Tuning up for the OCT

TR South 4, Point Boro 2: The Indians (17-8) defeated the Panthers (12-11) in a non-conference contest.

Junior righty Evan Bigler came on to throw three strong innings of relief and pick up the win to improve his record to 7-4. He followed starter Drew Holt, who pitched four solid innings.

Senior Tom Whartnaby had the big hit, smacking a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth to break a 1-1 tie. Senior Anthony Amatucci drilled a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth to make it 4-2.

South tied the game on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Joe Talerico after the Indians fell behind 1-0 in the top of the third inning.

South will take on Lakewood in the Ocean County Tournament at some point next week.

Cumberland Redux

Winslow Township 3, TR South 2 (8 Innings): The visiting Indians (16-8) fell in extra innings in this opening round game of the NJSIAA South Jersey Group IV Tournament despite a strong pitching performance from senior righty Tom Whartnaby.

Whartnaby, who only allowed three hits over seven and two-third innings, fell victim to an extra tight, hometown strike zone in the bottom of the sixth as the leadoff batter of the inning reached first on a bases on balls. After unsucessfully bunting the runner over, the Eagles (14-8) ninth-placed hitter stuck out his bat and the ball popped over the short left field fence giving Winslow a 2-1 lead.

South battled back to tie it in the seventh with two consecutive two-out doubles by Zack DelVento and Anthony Amatucci. Amatucci also had an RBI single in the first inning.

Winslow won it in the bottom of the eighth after an error, a fielders choice and then a succesful sacrifice bunt moved the go ahead run to second base. The leadoff batter, Frank Chambers, rolled a ball back throw the middle which went for the game-winning hit.

The Indians hurt themselves by leaving a ton of men on base and striking out 10 times against Winslow's Chris Rollins.

The near riotious end of the game was pricipitated by classless behaviour by the Eagles. It was a very similar atmosphere to the infamous two days South spent traveling to and eventually losing in Cumberland, NJ back in 1985.

South hosts Point Boro tomorrow at 3:45 p.m. and Clearview on Wednesday at 7 p.m. South will also play Lakewood at some point in the Ocean County Tournament semifinal.

Bow out of the SCT

Monmouth 6, TR South 1: The 10th seeded Indians let opportunity slip away as they fell to the 7th seeded Golden Falcons in Eatontown on Saturday.

Seton Hall bound Keith Cantwell (8-2) did the Indians (16-7) in on the mound and at the plate to spark Monmouth (18-5). Cantwell went 2 for 3 with a two-run homer and an RBI triple and allowed only 1 run and three hits while striking out 9 on the mound.

After allowing a run in the first, South bounced back in the third, loading the bases with no one out. The Indians tied it at one on lead off hitter Tom Whartnaby's fielder's choice which was misplayed by Monmouth. However, a strike out of Zack DelVento, a blown squeeze play and a ground out by Chase Gray ended the inning.

Monmouth broke it open in the bottom of the fourth when Cantwell drilled a 2-1 fastball over the leftfield wall.

Junior righthander Evan Bigler took the loss to fall to 6-4 on the season.

South will travel to Winslow Township (formerly known as Edgewood) in the first round of the NJSIAA Tournament for a 3 p.m. - weather permitting.

Moving On..

TR South 7, Matawan 4: The Indians overcame a 4-0 deficit to score a victory over the Huskies in this preliminary game of the Shore Conference Tournament.

After allowing 4 runs in the first two innings, the Indians (16-6) settled down to chip away at the lead and eventually overcome Matawan (10-12). Senior righty Tom Whartnaby came on in the second inning to eventually shut the Huskies down and earn the win - improving his record to 4-1.

Senior Anthony Amatucci was the offensive star, ripping three doubles in three at bats. He keyed a three-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning and scored the go ahead run. He scored on a double by senior Bryce Phalon, who was then driven in on a single by Whartnaby. Whartnaby scored on a single by Ryan MacPherson, who came off the bench to rip two key hits.

Amatucci came on to throw a scoreless seventh inning.

