Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey • Page 47

PAGE C8 ASBURY PARK PRESS FRIDAY, MAY 30, SCHOLASTIC 5 RBC moves on to Parochial final Southpaw. Hurler Rob Denton shuts down St. Rose over final six innings NJSIAA BASEBALL SECTIONAL FINALS CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP II Manasquan (18-7) vs. Kennedy, Iselin (20-7) 4 p.m. at Hamilton West High School By TERRY LIPSHETZ STAFF WRITER WALL TOWNSHIP Rob Denton has had first-inning woes throughout the season for Red Bank Catholic, but innings two through seven haven't KI RBC 10 ST.

ROSE 2 been a problem. In the first inning yesterday, St. Rose went up 2-1 in a South Jersey Parochial semifinal against Denton, but he allowed only one hit over the final six MjnjiquM mad te tht fetal: Defeated Ridge 6-2. Spotswood 5-3. Kennedy mad la the final Defeated Monro 16-9.

South Plainfield 10-4. Preview: Manasquan, bidding for its first sectional title since 1986 when it won the state Groupjfi championship, will start junior right-hander Jax landtned (5-3. 2 56 ERA), son of coach Jake Landfned. Sophomore second baseman Lance Koenig senior third baseman Matt Wingo (.465) are the top hitters. Power comes from junior catcher Evan Clancy (.438, 3 HR, 24 RBI and senior dean up batter Leo Storch 408.

2 HR, 26 RBI) The Mustangs are trying to win their first sectional title since 1992, when they beat Manasquan in the final Today starter Chns Buglovsky (6-1, 0.41) Is coming off a 1-0 shutout over Sayreville in last Saturday CMC Tournament semifinals. Junior hghtfielder Trevor Conroy leads In batting (.410) and RBI (24). Directions te HamHtea Wast Route 195 west to Exit two which it South Broad Street (Route 206). North on South Broad Street to fifth light Right at light which is Park Avenue. The school is the next block on the left CENTRAL JERSEY GROUP I Keansburg (18-7) vs.

Montgomery (11-13) 3:45 p.m. at North Hunterdon High School Meatgemery mad te tht llrith Defeated South Amboy 15-1, Middlesex 3-1. Ktamlwrf mad te the heal: Defeated Manville 15-0. Highland Park 12-1. Preview: Senior right-hander Brian Royle (7-2, 2 30 ERA) win start for the Titans who are looking for their first sectional crown.

They loslH-O in the 1995 final to Bernards. Catcher Billy Shea (.420. 5 HR, 47 RBI) leads Keansburg which has blasted 31 hits in the last two games. Other top hitters are Mike Downey Tom Rogers (.390) and Royle 355). Senior DH Joe Borquist it seven for ha last 10 with two home runs and three triples.

Montgomery will start No. two pitcher, sophomore right-hander Chns McLaughlin (2-4) since No. one Brian lusenhop (6-3, 1.97 ERA, .360) pitched Tuesday vs. Middlesex. Senior centerfielder Pete Vanzino (3 HR, 25 RBI) and sophomore second baseman Jaret Gronczewski (.380) lead the way.

Directieat North Nunterdea High ScheofcRoute 287 north to Route 78 west. West on 78 to Exit 17 (Washington-Clinton Exit). South on route Route 31 off exit School Is about Vt mile on the right SOUTH JERSEY GROUP IV TR North (1 6-1 0) vs. Triton (1 5-8) 1 :30 p.m. at Eastern High School TR North read te the final: Defeated Eastern 5-4, Washington Township 6-1.

TMw vmaA Ik. CI- FWaul Uinln a ft Denton, a southpaw, just needed time to get comfortable. "As I started off I was a little shaky, but then I started getting stronger, throwing harder, and it just felt that the game was going our way," said Denton. "It felt good at the end." Denton (5-2) scattered four hits, struck out six and walked two to help send RBC into the championship game. The Caseys, who tied the game in the fourth, caught a break in the fifth inning and rallied to score five runs on five hits.

