Asbury Park Press from Asbury Park, New Jersey • Page 52

D4 Asbury Park Press Friday, April 3, 1992 dzzle in season-openin: Joe ZEDAUS By TONY GRAHAM PRESS STAFF WRITER WALL TOWNSHIP Neither, rain, snow, sleet, or dark of night have so far been able to shut down the siz- zling bats of the WALL 12 Wal1 School PINELANDS 2 baseball team. Yesterday, amid occasional snow flurries, biting cold and gathering darkness, the Crimson Knights whacked nine hits, five for extra bases, and rolled past Pinelands, 12-2, in a Shore Conference Class South opening game for both teams. 1991 with three hits and three RBI. Senior leadoff batter Jason Nuccio drove in three runs, two on a second-inning triple. The Knights hit two triples and three doubles in the game.

"Mike Adam, of course, is hitting the ball," said Rubano. "He's going to be one of the top hitters in the Shore this year. This little Nuccio kid, he's really swinging the bat for a little guy and is coming along strong, too." Rubano was especially pleased that starting pitcher Sal Imposimato provided five strong innings before Pete Skouras moved over from shortstop and struck out the side in the sixth. Rubano. "I think if we cut those down it'll make a difference for us.

I think we're going to keep hitting like this, I really do." Pinelands' coach Glenn deMarrais took the defeat in stride. "They're a better baseball team than us right now, no doubt about it," said deMarrais. "They have better pitching, they have better hitters than us. We made a couple of errors but I don't think it had an effect on the game. "We don't have a kid in the program that pitches like either of those two kids.

That's why they're predicted to win (Class South)." "Sal is going to be our No. 1," said Rubano. "He has a little tough time getting loose in the cold weather like this. He's a big, strong kid. But once he got his control down he did fine after that.

His breaking pitch is his out pitch and that's what keeps him in games." Pinelands reached Imposimato- for two runs in the first inning, but Nuc-cio's two-out, two-run triple to center put Wall ahead for good in the second. Kyle Kononowitz tripled and Jim Rochford doubled to highlight a five-run third inning that made it 9-2. "Last year, we gave up a lot of walks and made a lot of errors," said The game ended because of darkness after Pinelands was retired in the top of the sixth inning. "The last two scrimmages we've hit the ball well," said Wall coach Angelo Rubano. "We scored 24 runs against Rumson and we scored 13 against Keyport the other day.

We've been swinging good bats right up and down the order." Senior Mike Adam, who batted .345 last season with three home runs and 9 RBI, picked up where he left off in Gulls' Clayton strikes mi ll in win PRESS STAFF REPORT POINT PLEASANT Beach pitcher Robbie Clayton had a hot day yesterday in the cold weather. "In warm-ups, it started snowing," said Clayton, who struck out 17 Keansburg hitters and scored the winning run in the bottom of the sev- enth when the Garnet Gulls rallied for a 3-2 Shore Conference Class C-South victory. Clayton, a junior right-hander, struck out the side four times. "I threw a lot of fastballs," he said. "When it was 0-2 counts, I threw a lot of curve balls and split-fingers here and there." But Point Beach (1-1, 1-1) trailed 2-1 when it batted in the bottom of the seventh.

"We were getting people on but couldn't finish, one guy was out at home on a squeeze play," Clayton said. "I was like praying at the end of the game we'd get some runs." Steve Gilmore walked, Clayton was hit by a pitch, and an infield single by left fielder Brian Spader loaded the bases with one out Sophomore centerfielder Larry Dropkin then singled through the middle. RED BANK CATHOLIC 3. ST. JOHN V1AN- NEY 2: Winning pitcher Gary Szitanko coaxed the final out with the potential tying run on third and winning run on second, pacing the Caseys to a season-opening Class North victory.

The Lancers scored twice in the seventh and had runners on second and third when Szitanko got the final out on a flyball to center. RBC's Evan Buckalew drove in the winning runs with a two-run homer in the third inning. Mark D'AUesan-dro struck Out 14 iri'a losing effort. LONG BRANCH 7, RARrTAN 7: Dan Vega's sacrifice fly capped a three-run rally in the sixth inning enabling the Green Wave to tie the Class North game. The contest was stopped after six innings because of darkness.

