Shore’s top seniors compete in annual all-star game
By doug mckenzie
Staff Writer

FARRAH MAFFAI Rumson-Fair Haven’s R.J. Gaynor looks to drive the ball during the home run derby prior to the Shore Baseball Coaches Association’s annual all-star game at Wall Municipal Stadium on Saturday. Gaynor won the competition, hitting at least one home run in all three rounds of the competition.

Pitching and defense highlighted the Shore Baseball Coaches Associa-tion’s annual all-star game Satur-day at the Wall Municipal Complex.

The game, which featured many of the top seniors from throughout the Shore Conference, was a well-played pitchers’ dual, featuring few scoring chances and some timely hitting.

A pair of evenly matched teams took the field, with the home team consisting of players from the Shore Conference’s Class A South, B South and B Central divisions, while the visitors featured players from Class A North, B North and A Central.

Keyport High School’s ace Brian Langan, who will play at Felician College. Lodi, next year, started the game for the home team and pitched a perfect two innings, striking out two batters.

Meanwhile, Christian Brothers Academy’s Bob Acampora started the game for the visitors, and allowed a lead-off single to St. Rose of Belmar’s Isaac Friedel in the first inning before retiring the next six batters in order to keep the game scoreless.

Lakewood’s Jeremy Aguirre relieved Langan in the top of the third for the home team, and promptly struck out the side.

Holmdel’s Anthony Blasi took the mound in the bottom of the third for the visiting team, and kept the game scoreless. After striking out Point Pleasant Beach’s Bob Molar, Blasi walked Mater Dei’s Joe Caprio, before getting Aguirre to ground into a fielder’s choice, and Wall’s Mickey Schupin into fly ball to center.

In the top of the fourth, Aguirre was just as sharp, but a defensive miscue allowed the game’s first run to score. After Middletown South’s Andy Hooker grounded out to first to lead off the inning, Red Bank Regional’s Adam Louks got an infield hit and promptly stole second.

Middletown North’s Ryan McCabe then worked out a walk, putting runners on first and second. Freehold Township’s Nick Papa then hit a sharp grounder to second, where Toms River East’s Steve Johnson got the force out at second. However, the shortstop’s throw to first got past Pineland’s Ed Kunder, allowing Louks to score from second.

Aguirre then finished the inning with another strikeout.

Ocean’s Larry Samples then took the mound in the top of the fourth for the visitors and protected the lead. After giving up a lead-off walk to Brick’s Kevin Graham, Samples settled in and retired the side on a strikeout and a pair of ground outs.

Point Boro’s Pat Ford took over the pitching duties in the top of the fifth for the home team, and retired the side on a pair of strikeouts and a fly ball to right.

Samples was solid again in the bottom of the fifth, allowing just a two-out, infield hit to Toms River East’s Chris Venuto before striking out Johnson to end the inning.

Ford then worked a perfect sixth for the home team, striking out two and inducing a ground ball to second.

In the bottom of the sixth, the home team’s bats finally woke up, and Freehold Borough’s Pat Brown was the unlucky recipient of the onslaught. Brown came in to pitch, relieving Samples, and promptly saw Point Boro’s Chris Ridge launch an 0-2 curveball over the left field wall for a game-tying home run. After getting an out on a pop up to first, Ford gave up another extra base hit, when Caprio launched a double to right-center to keep the inning going.

Brown came back to strike out Aguirre, but then gave up consecutive run-scoring singles to Schupin and Graham. CBA’s Craig Tscherednikov then entered the game, and walked Brick’s Frank Muzikar before allowing a single to right off the bat of Friedel. However, Louks made a great throw from right field to get the runner at the plate, ending the home team’s rally, and keeping the score at 3-1.

In the top of the seventh, the visiting teams went down in order as Graham entered the game and sandwiched a pair of ground outs around a strikeout.

Among some of the other players who participated in the game were Marlboro’s Peder Van Harten, Freehold Township’s Bryant Perez, Red Bank’s Kevin Snyder, Matawan’s John Cherry, Holmdel’s Mike Pahira, Monmouth Regional’s Matt Cutch, and Red Bank Catholic’s Tory Principe.

A number of players were invited to play in the game but could not attend due to other commitments, including Manalapan’s Mike Dejesus, Long Branch’s Jose Rivera, Raritan’s Idelfonso Nieves, and Colts Neck’s Mike Sarapochillo.

Notes ... Prior to the game, many of the players participated in a home run derby, with Rumson-Fair Haven’s R.J. Gaynor walking away with the title, after being the only player to clear the fence in each of the contest’s three rounds.

Gaynor launched two dingers in the first round, as did Keyport’s Langan. Mater Dei’s Jeff Lewandowski, St. Rose’s Friedel and St. John Vianney’s Shane Kochon were the other players to advance to the second round after clearing the wall.

In the second round, Kochon started things off by having a ball bounce off the top of the fence and land in left/center field. Lewandowski then cleared the wall once, as did Friedel and Gaynor.

In the final round, both Lewandowski and Friedel failed to hit one out, meaning Gaynor needed just one long ball in eight swings to win the competition. On just his second swing, Gaynor earned the title, launching a tremendous shot over the left field wall.

Gaynor, who played his first year of varsity ball this season, impressed his fellow competitors with his power, though his coach Kevin James said he was not surprised by Gaynor’s effort.

"He went into the season this year without playing any varsity and hit six home runs and batted about .420," he said. "It was nice having him around this year. Too bad we can’t redshirt him."

Award-winners ... The SBCA also named its outstanding players prior to the game. In A North, Middletown North’s Rob Molinaro was the outstanding pitcher, while Hooker was the division’s top hitter. In A Central, Blasi (pitcher) and Wall’s Evan Baubles were recognized. Brick’s Steve Healing (pitching) and TRN’s Joe Mercurio took the A South honors, while Kochon (pitching) and Loucks (hitting) were the B North honorees. In B Central, Langan (pitching) and Shore Regional’s Marc Hyndsman were honored, while Point Boro’s Ford (pitcher) and Manchester’s Travis Muslof took the B South Honors.

In addition, Holmdel High School head coach Ed Reckage won the Richie Veth Award as the SBCA’s coach of the year. The award was named after the longtime Middletown North coach and co-founder of the SBCA following his death earlier this year.

According to the SBCA’s president, Joe Lanza, this marks the first time the association has named an award after a coach.

"It will be something that will last for eternity, and will continue to show how much he meant to the Shore baseball community," Lanza said.