After some early momentum, the tide turned the Indians way when a Matawan player drilled what seemed to be a home run over the fence to make it 5-2 - the player, however, NEVER TOUCHED home plate and was called out by the umpire. It left the score at 4-2.

South will play seventh-seeded Monmouth Regional on Friday at 3:45 p.m. in the next round of the tournament. This will be the second year in a row the Indians and the Falcons have meet in the SCT. Monmouth won last year, 3-1, on a 3 run homer by the Falcons Mo Williams who returns for Monmouth this season.

South will host Delsea in a non-conference match up on Saturday Night at 7 p.m.

Tournament time just around the corner

TR South 6, Monsignor Donovan 3: The Indians continued their success in non-conference contests as they extended their record in such contests to 9-0 and 15-6 overall.

Freshman Drew Holt, making his first career start, pitched 5 and 1/3 strong innings to pick up his first TRS victory - following in the footsteps of older brother Steve who got his first win against Donovan back in 2001 as a sophomore. Holt struck out 5, walked 2 and scatter 4 hits and allowed only one earned run.

Senior Ryan MacPherson bailed Holt out in the top of the sixth when he came on to strike out the Griffins (7-12) 4 and 5 hitters to end a threat. MacPherson allowed two in the seventh, but hung on to finish the contest.

Offensive stars included Zack DelVento (2 for 4, RBI), Anthony Amatucci (3 for 3, RBI) and John Martone (2 for 3).

Defensive stars included second baseman Tom Whartnaby, shortstop Joe Talerico (who also had 4 stolen bases, 1 for 1 with 2 walks and 2 runs scored) and Amatucci in center field.

South's next game will be WEDNESDAY, as they host Matawan in the Shore Conference Tournament. South is the 10 seed and will play the 23rd seeded Huskies (10-10). The winner will travel to Monmouth Regional, the #7 seed.

The game with Middletown North scheduled for tomorrow will not be played at the request of the Lions.

Non-conference prowess continues...

TR South 8, Linden 2: The Indians continued their success in non-Shore Conference Class A South contests as they improved their record to 14-6 overall and 8-0 outside the division with a win over the Lions (10-11) in the Shore Challenge at FirstEnergy Park home of the Lakewood Blue Claws.

Senior righthander Tom Whartnaby provided strong pitching and sophomore Joe Talerico proved to be the big bat. Whartnaby struck out three and walked none while allowing five hits in five innings of work - he was touched for both runs in the fifth inning. Talerico helped stake the Indians to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first with a two run single. In the bottom of the fifth, the shortstop drilled a triple off the middle of the left field fence to drive in two more. He would score on a wild pitch.

The Indians other big hitter was senior DH John Martone who was 2 for 3 with a two-run single in the first.

South played strong defense all around - from left fielder Bryce Phalon, to third baseman Evan Bigler, to Talerico at short and to Mike Lamonica in right field. A quad of first baseman played well too - Ryan MacPherson, Anthony Amatucci, Scott Potter and Mark Perry.

Amatucci came on to pitch a perfect final two innings.

South will host Monsignor Donovan tomorrow at 7 p.m. and Middletown North on Tuesday at 3:45 p.m.

The Shore Conference Tournament and the NJSIAA South Jersey Group IV bracket will be seeded this weeke.

A Classic...

TR South 2, St. Rose 1: Evan Bigler bulldogged his way through seven innings to shut down the Purple Roses (16-4) in this non-conference contest at Ken Frank Baseball Stadium.

The junior righty struck out 12, walked two and scattered five hits to earn his 6th win of the season.

After falling behind 1-0 in the third inning when St. Rose third baseball John Reynolds ripped a solo homer, South struck back for two in the fifth. Pinch hitter Joe Bellavance singled to right to lead off the inning and he moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by senior Anthony Amatucci. Senior Tom Whartnaby placed a ground ball between the third baseman and shortstop to put runners on the corners. After a walk by Zack DelVento, freshman Chase Gray came to the plate and nubbed a dribbler in front of home plate - the St. Rose catcher stepped on the plate for the force, but threw wildly to first allowing Whartnaby to score the tying run.