With two out, Josh Kendle singled, stole a base and scored on Matt Cervi's single to give RBC a 3-2 lead. Chris Polito popped a foul behind home plate, but St. Rose catcher Scott McNeill couldn't hold the ball, and Polito poled an RBI single. "I knew that was big," Polito said. "I knew that I had a good swing and I missed it, and I heard coach yell down to me that I had another life, so I just took a couple of pitches and saw what I liked, and there it was." Catcher Matt Bailey followed Polito with a two- run homer to left, and shortstop Bill McCarthy drove a shot down the left-field line for back-to-back home runs and a 7-2 lead.

In the sixth inning, Brian Mohr came home on a double steal, and Polito smacked a two-run double. Polito finished 2-for-4 with three RBI, one run scored and a stolen base. Cervi was 2-for-2 with two RBI, a walk, two stolen bases and two runs scored. "We have an excellent offense on this team, there's no doubt about it," Cervi said. "We can hit with any team in the Shore.

Today we proved it Ten runs against a good pitcher. Joe Russell's a good pitcher." For St. Rose in the first inning, Dave Quagliyia singled home Mike Waggner with a hit to center, and Russell drove McNeill home on a fielder's choice. St Rose coach Bart Mclnerney said he was happy with his team's effort this season. "I'm very pleased," he said.

"We have 11 players on the varsity. I think our guys went above and beyond, did a great job, and I'm very proud of them." innings as RBC rallied to win 10-2 at the Wall Township municipal complex. RBC will play McCorristin in the final at 4 p.m. Tuesday at Mercer County Park field one. "Rob has never had a good first inning," said RBC coach Paul Hooker.

"He's just the kind of pitcher once he gets going second, third inning he gets on cruise control. When we got by the first and it was 2-1, 1 knew we were in good shape. He held them right there the rest of the game." Preview: The Manners will send ace right-hander, junior J.M. Gold (6-2, 0.93 ERA) to the moundjol searcn ot tne scnooi first sectional baseball championship. Senior left fielder Andy Pagano (.510, 4 HR, 21 RBI), senior shortstop Greg Adams senior third baseman Jim Piper and senior second baseman Albert Pero (.326) are the big hitters.

Gold lost in relief in last year's final to Shawnee 10-8, also at Eastern Senior left-hander Matt Dyle (6-3) will start for the Mustangs. Monmouth U. signee M. Benfield plays right field and pitched the shutout vs. Jackson.

Directions ts taster: Houte 70 west to Marlton circle. Take Route 73 east to Evesham Road. Righl cvroiitiiii. uu auuui nve ngnis. mane wn on vvnnenorse noao.

wexi iigm is rioute Mi (Maooonneia- TREast Eagles nuauj. ujn on oo i secona tigni mane len onto Laurel uax Hoao. bcnooi is V2 mile on rtgnt otm SOUTH JERSEY GROUP III 12 TR South (22-5) vs. Rancocas Valley (1 2-5) 2 p.m. at Southern Regional High School Til South mad te the final: Defeated Lower Cape May 7-4, West Deptford 11-0.

Rancocas Valley road te the final: Defeated Pemberton 7-5, Mainland 4-2. Preview: The Indians, appearing in their 1 1th sectional final under coach Ken Frank, are seeking their. 6th title. They will try to bounce back from yesterday's loss in the Ocean County Tournament championship game behind lunior right-hander Tom Wheeler (9-1, 1.92 ERA). Wheeler is only eligible for six innings due to NJSIAA pitching rules.

Todd Speedy (.505, 4 HR, 28 RBI), Jeff Toth (.441, 3 HR, 30 RBI), Wheeler and Jason Arre (.315) are the top hitlers. Sophomore left-hander Charlie Belinsky vt (4-0) will start for the Red Devils who won the overall Group III title in 1995. P.J. Elstone has hit three In his last seven games. Other top hitters are centerfielder Manny Moore, first baseman Kellen Peter, and lead off man Mike Liptak.

Scott Coigan is a good defensive shortstop. 1P Tony Graham AVvi'l .1, 4 1 M. 1 is BASEBALL NJSIAA TOURNAMENT Central Jersey Group tl Championship At Hamilton West Manasquan vs. JFK iiin a p.m. Group I Championship At North Hunterdon "That's hard to get them to believe, but I think they're getting to that point." The coach added that Slater has a lot to do with keeping things under control.

