We are in the thick of county and conference championship season as JSZ brings you a trio of tournament games from the diamond. Ranney and Point Pleasant Beach battle it out in the Shore Conference Tournament, plus we have quarterfinal action from the Cape-Atlantic League Tournament. Check back as the highlights are posted throughout the night!
Ranney 10 Point Pleasant Beach 6 | Shore Conference Tournament 2nd Round
Ricky Lopez had two homers and an incredible defensive play in a one run game that sparked Ranney (11-5) to a spot in the Shore Conference quarterfinals and a matchup with Red Bank Catholic. With Ranney clinging to a 6-5 lead in the 5th, Point Pleasant Beach had runners on first and third with one out. Lopez made a diving catch in foul territory in left field ranging over from shortstop. The LSU commit popped up and threw a perfect throw home to double up the runner tagging from third. From there, the Panthers added a sacrifice fly in the 5th and then hit back to back to back homers in the 6th starting with Brody Mauro, followed by Lopez and Andrew Parisi. Mauro and Lopez each hit two homers in the win. Dan Lubach had a homer and four RBI’s for the Garnet Gulls (15-6).
JSZ’s Rich Chrampanis has the highlights and post-game reaction from Tinton Falls:
Hammonton 6 Holy Spirit 4 | Cape-Atlantic League Tournament Quarterfinal
Landon Haines delivered a go-ahead RBI single in the sixth as the fourth-seeded Blue Devils won a tight battle with the fifth-seeded Spartans. Haines finished with 2 RBIs, while PJ Hroncich also drove in a pair of runs for Hammonton (12-6). Bernie Hargadon tied the game in the top of the sixth with a RBI single for Holy Spirit (14-8). Hammonton advances to face top-seeded St. Augustine in the CAL Tournament semifinals later this week.
JSZ’s James Mooney has the highlights from Hammonton:
Cedar Creek 3 Middle Township 0 | Cape-Atlantic League Tournament Quarterfinal
Kyle Vanaman (8 Ks in five innings) and Jacob Budd (3 Ks in two innings) combined to pitch a shutout for the third-seeded Pirates. Richie Gonzales drove in the only earned run of the game with a sacrifice fly for Creek (14-6). The Pirates advance to face second-seeded Mainland in the CAL Tournament semifinals on Thursday. Adam Radzieta struck out six in a complete game effort for the sixth-seeded Panthers, while freshman Kyle Mick went 3-3 with a double in the loss.
JSZ’s Mike Frankel has the highlights from Egg Harbor City:
