Ocean hopes to bounce back from state tourney loss
Shore boys to play for sectional title today
By doug mckenzie
Staff Writer

CHRIS KELLY Ocean’s Arielle Weinkofsky has been nothing short of brilliant this spring as the Spartans have enjoyed a championship season on the diamond.

All season long the Ocean Township girls’ softball team has struggled to score runs.

On Tuesday, their offensive inadequacies came back to bite them, and it cost them a shot at a sectional title.

The Spartans lost a 5-0 contest to top-seeded Hamilton West in the semifinals of the Central Jersey Group III tournament, ending their bid at a state title. However, the game was closer than it looked, as Ocean’s Arielle Weinkofsky continued to shine on the pitcher’s mound, keeping her team in the game through five innings.

In the top of the sixth, the Spartans had a chance to strike first when they had runners on first and third and just one out. But as has been the case for much of the season, Ocean couldn’t plate that all-important run, and it changed the complexion of the game.

"When we couldn’t get that run across, I think that psychologically it hurt us," Ocean coach Mark Frankel said. "They are 22-3, and a real solid team. Once we failed to score, they broke it open."

In the bottom of the sixth, Hamilton got a lead-off walk, followed by a sacrifice bunt. The next batter knocked in the game’s first run with a double, and following a hit-by-pitch and an intentional walk to load the bases, Hamilton hit back-to-back doubles to put Ocean away.

"They’re No. 1 in the bracket, so we knew they were tough," Frankel said. "We knew that if they got a few runs we’d be in trouble."

Ocean has been playing tight games all season, as the offense has struggled to the tune of a .231 batting average.

"Arielle did her job, as usual, but just didn’t get any run support," Frankel said. "I was disappointed that we didn’t get that run because I really think it would have been different it we had."

Weinkofsky’s pitching has been the team’s biggest strength all season. Ocean’s 17-6 record, despite its offense woes, is a testament to how effective she has been.

"I feel sorry for the kid," Frankel said. "She consistently shuts teams down, but as soon as she gives up a run, she’s behind."However, Frankel added that the team has gotten enough big hits to get to 17 wins, and to clinch a Class A North division title.

Beyond Weinkofsky, Frankel credits the play of senior captain Stephanie Brady, an All-Shore player last year, who moved from center field to shortstop this year.

"Stephanie has been solid all year," he said. "She has done an outstanding job making the sacrifice. We wouldn’t be A North champs without her. I couldn’t be happier with her performance."

Despite Ocean’s loss on Tuesday, the Spartans still have some important games left to play. On Wednesday, they faced Freehold Borough in the Shore Conference Tournament’s second round.

"We saw some pretty good pitching against Hamilton, so hopefully that will help us against [Ashley] Forysth," Frankel said.

The Freehold freshman has been nothing short of brilliant this season, tossing 16 shutouts and five no-hitters.

This weekend, the Spartans are hoping to get in a Lady Buc Tournament game against Red Bank Catholic.

"We didn’t get to play RBC this year because it was rained out, so it’s kind of ironic that we’re meeting them in the Lady Buc," Frankel said.

Once this season comes to a close, the Spartans will immediately look to next season, when the majority of the lineup will return, including Weinkofsky, who is a junior. And with Brady lost to graduation, the Spartans will need to find ways to generate offense.

Shore falls to top-ranked SJV

The Shore Regional girls’ softball team faced the best the Shore Conference has to offer on Tuesday, dropping a second-round SCT game, 3-0.

The Blue Devils only managed one hit against Vianney’s Tricia Rengle (a single by Lauren Hennessy in the sixth) to fall to 18-3 on the year.

However, Shore hoped to bounce back on Wednesday when it faced sixth-seeded Dunellen in the Central Jersey Group I semifinals. The winner will get the winner of the Middlesex-Manville semifinal game.

Shore boys advance

to sectional final

The Shore Regional baseball team will be playing for a sectional title today at 4 p.m. after topping defending CJ Group I champion Bernards, 3-2, on Tuesday.

Senior catcher Marc Hyndsman singled with two outs in the top of the ninth inning to score Andy Swinton and break a 1-1 tie, sending the Blue Devils to the sectional final, where they will face either Middlesex or Dunellen. It was Hyndsman’s 107th career hit (a school record).

Anthony Dalia and Joe Gallo combined to pitch a gem for the Blue Devils, who were seeded 10th in the bracket but are playing their best ball of the season.

With a win today, Shore will clinch its second sectional title in four years