Brian Guiney went three for four for Raritan, and Ryan Waltz drove in two runs for the Rockets. OCEAN 12, RUMSON Senior right fielder Scott Larken celebrated his first varsity start with a two-run single in the second inning and an RBI single in the sixth, leading the Spartans to a non-conference victory. Junior right-hander Rich Traylor pitched no-hit ball over five innings before Rumson's Brian Paulson lined oneout single to left off reliever Ryan Pancza in the sixth for the BiuY ldogs' only hit. Point Beach's Robbie Clayton delivers Clayton, who was on second, expected a close play at the plate. "The catcher missed the throw home and I went around him and scored," said Clayton.

Losing pitcher Chris Pollard singled in one of two runs in the first inning for the Titans (0-2, 0-1). Confronting students and alcohol abuse lk UMSON The Rumson basely ball team lost Wednesday. It lost on the field, 6-2, to Monmouth Regional. It also lost off the field. The reasons for losing the game are easily explained not enough hitting, too little pitching, too much Monmouth.

The loss off the field, however, is not nearly as easily theorized, understood or accepted. The outcome of a game was not in question. The outcome of six lives were. Wednesday, six members of the Rumson baseball team were dismissed from the squad for violation of the school's anti-substance abuse agreement. The players, whose names are being withheld by the school administration, would have played prominent and not-so-prominent roles in Rumson's baseball fortunes this spring.

But the issue here goes far beyond baseball. "We informed the parents and the players of our decision in a classroom," said vice-principal Nick Pizzulli. "We could have been meeting them at a funeral parlor." Ten days ago, the six players left school at approximately 3 p.m. and. met at the home of one of the players.

Practice was not until 5 p.m. In between school and practice, all six, in varying amounts, consumed vodka. "It varied from one kid drinking an awful lot to another drinking just one shot," said athletic director Walt Reiser. The decision, however, that concerned every administrator at Rumson was the players' choice to return to school. At least two of the players returned to campus by car.

"They made poor decisions," said Rumson principal James Mullevey. "We love these kids. We want them to be successful. But right now we are scared for them." As soon as the players reached campus, they were in immediate violation of the anti-substance abuse agreement, which must be signed by every athlete and that athlete's parents. Many schools at the Shore have their athletes sign a similar agreement.

The contract states "abuse of any substance on or off school property will result in disciplinary action which may include immediate dismissal from the team or activity." "It was a severe and blatant act," Pizzulli said. "The consequences must be met. If they are not going to be met, there is no sense in having the rule. It was a violation of the agreement it is just not easy to swallow. "It was an unpleasant decision for all of us," Pizzulli said.

"But it was the right decision." The administration at Rumson had never before been confronted with a decision like this. Compounding the harshness of the punishment, the six players in question are, according to Mullevey, "all good kids." "There were 600 other students and the community watching the decision we made," Mullevey said. "We had to say that this behavior was unacceptable." Yesterday, before class, four of the players met with head coach Hal Lorme for the first time since the suspension. "They just wanted to hear from me what my interpretation was," Lorme said. "Even had they been reinstated to the team at some point, I would have felt very uncomfortable working with those youngsters." Lorme, who is in his 25th and final year at Rumson, agreed with the dismissal.

"If the players would have been allowed back who's to say two or three others would not have done the same thing," Lorme said. "I would have felt like there was a cloud over my head had the players been allowed to come back at some point. We might have had a better record or we might have gone deeper into the postseason with those players but at least now I will have peace of mind knowing that myself, and others, made the correct decision." Joe Zedalis is an Asbury Park Press staff writer. Jurczyk stars as Lacey rolls past Freehold i cwfahtTTig3Z lets Wildcat Relays growing In just three years, the meet scheduled for tomorrow has become the Shore's largest. By JOHN BUSH PRESS STAFF WRITER MORE THAN 2,500 athletes will descend upon South Jersey tomorrow for an event entering just its third year of existence.