Sophomore Steve Wagenhoffere stepped up and then delivered a clutch single to right, scoring DelVento and giving South the lead.

Defensive stars for the Indians included third baseman Joe Talerico, DelVento, Wagenhoffer and Joe Bellavance, who misplayed a fly ball but picked himself up and then threw the runner out at third base.

South plays Linden at 11 a.m. at the Lakewood Blue Claws in the Shore Conference Challenge.

Bouncing Back

TR South 9, Point Boro 6: The Indians (12-6) needed to come from behind as they turned around an early 4-1 deficit to defeated the Panthers (8-9) in a non-conference victory.

South has one more contest before the qualifying cut-off for the NJSIAA Group IV and the Shore Conference Tournament takes place on Saturday. Teams with .500 and better records will be seeded generally by record. South will host St. Rose on Friday at 7 p.m.

Leading the offense was senior Tom Whartnaby, sophomore Steve Wagenhoffer and freshman Chase Gray. Whartnaby was four for four with an RBI and a run scored. Wagenhoffer went one for one with an RBI single and a sacrifice fly. Gray had a tremendous fourth inning as he keyed a six-run rally for South. Gray had a double to lead off the inning and a two-run single to cap it and give the Indians an 8-4 lead.

Zack DelVento earned the win on the mound and improved his record this season to 3-1. DelVento struck out 4, walked one and allowed only one earned run in 4 and 2/3 innings of work.

Back to the drawing board...

TR North 10, TR South 0 (6 Inn.): The Indians could not do much right as they managed only 2 hits and lost their second consecutive game.

With the loss, the Indians fall to 11-6 and finish the A South campaign with a 6-6 mark. With the win, North improved to 12-3. and a 9-2 mark in A South. The Mariners take on Brick Thursday to try to clinch an A South tie with TR East - which has already clinched at least a tie.

North senior lefty Frank Vicendese allowed just 2 hits over 6 inning to improve his record to 3-1. South junior righty Evan Bigler took the loss, falling to 5-3. Joe Bellavance got the Indians first hit of the game to lead off the top of the fifth inning.

The Indians put in a good day of practice on Tuesday and will try to bounce back tomorrow when they host Point Pleasant Boro at 7 p.m.

Not the way to finish the week...

Brick Memorial 6, TR South 4: The Indians couldn't hold first a 3-1 and then 4-3 lead as they fell to the Mustangs (8-7) for the second time this season.

With the loss South falls to 11-5 and 6-5 in A South.

Freshman Drew Holt took the loss in relief to fall to 0-1 as he allowed an inherited runner to score to tie the game and then allowed two more runs in the fourth inning. Senior lefthander Anthony Amatucci had started the game going the first three innings.

After falling behind 1-0, the Indians rallied with three runs on infield hits. Key offensive players included Rick Petrosino, Tom Whartnaby, Evan Bigler and John Martone.

South, however, could not hold the lead.

The Indians did try to rally late as freshman Chase Gray hit line drives in both the 6th and 7th inning - which were caught with men on. In the seventh, South had 2nd and 3rd occupied when Gray drilled one into the glove of the Memorial shortstop.


The Indians travel across town on Monday night for a 7:30 p.m. showdown with TR North.

Keeping the win lead...

TR South 6, Brick 1: The Indians won their fifth in a row and ninth of their last 10 games as they captured a Shore Conference Class A South victory from the host Dragons (6-7).

South (11-4, 6-4) took advantage of good pitching by starter Evan Bigler, tough defense and timely two-out hitting to stay a win or so ahead of TR East and TR North in the Toms River Total Win category.

Bigler scattered 6 hits over 7 innings, struck out two and walked only one as he improved his record to 5-2. He also benefitted from two key double-plays turned by his defense.

At the plate, sophomore Joe Talerico struck first for South, as he laced a two-out, two-strike single to left field to drive in senior John Martone, who had singled and moved around to third on a sacrifice and a fielders choice.

