Junior all-stars back in mix for district title

BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI
Staff Writer

Joe Baatz guided Brick American's Senior All-Stars to perennial District 18 championships before taking last year off.

But Baatz is back in the dugout, this time with the Brick American Junior All-Stars, and an even greater challenge - to defend the state championship.

"It's a bit of a change: everything's a little slower," said Baatz." I was afraid this team would not have enough offense but they proved me wrong."

Only one player - pitcher Justin Short - is back from last year's team that was stopped one game shy of reaching the national championship tournament by host Freehold Township in the region finals. But there was some hefty hitting in the first two games of this tournament, when Brick American rallied back to beat Toms River, 11-9, and stopped Lacey, 10-0, in six innings on the 10-run rule.

Brick American then tackled Jackson on Thursday, losing, 6-1, before bouncing back with a vengeance on Saturday against Toms River North in a 9-2 victory at Brick American.

It keeps Brick American alive in the losers' bracket, with the next game this past Monday night this week at Lacey in a rematch against the host team.

Certainly the balance in the hitting lineup for the most part has surprised Baatz, with seven batters driving in runs on Saturday against Toms River North and eight knocking in runs in the first game against Lacey, with Short getting the decision both times. On Saturday, he pitched five innings with a badly bruised jaw that affected his speaking. He suffered it when a Jackson baserunner ran into him while he was playing at third base. Short also coasted on a one-hitter over five innings against Lacey before Brandon Heim closed it out. Short struck out six and walked three that day.

Cleanup hitter Glenn McGinnis, a first baseman, grounded in the first run on Saturday against Toms River North in the first inning and finished with three RBIs. Short singled in center fielder Lou Raccicilia, who doubled, in the second inning. Two more runs scored in the third inning, one on a groundout by third baseman Nick Galeotafiore while second baseman Mike Rytelewski grounded in a run in the two-run fourth. Batting leadoff, Rytelewski continued to swing a hot bat with two hits.

McGinnnis, left fielder Kevin Krotulis and Galeotafiore each drove in a run against Lacey and each knocked in a pair in the tournament opener against Toms River. Other runs against Lacey scored on base hits by right fielder Matt Sarosy, catcher Ryan Brady and Short while Racciclia hit a sacrifice fly. Shortstop Andrew Nelson's grounder pushed across another run.

Rytelewski collected three hits against Lacey but did not drive in any runs.

"It doesn't matter because he did what leadoff hitters do when he got those three hits - he got on base," said Baatz.

Anthony Gearty allowed three runs on three hits over the first four innings pitched to get the victory against Toms River.

"We're not super talented, no super stars but we play well together," said Baatz. "We have different guys driving in runs and it's nice to see them play so well together like that. They think as a team and cheer each other on."

The only area that started off a little weak, said Baatz, is the outfield, but he's optimistic.

"We've got a shot at the districts for sure," said Baatz. "One thing a coach likes to see is that these players have a lot of heart. When they fell behind, 6-3, to Toms River, they got mad, they got mean and pounded the ball after that. These days, it's odd to see guys play together like that on a team."