The weekend outdoor track and field season begins tomorrow with the third annual Wildcat Invitational Relays at Pinelands Regional High School, Little Egg Harbor Township. The meet starts with the shot put relay at 9:30 a.m. The track events start at 10 a.m. with the 3 -400 intermediate hurdles relay. In just three years, the meet has grown to the largest in the Shore Conference.

When the Wildcat Relays get under way, 91 boys and girls teams representing 58 schools from 14 different counties, including as far north as Wallkill Valley Regional, will be competing in three divisions (A, C). "The meet has actually doubled from the size it was two years ago," said meet director Mark Bradley. "I expected it to grow, but I didn't expect it to mushroom the way it has. It's great to see all these different kids. Many of these teams don't see each other until the state championships.

It's like a carnival atmosphere." The meet had an inauspicious start in 1989, when 55 teams were scheduled to compete in the initial running of the meet. But a snowstorm postponed the event until the following Monday, and 44 teams returned for a full day of track and field relay events. Last year, the meet swelled to 72 teams. "You can organize all you want," said Bradley. "But it's the athletes who make the meet.

There's great competition." No doubt the teams are attracted by several unique aspects of the meet, especially in the field events. The shot put, discus, javelin and long jump PVPtits will all fiplH thrpp-man toamo WW IWU1U.J instead of the two-man teams found at most relay meets. Awards in the field events will not only go to the top five teams but to the top five individuals as well. 7 "Having the third man changes the complexion of the event," said Bradley. "Now the third man has to be pretty competitive.

It emphasizes the depth and team concept as well as the individual." Middletown South, which won the girls A Division last year, returns as jf it -i me oniy ueienaing cnampion among Shore Conference girls teams, having taken team titles in each of the last two years. In the boys division, Asbury Park will return to defend its Division title. Jackson's boys team, which won the A Division last year, has SATs tomorrow and will not attend the meet. Toms River South won the protest, but Brick won the meet. The Green Dragons prevailed over the Indians, 66-65, Wednesday in a Shore Conference Class A South boys meet, the outcome of which was delayed because of a Brick protest over the final event, the 1,600 relay.

Although Brick won the race by a substantial margin, its lead runner entered a lane too early during the last 100 meters and the team was disqualified. The protest was denied, but the Dragons still emerged as the winnef. PRESS STAFF REPORT SOPHOMORE STRIKER Dana Jurczyk showed no effects of a preseason knee injury yesterday in an season-opening girls soccer game. Jurczyk paced Lacey with a pair of goals and assisted on another goal to lead the Lions to a 4-1 CELESTE LA BROSSEAsbufy Park Prea a pitch against Keansburg. IN OTHER HIGHLIGHTS: 1ACEY 12, FREEHOLD 7: Brian Caul-field had four RBI, including two during a four-run sixth inning, as the Lions prevailed in Class South.

Lacey was clinging to an 8-7 lead when Caufield knocked in two runs with his single. everything for I' 1 1 Menschner's two-run single in the bottom of the first opened the floodgates as the Golden Eagles banged out 15 runs and 10 hits in only four innings. Menschner also picked up the victory on the mound, holding the Falcons to five hits. ST. JOHN VIANNEY 18, RBC 5: The Lancers broke a 5-5 tie with seven runs in the fourth inning and six more in the fifth.

Deana Morgan helped lead the way with a single, double and triple. Deanna Ivanicki knocked in five runs on two hits. SHORE 14, MATER DEI 4: The visiting Blue Devils scored four runs in the top of the first inning to set the pace in this North contest. Run-scoring singles by Jessica Pizzulli (three for five) and Jodi Napolatani (three for five) made it 2-0. Right-hander Kathleen, Kelly went the distance for Shore, striking out nine and walking one.

i a Martinelly, knocked in a 2-0. A Joelle made it Tina Foster MATER DEI Soldo scored knot this Class into the second lini to put RED BANK Werner stopped Gopsil made North action. WALL 6, 1-0) exploded picked up a Sophomore trick, scored Kim Knolmayer Wall. Pinelands goal by Jamie who scored at the 59:08 mark, loose ball from 18 yards out to make it Restino score off a pass from Martinelly 3-1 with about six minutes to play. had the lone goal for the Falcons.