In the top of the fifth, the Indians struck for a couple more two-out runs when sophomore catcher Steve Wagenhoffer drilled a single to left. Courtesy runner Jake Roth moved to second on a bunt single by Tom Whartnaby. A balk by pitcher Mike Morano moved the runners up 2nd and 3rd and the a wild pitch allowed Roth to score to make it 2-0. Senior Zack DelVento then drilled a two-strike single to right field to score Whartnaby and give South a 3-0 lead. DelVento promptly stole second and scored on an error by Brick.

Whartnaby was 3 for 4 with two runs scored and a 7th inning double. DelVento was 2 for 3 with an RBI and a run scored.

South travels to Brick Memorial tomorrow for a 3:45 p.m. contest. On Monday, South travels to TR North for a 7:30 p.m. contest.

Win #10 - our eighth in the past nine games...

TR South 5, Southern 3: The Indians broke into double-digit wins as they bested the Rams in a Shore Conference Class A South match-up.

South (10-4 overall, 5-4 in A South) scored one in the first and three in the fourth to take a quick 4-1 lead, then held on for the victory.

Senior lefty Zack DelVento was staked to the lead as he allowed just three hits in the first four innings, while striking out 5 and walking three. Freshman Drew Holt came on to finish the last three innings and earn his first varsity save. Holt struck out two, walked one and allowed just one earned run.

John Martone continued his hot hitting, going 2 for 3 with an RBI double in the first and a long sacrifice fly in the fourth. Senior infielder Jake Roth made his first varsity start and had a key two-run single in the third inning. Senior Bryce Phalon stayed hot, going two for three with an RBI single. DelVento helped his cause at the plate, reaching base four times - three walks and a hit-by-pitch - and scoring twice.

South wraps up the week with trips to Brick (Thursday) and BrickMemorial (Friday). Thursday's game is scheduled for 3 p.m. due to a TR South National Honor Society Induction Ceremony on Thursday night.

Indians Advance with Extra Inning Heroics...

John Martone goes Boom

TR South 5, Brick Memorial 4 (8 Innings/OCT) - The Indians (9-4) advanced to the semifinal of the Ocean County Tournament and avenged an early-season loss as they defeated the Mustangs (6-7) in this tournament contest.

Senior designated hitter John Martone drilled a one-out, walk off homer over the trees in left field to end the contest and earn the victory for the Indians. Martone, who was 2 for 3 with 2 RBI, also smacked an RBI double in the third inning and scored on a single by Bryce Phalon, who was 2 for 3 with an RBI.

Junior righty Evan Bigler picked up the win in relief and improved to 4-2 on the season. He pitched a perfect 8th inning before Martone went boom. Senior Tom Whartnaby had started a pitched five strong innings before giving way to freshman Drew Holt in the sixth inning. Holt got out of a bases loaded jam only yielding the tying run and pitched well in the seventh despite allowing a tying run in that inning as well.

Offensive stars for South included Zack DelVento (2 hits), Chase Gray (2 hits) and Phalon.

South will take on either the 1, 8 or 9 seed. Lakewood (#1 seed) will take on the winner of Brick/Manchester later this week. The Indians will play the winner - most likely on Saturday in the OCT semis.

The Indians, who have won seven of their last eight games, will host Southern tomorrow at 3:45 p.m. Tomorrow night, TR North travels to TR East in a key Shore Conference Class A South match up.

Brick Memorial Today..

Weather permitting, the TRS Indians will take on Brick Memorial today in a quarterfinal round game of the Ocean County Tournament at 3:45 p.m. at Ken Frank Baseball Stadium.

Unfortunately due to the wet weather, South was unable to host Mt. Carmel (Pa.) which had made the trip down Saturday afternoon.

South will host Southern at 3:45 p.m. tomorrow and travel to Brick and Brick Memorial on Thursday and Friday.

DH rained out..

On Saturday April 30th, the TRS double header with Brick Memorial and Mt. Carmel (PA.) was rained out.

The Brick Memorial contest, a quarterfinal Ocean County Tournament game has been pushed to Monday at 3:45 p.m. at TRS, but South will try to play Mt. Carmel at some point on Sunday.

The weather, however, isn't cooperating. It is still raining hard here in TR on Sunday morning.