"Stacy really helps keep us poised on the mound," Erbig said. "She gets a strikeout when we need a big strikeout, she got them to hit some weak groundballs. She instills confidence as we go along." The Eagles jumped to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first before the Red Devils could record an out, as Barsalona and Jen Dondero walked with the bases loaded and Cara Simprini followed with an infield single. Middle-town could not capitalize further, however, and Hunterdon Central (21-5) responded with two in the second to cut the deficit to one. Momentum was regained by Mid-dletown with two runs in the third.

Jami Betz sparked the rally by leading off with a single, stealing second and scoring on Barsalona's single. Barsalona eventually came around on a throwing error by the catcher on Don-dero's sacrifice. Alison Erbig scored the Eagles final run in the fifth when she headed home on Barsalona's sacrifice fly. "I don't get nervous," Barsalana said of her first state tournament experience. "I get excited.

I like the pressure. It's fun." "We have a good group of athletes," Erbig said. "They're talented, they just make mistakes sometimes." Nothing that can't be overcome with the help of a little scouting CLASS NORTH J. Neptune 198, Freehold 209 (At Jumping Brook Golf Club, par 37) (N) McGrath 49; Crawford 43: Buonocore Kenney 54; Nichols 52; (F) Gundaker 46; Putterman 56; Tiedeman 52; Mackey 55; Mullen 68 Records; Neptune (2-15, 2-10), Freehold (3-13, 2-13). FREEHOLD REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Tuesday, at Shore Oaks (par 71, 6,100 Team scores: 1.

Marlboro 327; 2. Manalapan 334; 1 Freehold Township 358; 4, Howell 366; 5. Freehold 389. Individual: 1. Neugeboren, Marlboro -76? 2.

Schecterman, Manalapan 78; 3. Koerner, Marlboro 79; 4. Bishop, Howell 80; 5. Epstein, Marlboro 81. From page C7 Lakewood High School Tuesday.

Hunterdon Central sophomore Jenny Bender had shut out Middle- town North in Tuesday's semifinal, so the Eagles tapped the Lions for some information. "We knew their lefty (Robyn Ken-ney) liked to slap nearly every time up, so we practiced our slap defense yesterday," said sophomore shortstop Aimee Barsalona, whose three RBI upped her season total to 32. "They told us (Bender) was going to keep the ball up high and away, which she. did, so that helped us." "It's good to come into a game with a little bit of information," senior pitcher Stacy Slater said. "North is our rival but it's nice when they can come to us with help after they played (Hunterdon Central)." Slater (16-2) scattered seven hits and was able to shrug off the five errors made by her young defense.

"It's nice when 'you can have a game with errors and still win," Slater said. "Everyone's gonna make an error. I may make a bad pitch. You can't blame anyone. You shake it off and make the next pitch." Head coach Tom Erbig feels the ability to rise above problems is an indication of how far his young team has come.

"We stressed in practice this week that when you do make a mistake, it's not the end of the world. We're good enough to overcome it." Erbig said. From page C7 "Today, this was an East finish," said Bill Frank, speaking about the Indians affinity for dramatic, late-inning victories. Because of NJSIAA pitching rules, TR South (22-5) was forced to remove starter Jason Arre after he'd pitched the first eight innings. Daubert greeted reliever Bull Yuengel with a single to start the ninth.

Daubert was sacrificed to second by Erik Leopoldi and raced home on a single to center by Goglia, sliding under a strong throw from Arre. TR East (21-6) tied the game in the sixth when Daubert laced a two-out, RBI single to right following a leadoff double by Keith Smicklo. By then McDonough had become a strikeout machine. Beginning with a strikeout of Arre to end the third in- ning, McDonough, whose only loss this season was a 1-0 decision to TR North ace J.M. Gold, struck out the next eight batters.

All told, McDonough struck out the side three times, and retired 18 consecutive batters. Tom Wheeler stroked a two-run single in the first inning but, after Arre singled to open the second, McDonough did not allow another hit. McDonough aid he wasn't count- SJV falls in .3:30 pm. .1:30 p.m. 2 p.m.