1, RUMSON 1: The Seraphs' Stephanie from 25 yards out at the 57:08 mark to contest. Ann Svikhart scored 10:46 half with an assist from Fran Meer- Rumson up, 1-0. CATHOUC 0, ST. JOHN VIANNEY 0: Dawn 11 shots for the Lancers and Mich-ele nine save for the Caseys in Class PINELANDS 1: The Crimson Knights (1-0, for five second-half goals as they South victory. Sharon Height, who recorded a hat two of her goals in the final half.

Junior added a goal and two assists for took a lead 7:43 into the contest on a Phillips. Height tied it at 26:11. I This was probably our best win over Freehold, which is a team that gives us trouble. Paul Groben LACEY COACH Shore Conference Class South victory over Freehold. Jurczyk broke a 1-1 tie with an unassisted, goal three minutes before halftime.

Freshman Erin Dunn made it 3-1 with 1:43 left in the half. Jurczyk set up sophomore Tara Majewski halfway through the sec over Freehold, which is a team that gives us trouble." Jurczyk opened the scoring 16 minutes into the game but Robin Levine tied it for the Colonials 11 minutes later. CENTRAL 4, MANCHESTER 1: Julie Koscielicki scored a pair of first-half goals, both on direct kicks, to lead the Golden Tina DellaPietro and Laura McCormick added second-half goals for Central while Katie Mockaitis made six saves. Erin Brennan scored on a penalty kick 12 minutes into the second half for Manchester. POINT BEACH 1, MANASQUAN 0: Senior Isabel Cooper scored the lone goal of the game just 49 seconds before the first half ended.

Thanks to seven saves by Garnet Gulls' goalkeeper Mary Zevera, Cooper's goal proved to be the difference in this Class contest. RED BANK 3, MONMOUTH 1: Betsy Martinelly scored a second-half goal and assisted on another to lead the visiting Bucs (1-0, 1-0) in a Class North match. ond half. "Dana hurt her knee in our last scrimmage and it's still a little tender," said Paul Groben, Lacey's head coach. "She had a good game today and it was a good win for us.

This was probably our best win Colyer does PRESS STAFF REPORT KEANSBURG'S TINA Colyer put on a show yesterday. The senior pitched a no-hitter and struck out nine batters to lead the Titans to a 24-2 win over Point Pleasant Beach in a Shore Conference Class North contest. Colyer did more than just excel on the mound, however, as she also had a banner day at the plate. Colyer went two for four with a home run and a double. Colyer got the team going immediately.

She led off the game with a home run, sparking an inning in which the Titans scored 22 runs. Kerri O'Keefe and Sandy Borgquist each knocked in three runs for Keansburg. On the mound, Colyer allowed Point Beach's only two runs in the first inning. She issued two walks which came back to haunt her. A passed ball and a throwing error allowed those runners to score.

IN OTHER HIGHLIGHTS: CENTRAL 15, MONMOUTH 4: Tara Keansburg WALL 14, PINELANDS 3: Five different Crimson Knights drove in runs in the third inning to break up a close game. Erin Cox smashed a three-run homer in the second inning for Wall, driving a shot over the left field fence. Cox went three for three with five RBI. LACEY 12, FREEHOLD 2: Junior right fielder Diane Schlossareck smacked a two-run single to key a five-run first inning for the Lions in this error-plagued South match-up. The Colonials made 13 errors.

Junior left fielder Wendy Rodd went two for four for the Lions (1-0, 1-0) and scored two runs. Melissa Schreiner (1-0) got the win. ALLENTOWN 10, ST. ROSE 0: Vanessa Van Hise put down a bases-loaded squeeze bunt in the second inning to put the Redbirds on the board, 1-0, and key a five-run inning in this South contest. Following the bunt, AI-lentown scored its next four runs on bases loaded walks.

Sophomore right-hander Jenny Boss (2-0) struck out seven, i BOB BIELKAsbury Park Press Lacey pitcher Melissa Schreiner fires one in yesterday against Freehold. The Lions won, 12-'.