching the game in the stands a year earlier to right in the middle of a pressurized town rivalry. “I was really nervous,’’ he said. “I didn't know what to think. We’re playing for a town championship, it’s a big rivalry, all the fans are chanting, and all I could think was that I didn’t want to get beat. I didn’t want to be the person they pick on to lose the game for my team.’’ Santos was part of a defensive effort that kept the Green Dragons under wraps in a 17-10 victory for the Mustangs. A week later, Brick Memorial suffered what Santos considers its most gut-wrenching loss when Jackson Memorial beat the Mustangs 19-14 on a touchdown pass from senior quarterback Jimmy Celidonio to senior Johntel Thomas with just 50.9 seconds left in the game. “That’s when the secondary realized that we had to pick it up because we hated losing that last-second game because of a touchdown pass,’’ Santos said. A week later, the Mustangs held Toms River East to a field goal in a 7-3 win, and then suffered another heartbreaking loss with a 21-20 defeat at the hands of eventual Class A South champion Southern. Santos helped ease the sting of that defeat with two interception returns for touchdowns in a 42-0 wipeout of Toms River South, and then made a huge play in what turned out to be another narrow defeat. Santos had a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown that led to a game-tying, two-point conversion in the fourth quarter of what ended as a 17-14 overtime loss to Middletown South. His crucial pick showed how much of the game he has absorbed in a short time. Eagles receiver Matt LaMattina had been beating him with 3- and 5-yard hitch routes all game, and when LaMattina lined up in a trips formation, he correctly figured that LaMattina was going to now try to break inside for a slant pattern. He jumped the route, took it to the house and helped at least get Brick Memorial to overtime. “He's made some huge plays in huge spots, and to be honest, he didn't even realize how big of a spot it was most of the time,’’ Currie said. “When given the opportunity to make a big play, he makes it.’’ On Saturday night, his sixth interception of the season finally was paired with a big win. He snagged a pass from Toms River North’s Scott Buxbaum inside the final five minutes to help preserve a crucial, 27-21 victory that kept Brick Memorial in the playoff hunt in Central Jersey Group IV, where it has reached three straight finals. “We were devastated after those losses considering we are nine points away from being undefeated,’’ Santos said. “We would have a playoff spot right now, but we've become closer as a team from those losses. Come November and December, we're so close that I don't think anyone can beat us.’’ Santos has had experience covering some dangerous wideouts this season like LaMattina, Southern’s Alec Morris and Mike Gesicki, Toms River North’s Kyle Carrington, and more. In yet another huge game on Friday night, he may have to line up across Manalapan junior wide receiver Anthony Firkser, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound manchild who have overpowered pretty much every opposing cornerback he has faced this year. Brick Memorial can all but seal a state playoff berth with a win over the Braves, who are the Class A North champions and have won five straight. “I don’t let the names faze me,’’ Santos said. “It’s the whole defense as a unit that is the reason I have been able to get interceptions, so I just do my role. I can’t strategize for players like Firkser. He’s 6-4 and over 200 pounds, and I’m just a 5-8, 170-pounder, but this team has the heart and desire to get to the playoffs, which is all that matters. We don’t care who we face, as long as we get in.’’ For the first time in years, Santos has not even picked up a bat and a ball since August, and now he says he would welcome to the opportunity to play either baseball or football in college. His loose approach to just having fun and working hard at football is emblematic of a team that always seems to back itself into a corner before fighting its way out to wind up at Rutgers Stadium in the Central Jersey Group IV final. When everyone around them proclaims the sky is falling as their state playoff hopes are in jeopardy, the Mustangs just go play because they love being out there, and it usually results in their best football. “Zach is all about just getting out there, giving it all he’s got and whatever happens, happens,’’ Currie said. “That’s the way a lot of our guys play football. Our guys play loose, and Zack is the epitome of that. He’s been an amazing pickup for us.’’ He also is apparently only two interceptions away from tying the single-season school record. A player who is in the program for only one year might find his name at the top of the record book for a while if he continues at this pace. “Everybody’s been nagging me, saying ,’Are you going to get the record?’’’ he said. “I just play the game.’’ Of course, Santos’s success makes you wonder what kind of career he might have had if he had come out for the team earlier in high school. “Honestly, I think this was perfect timing,’’ Currie said. “Maybe if he played four years, he would be burned out right now. Instead, he’s having a blast, and we’re more than happy to have him here.’’ |
Tuesday, April 8
GAME SUMMARIES
Click on Individual Games Under Recent Games to View Box Scores, Stats, and Game Summaries.
Thursday, May 28
CONTRACTORS FOR KIDS
The Duckworth's referred a customer & Dune Construction donated $100.00 to the Diamond Club as a result. This is a great way to fundraise for our players. We need to get the word out on a bigger scale.
