End of the Road for 2005

TR East 9, TR South 2: The Indians (18-9) couldn't get it going as the fell to the Raiders in the Ocean County Tournament Championship game.

East's Joe Dehart (3-3) took a no-hitter into the fifth inning when Ryan MacPherson led off with a double to centerfield. MacPherson came around to score, but the damage had been done already - the Raiders had scored two in the first and six in the third inning - all with two outs in each inning.

Tom Whartnaby (5-3) took the loss for South. Senior lefty Anthony Amatucci finished up, pitching the final 3 and 1/3 inning, allowing only two hits.

All in all, it was a successful year for the Indians - winning twice as many games as they lost. As always, we feel we could have done more. We did get to play in many a big game.

Have a great summer. Take care!

Mitch Powitz

Bring on the title game....

TR South 1, Lakewood 0: The Indians prevailed over the Piners in their first meeting of the season which also happened to be a semi-final match-up in the Ocean County Tournament. The 18-8 Indians will meet Toms River East, which won big over Toms River North in the other semifinal.

South, visitors on its own field because the Piners were top seeded, got superb pitching from junior Evan Bigler and senior Tom Whartnaby as they earned the combined shutout.

Freshman Chase Gray doubled in pinch-runner Rick Petrosino to break the 0-0 tie in the top of the sixth inning. Petrosino was running for senior John Martone, who led off the inning with a single.

The play of the game was a double-play by leftfielder Bryce Phalon, who caught a screaming line drive and then doubled up the runner off second base. The Piners (19-8) had runners on second and third with only one out. Other defensive stars included Evan Bigler, Tom Whartnaby, Gray, Joe Bellavance, Steve Wagenhoffer and Casey Chant.

The OCT final is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Toms River East.

Checking Back In...

Ok, so you all thought the season was over. Finished.

Wrong.

We are still waiting to play Lakewood in the semifinal of the Ocean County Tournament.

It looks like the game will be Saturday night at 7 p.m. at TR South as part of a doubleheader. TR East will play TR North in the other semifinal. TR North, which lost yesterday in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group IV tournament yesterday to Cherokee, 2-1, defeated Red Bank Catholic today 5-1 to win the Shore Conference Tournament for the first time in TR North history.

So, we continue to practice and prepare to play the Piners for the first time this year. Lakewood lost in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III Tournament yesterday to Ocean in extra innings.