Bats go quiet for two Brick 12-year-old teams
BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI
Staff Writer

CHRIS KELLY staff Brick National's Frankie Biase puts his bat on the ball during his team's loss to Jackson during a July 6 game in Toms River.

Brick's Little League 12-year-old all-star teams saw their seasons come to a quick ending.

While Brick American was unable to advance out of pool play after going 2-2 and losing on tiebreaker run-scoring criteria against other 2-2 teams, Brick National reached the District 18 tournament, but lost, 12-0, on Sunday to Holbrook at Berkeley. A walkoff grand slam ended the game in the fifth inning.

"Once again, we couldn't put the bat on the ball," said Brick National manager John Applegate, whose team had come off a 10-0 loss to Jackson in its final game of pool play to finish 3-1 in that bracket. Matt Kuras allowed seven hits as Jackson exploded for eight runs in the first inning. Tyler Iannarone had two hits for Brick National.

It seemed an omen for Sunday's loss as right-hander Ian Leary allowed only a base hit to Jason Schoorbusch while striking out four and not walking a batter. Holbrook exploded for three home runs off Brandon Kieslor, who allowed six hits and struck out four in 3 2/3 innings. Dan Mnich then allowed the game-ending fourth home run.

"Their pitcher had pretty good speed and a change-up," said Applegate.

"They hit the ball and we were very flat."

Earlier, Brick National had beaten Lakewood, 10-1, and Lacey, 8-5. Rick Getts and Dan Wojtazek combined to hold Lakewood to six hits and Getts helped his own cause with a two-run double in the fourth inning and a triple while Wojtazek belted a two-run homer in the second inning. James Eggleston and Kuras each smashed two hits.

Eggleston connected for a two-run homer and Iannarone belted a solo shot while Kieslor lined a run-scoring double in the fifth inning against Lacey, when Brick National erased a 4-2 deficit with six runs. Kuras got the win in relief.

"We're just stringing the hits together. I'm very impressed with the way we're hitting the ball," said Applegate.

Unfortunately, that hot hitting subsided over the last two games.

After winning its opener in pool play, Brick American lost to defending district and section champion Toms River American, 5-3, which rallied for four runs with two out in the last inning, and then beat Berkeley, 8-0. Scott Steimle allowed six hits to Toms River American, striking out 12 and walking one. Evan Berti and Anthony Miller smashed run-scoring singles in the second inning when Brick American scored all three of its runs.

Dean Maldonado held Berkeley to three hits, striking out two and walking three, before Steimle came on in the sixth inning to strike out the side on 11 pitches. Maldonado helped is own cause with a three-run home run in a five-run fourth inning. Berti hit a sacrifice fly and Kyle Skoog lashed a run-scoring single in the second inning when Brick American pulled away to a 3-0 lead. Joe Esposito slapped a run-scoring single and Tom Howell unleashed a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning.

Brick American then suffered its loss, 11-4, to Toms River East American as Maldonado homered.

11-year-olds

Ian Cole allowed two hits over four innings and John Sullivan and Matt Olsen legged out inside-the-park home runs as Brick National won its pool play opener over Lakewood, 12-2, at Manchester.

C.J. Koehler drove in three runs with two doubles and Tyler Wicker slugged two hits for two RBIs in the game cut short by the 10-run rule. Cole struck out eight and walked one in his abbreviated outing.

"The thing I'm happy about is that we were missing two of our top hitters, who were stranded on a trip," said manager John Brower. "We hit the ball well."

Brick National went on to play at home last night against Toms River East National and resumes play on Saturday at Berkeley against Jackson at 4 p.m.

Brick American beat Holbrook, 5-3, at home in its pool play opener and played again on Monday night against Toms River National. They play again Sunday at Beachwood against the host team.

Brian Cottrell struck out seven over four innings before Richard Kuhn finished. Trailing, 3-1, Brick American rallied for four runs as Ryan Melia and Robby Triano each smacked a double and a single.

Brick American is playing without manager Jon Denley as Ray Triano has taken over the team.

"I was in the hospital but I'm okay. The doctor said it was stress and that I need to take the summer off, but I'll be back," said Denley.

10-year-olds

Steve Marin knocked in four runs with two doubles and Nick Smith also smashed two doubles, good for two RBIs, as Brick American won its district pool play opener over Toms River East American.

Pete Papcun is expected to pitch today when the team resumes play in Lakewood against Barnegat. Ryan Monahan chipped in three hits and drove in a run and Matt Rosace slugged two hits as Brick American led, 3-0, early and then erased a 4-3 deficit with five runs in the fifth inning as Marin lashed a two-run double to drive in the go-ahead run.

"Everyone hit the ball and even when they were outs, the ball was hit well," said manager Ray Mannon. "There's good hitting and good fielding, one of the better groups of 10s I've seen in a while."

Mannon and his staff has worked hard with the pitchers, many of whom had not started throwing until recently.

As for Brick National, Steve Shockett drove in the winning run in the last inning when manager Tom Merrill's squad rallied for five runs to overtake Toms River National, 7-6. Andrew Jarvis, Brendan Weber and Nick Moglia, who struck out three batters, shared in the pitching. The winners play host to Berkeley today at 5:30 p.m.