Thanks.
Rose Vivaldi
Coldwell Banker Riviera Realty
732-580-0302
Tuesday, March 29
Brick Memorial Poised for Baseball Season
Brick Memorial Poised for Baseball Season
By Brian Deakyne - BRICK.PATCH.com
Mustangs will look to veteran players as team leaders.
Despite losing in one of the toughest ways possible, Evan Rizzitello knew it was only the beginning.
Losing to Jackson Memorial High School in the 10th inning of a semifinal Ocean County Tournament game last May, the Brick Memorial High School baseball coach knew they would have another shot this spring.
The Mustangs return five key seniors, along with a host of several underclassmen, as they prepare for the 2011 season, which begins on Friday at Pinelands Regional.
"Being that we are relatively inexperienced, we are hopeful that seniors with varsity experience will step up and lead the team," Rizzitello said.
Headed by shortstop Michael Rytelewski, who will play at Montclair State University next season, the Mustangs also will look to senior pitchers Rob Schmidt and Michael Salerno, and senior catchers Chris Austin and Ryan Shaughnessy.
Juniors Kevin Nilsen and Ryan Traino also are expected to contribute as infielders. Nilsen is expected to pitch as well. Both players saw significant playing time as sophomores.
The Mustangs are deep at the catcher position with Austin and Shaughnessy, Rizzitello said. Ryan Melia, a sophomore, will also look to compete for the starting catcher's job.
Freshman Kyle Cala is a player to watch, expected to see varsity time in the outfield.
Despite the talent level on Brick Memorial, there is no question that Shore Conference A South is one of the toughest.
"Even though we are in arguably one of the toughest divisions in the state, we expect to be competitive year-in and year-out, and this one is no different," Rizzitello said.
The coach also said that Toms River South and Jackson Memorial are likely to be the strongest in the conference.
"We always look forward to divisional games," Rizzitello said. "The Brick [Dragons] game this year is more meaningful because we only play them once."
Last year, the Mustangs went 7-7 in divisional play with a 13-11 record overall.
"Our expectations are to make post-season play," Rizzitello said. "[We want] to be competitive in the A South and make a run at the Ocean County Tournament."
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Jaguars' four runs in second inning too much for Memorial to handle.
Jaguars' four runs in second inning too much for Memorial to handle.
JACKSON – If there was ever a span of time that a given pitcher would like to have back, that would be the second inning for Mustangs pitcher Kevin Nilsen on Monday afternoon.
Nilsen was nearly perfect in Brick Memorial's first round NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV state playoff game against Jackson Memorial, but allowed five hits and all four of his earned run in the bottom of the second inning, most notably allowing a three-run home run down the right field line to give the Jaguars the comfortable 4-0 lead.
Jackson Memorial would eventually win, 4-1, at home.
Otherwise, however, Nilsen allowed no runs on nine total and retired the final eight Jaguars batters in order.
He also struck out four and walked two batters, for the 14-seeded Mustangs.
"Kevin [Nilsen] has been our best pitcher this year," Brick Memorial head coach Evan Rizzitello said. "He did a phenomonal job outside of that second inning."
Despite the pitching performance, Brick Memorial struggled to offer run support, although they did have several chances throughout the game to drive in runs.
In a scoreless game in the top of the second, the 'Stangs had runners at second and third base with one out but were unable to tally any runs.
Ray Triano and Ryan Civello each ripped singles to center, and after Joe Civello's sacrifice bunt moved the runners over to second and third, Mike Martone struck out and Kyle Cala grounded out to short stop to end the inning.
Joe Civello led off the top of the fifth inning by reaching first on a throwing error, which was followed by a walk from Zack Santos.
Cala then grounded into a fielder's choice at second base – where Santos appeared to be safe – and Mike Matteo struck out after a long at-bat and Mike Rytelewski flew out to left field to end the inning.
The 'Stangs were back at it in the sixth as Spencer Cohen and Kevin Nilsen opened the inning with back-to-back singles. Triano then grounded into a 1-6-3 double play to cut the rally short.
Cohen eventually scored as Ryan Civello beat out an infield single up the middle, accounting for Brick Memorial's only run.
"We had three innings were we had a rally started, guys in scoring position and we were just looking for that one hit," Rizzitello said. "We just couldn't get it done today."
The loss is Brick Memorial's third to Jackson Memorial this season. They were mercied on the road, 14-4 in the team's first match-up, but battled the Jaguars close, losing 7-6 at home two weeks ago.
"We really haven't been able to get over the hump this year," Rizzitello said. "I think the boys battled really hard today and we put the bat on the ball."
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