While many high schools were on spring break, local athletic teams were quite busy on fields throughout the region.
Baseball games plentiful during break
Jackson Memorial High School posted two victories behind the hitting of Tim Halasnik. On April 10, Halasnik collected three hits and drove in two runs, while Jaquars teammate Tom Pellone slugged a home run and ended with four RBIs when Jackson Memorial defeated Central Regional High School, 8-4.
Two days later, Halasnik again recorded three hits and two RBIs, as Jackson Memorial knocked off Southern Regional High School, 9-5. Alex Iadisernia contributed to the victory with a homer.
Nick Hohenstein was the spark behind Christian Brother Academy’s (CBA) successful 3-1 week. Hohenstein pitched a one-hitter over six innings and hit an RBI single April 10 when CBA defeated Freehold High School, 5-1. On the following day, Hohenstein smacked a two-run homer to lift the Colts to an 11-5 triumph over Brick Memorial High School.
CBA’s undefeated season came to an end April 12 when Freehold Township High School pulled out a 1-0 victory. Mike Pirotta was the catalyst for Freehold Township against CBA. He allowed just one hit in pitching five innings, and he produced the only run when he hit an RBI single in the fourth inning.
Freehold Township pulled out another tight victory April 13 when Bryan Reed connected on a two-run homer in the eighth inning to snap a tie and hand the Patriots an 11-9 victory over Howell High School.
CBA rebounded April 13 behind Spencer Bauer, who fired a no-hitter in his first varsity start — a 1-0 decision over Neptune High School. The sophomore pitcher struck out 10.
Middletown High School South delivered two dramatic victories during the week. On April 10, Joe Sprake came through with a two-run single in the bottom of the 10th inning when Middletown South trimmed Colts Neck High School, 9-8. Sprake finished with four hits, while Robby Zega helped in the triumph with two hits and three RBIs.
Ben Porpola connected on a home run in the sixth inning April 12 when Middletown South snapped a tie and edged Wall High School, 3-2.
Another thrilling victory was turned in by Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School April 11. Alex Walsack produced a three-run single in the top of the seventh inning when Rumson-Fair Haven rallied with six runs and turned back Red Bank Regional High School, 7-6.
Freehold knocked off Neptune, 8-6, when Pat White delivered an RBI double in the top of the ninth inning to break a tie.
Mater Dei Prep was able to nip Keansburg High School, 6-5, on the strength of Kyle Dowlen’s homer in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Anthony DeRosa supplied the offense for Red Bank Catholic High School in its 20-5 victory over Middletown South. DeRosa collected four hits, including a homer, three RBIs and three runs scored.
Jackson Hercek came through with a two-run single in the top of the seventh inning to fuel Matawan Regional High School’s 4-3 triumph over Rumson-Fair Haven.
Kyle Tavaska ripped a three-run homer to power Jackson Liberty High School to a 16-6 victory over Point Pleasant Borough High School.
In a matchup between two of the top teams in Middlesex County April 11, Saint Joseph High School of Metuchen defeated Monroe Township High School, 9-1. Nick Loffredo drove in two runs and Kyle Angle pitched a two-hitter and struck out 11 in five innings to guide Saint Joseph.
South Brunswick High School rallied for two runs in the last of the eighth inning to trim Hunterdon Central Regional High School, 3-2. Kevin Reyes’ RBI double was the key hit during the uprising for the Vikings.
Softball also robust during vacation week
Nicole Kirse established an achievement for hitting when Raritan High School defeated Shore Regional High School, 15-1, April 11. Kirse collected three hits in the triumph, which left her with 100 for her career. Ashley Marino contributed to Raritan’s attack when she hit a homer, drove in two runs and scored four times.
Marino belted a two-run homer and Kirse threw a four-hitter — striking out 13 — April 13 when Raritan knocked off Holmdel High School, 3-0.
Middletown High School North chalked up a dramatic 6-3 victory April 11 when Adrianna Corbo slammed a three-run home run in the last of the eighth inning against Ocean Township High School.
Meghan Conroy was the slugging star for Jackson Liberty when she hit a grand slam and a triple and finished with six RBIs in a 17-0 victory over Lakewood High School. Conroy continued her power surge later in the week when she homered and doubled in Jackson Liberty’s 11-0 decision over Point Pleasant Borough.
Oliva Terlizzi earned the victory on the mound with a two-hitter and she also came through with two RBIs as she steered Colts Neck past Middletown South, 4-1.
Another slugger was Jordyn Caldron, who smacked two solo homers in Jackson Memorial’s 6-0 victory over Central Regional.
Emma Schieda produced four RBIs in leading Monroe past John. P. Stevens High School, 7-6.
Kelly Duffy’s pitching and hitting has sent Sayreville War Memorial High School to a 3-0 start. She is 2-0 on the mound and has been a force at the plate as well.
Boys’ lacrosse featured its share of action
Vincent Gargiulo entered the record book at Colts Neck April 12. He scored three goals in Colts Neck’s 14-7 victory over Marlboro High School — a performance that left him with 77 goals, which is the most in the school’s history.
Shore Regional received three goals apiece from Gil Goldsmith, Tom Bocco and Jake Turner in its 12-5 triumph over the Ranney School. Goldsmith hit for three more goals and handed out four assists later in the week during Shore Regional’s 12-7 victory over Red Bank Regional.
In the battle of Jackson, Dakota Neron and Santo Porazzo each clicked on three goals when they fired Jackson Memorial past Jackson Liberty, 10-6.
Colin Pavluk poured in six goals and picked up an assists when he steered Rumson-Fair Haven past Allentown High School, 18-3.
Girls’ lacrosse fields were busy
Victoria Tucci established history April 11 at North Brunswick Township High School. Tucci connected on seven goals in North Brunswick’s 12-10 loss to South Brunswick that day, but the performance did enable her to pass 200 goals for her career. The senior is now the proud owner of 205 goals.
Shannen Sterner, who scored two goals to lead South Brunswick during that historic game by North Brunswick’s Tucci, delivered two days later when she clicked on six goals in the Vikings’ 18-5 victory over East Brunswick High School.
Maggie Davis and Meghan Murray each pumped in five goals when they guided Red Bank Regional past Wall, 15-11.
Amanda Murphy delivered in the clutch when she scored her fourth goal with 4:28 remaining to snap a tie and bring Red Bank Catholic a 12-11 triumph over Ocean Township. Later in the week, Red Bank Catholic held off Manasquan High School, 12-10, behind the four-goal effort of Mackenzie Boyle.
Sabrina Chandler poured in five goals and picked up two assists in Jackson Memorial’s 20-14 decision over Toms River High School East, while Olivia Manghisi clicked on four goals in Howell’s 11-4 victory over Middletown North.