4 pm Keansburg VI Mnntgnmwy South Jersey Group IV Championship At Eastern Regional Toms River North vs Triton Group III Championship At Southern Regional Toms River South vs Rancocas Valley Parochial A Semifinal St John Vianney at Bishop Eustace SHORE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT JAMES J. CONNOLLYStaff Photographer Toms River East pitcher Mike McDonough is pumped up during his record-setting day, striking out 18 Toms River North batters. Semifinals Toms River East mpra a ac pm SOFTBALL I SHORE CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT Semifinals At Toms River East CLASS A NORTH Middletown South 3, Marlboro 2 .4 p.m. .6 p.m. Toms River North vs Allentown St John Vianney vs Toms River East.

BOYSGIRLS TRACK At South Plalnfleld NJSIAA Group tinak Singles: Nates (M) d. Calanog 7-6. (7-1), 62; Miller (MS) d. Dikker 6-1, 6-2; Becker (M) d. Potter 6-1, 6-2; Doubles: Glowacki-Vaccarl (MS) d.

Zawadz-1 ki-Lang 4-6, 6-4, 6-0; Marzuck-Scherer (MS), Lipson-Venouziou 6-4, 6-4. Records; At Midd. Soeth (21-5, 13-1), Marlboro (17-4, 12-2). Ocean 5, CBA 0 .2 p.m. Singles: Friedman d.

Robinson 6-0, 6-1; WMman' d. Keaveney 6-3, 6-2; Feldman d. Jarmon 4-6. 60. 6-0; Doubles: Gleason-Rachlin d.

Delacruz-D'Agos-tino 6-3, 6-1; Jemal-Vaughan d. Bastan-Sarokah 6-1. Records: At Ocean (19-5, 11-3), CBA (7-9, S-B). NJSIAA TOURNAMENT CJ GROUP IV FINAL Midd. South 6, Hunt.

Central 3 Hunterdon Central (21-5) Middletown South (21-3) -020 000 1 3 9 2 -300 201 x-6 5 4 OCEAN COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP TR East 4, TR South 3 2B: (HC) Kenney: WP: Slater (16-2); LP: Bender (15-4). Toms River East (21-6) Toms River South (22-5). -001011001 -201 000 000 CJ GROUP III FINAL Wall 6, Hamilton West 3 Wall 2B: (TRE) Romano, Anderson. Smicklo';" 'WP: McDonough (6-1); LP: Yuengel (3-2). Hamilton West (17-4).

Wall (22-4) 010 002 0 3 8 2 004 200x-6 11 1 NJSIAA SOUTH JERSEY PAROCHIAL SEMIFINAL 4 2B: (W) Yarosi, Szeigis; WP: Strada (14-1); LP: Lenhardt (13-2). SJ PAROCHIAL A SEMIFINAL Bishop Eustace 9, SJ Vianney 0 over Middletown South, again got the job done in a big game. "They say go to a senior when you want to play and Nicole did her job of keeping them off stride," Vodola said. As was the case when they beat Middletown South for the Lady Buc championship, the Knights won a championship the day after a loss. On Red Bank Catholic 10, St.

Rose 2 ing his K's. "I have no idea" of the number of strikeouts, he said. "I don't even know how many innings we played, to tell you the truth." "He pitched a hell of a game, McDonough," Ken Frank said. "We played like we were tired. We play every day.

I hope we can come back (today) against Rancocas Valley (in the South Jersey III final). Sixteen straight wins, I gotta be proud of my kids." TR East continues its season this afternoon at CBA in a Snore Conference Tournament semifinal. Ocean names football coach STAFF REPORT RED BANK Regional assistant under Barry Sullivan and former Long Branch standout Dan George has been named football coach at Ocean Township High School. He succeeds Mike Lambusta who coached the Spartans for the past three seasons. "Danny is well prepared to become a head coach," said Ocean athletics director Dave Enderly.

"He's energetic and enthusiastic." George was formally a wrestling RB Catholic (15-9-1)-St Rose (16-10) -100 153 0- 10 12 3 -200 000 0 2 '4 1 Bishop Eustace (25-2) St John Vianney (21-2) .120 411 0 9 130 .000 000 0 1 6 2B: (R) McCarthy. Polito; 3B: (S) Payne; HR: (R) Bailey, McCarthy; WP: Denton (5-2): LP: Russell 2B: (B) Johnston; WP: Johnston; LP: Bucco (21-2). (6-7). Wednesday they were beaten by Al lentown in a Shore Conference Tour nament quarterfinal. Parochial A STAFF REPORT FOR THE third consecutive season, St.

John Vianney's state title hopes have been snuffed out by Bishop Eustace. In 1995 and 1996, the Crusaders a Camden County powerhouse edged the Lancers by one-run mar- gins. This time NJSIAA tney pounded out SOFTBALL 13 Ms to eliminate Vianney 9-0 in the NJSIAA South Jersey Parochial A semifinals. The Lancers' lone hit was Kathleen White's fifth-inning single to right field. White replaced senior Jen Crom-bie at second base when Crombie was injured by a ground ball off her shin.

Megan Johnston went the distance for the Crusaders (26-2). Vianney will play Toms River East this evening in a Shore Conference Tournament semifinal. "We have a varsity awards banquet THE BEST EMiRS. THE BEST WARRANTY. From page C7 should have been.

I guess I just love pressure." Catcher Shannon Donovan followed Morton's lead with a bunt single that scored Morton and capped the rally. In the fourth, Morton again bunted her way on with two strikes. This one scored Strada, who had singled home Mullins. "Leah's been a bunter since she was very young," said Wall coach Tony Vodola. "It's a matter of knowing your players' capabilities." "I knew there was a lot of pressure when (Vodola) said 'Two outs and two strikes' and I had to do it," Morton said.

"I had to perform." Strada, who was on the mound for Wall's Lady Buc semifinal win over St. John Vianney and championship win tonight, so we re going home happy, she said. "We play a tough schedule all season and it definitely prepares us for these games." Vodola agreed: "When you're playing Middletown South and your backs are against the wall, I think you've seen everything." he said. It was a do-or-die year. We were either going to cash in or go down, but the kids have really risen to the coach and has coached some of the Shore's top quarterbacks during his years at Red Bank.

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And the stories that had been coming out of Lincoln, were real bad. Bad enough that three days after New England tried to sneak Peter in as a fifth-round draft pick last year, the outraged shrieking in Boston reached a decibel level so uncomfortable that the Patriots had to release him sight unseen. Not that anyone ever mistook this for an act of deep moral conviction on their part. That's where Dr. Goldberg came in.

He worked with Peter, then he went to work on Young and Wellington Mara, the patriarch of the franchise. Then, in November, the word got out that the Giants were going to sign Peter and all hell bfoke loose. So once they did sign him, the Giants wisely chose to shelter Peter from the media. Until yesterday. "Now," said Goldberg, "if Christian violates any tenet of his contract, my vote is he's gone.

And his behavior is a reflection on me." I was in denial. Now it's one day at a time one step at a time. "There've been a couple of times when I wanted to have a drink. But alcohol's poison to me. I know If I pick up a drink, my behavior's unpredictable." It's a familiar mantra.

It might sound rehearsed. It might even sound like somebody's putting words in the kid's mouth. And, it might be getting a little stale by now. But these are the well-worn phrases they use to combat addiction, so you go along with them. "I think it all came to a head with what happened with New England," he said.

"This may sound funny, but that's probably the best thing that ever happened to me. "I'm stubborn, and I didn't want to hear that I had a problem. The first person who recognized it was coach (Tom) Osborne. He got me treatment when I was a sophomore, but I was still in denial. "I thought it was everybody else trying to stick it to me I drank behind people's backs I lied to coach Osborne.

"I didn't drink every day, but when I did drink, it was like I was going out to get hammered. Until I anymore or walk anymore." From page CI can't help yourself, you still have to root for the kid. You can go through this a hundred timjs, a thousand times, and you can swear off these punks forever, these thick-necked jocks who are dumb as a box of rocks, and still, you find yourself giving them a second chance, and a third, however many it takes. Because if you aren't rooting for them to beat back their personal demons, then it's all over for you, you're dead inside. So you listen and you hope.

Maybe this is the one who wins the battle. "I think I'm a totally different person than I was a year ago," Christian Peter was saying yesterday. "I've been sober for over a year now without my sobriety I'm nothing. "The No. 1 priority in my life is getting better.

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