MANALAPAN – Entering the season, the Braves were picked fifth in both the Shore Sports Network and Asbury Park Press Preseason Top 10. But after winning their first five games and outscoring their opponents by a 33-9 margin it appeared Manalapan might’ve been slighted.
Then they ran into division rival Christian Brothers Academy, the No. 1 preseason favorite, and were shut out, 9-0, in a game they’d rather forget.
The Colts scored all nine runs in the bottom of the fourth inning when Braves pitchers E.J. Melendez and Hunter Jomo combined to issue seven walks and a hit a batter and the defense contributed an error that led to four of the nine runs in the inning being unearned.
The offense didn’t fare much better as a trio of CBA pitchers shut them out on just three hits.
However, the Braves responded nicely, beating Freehold Township, 7-1, in their next game as junior Ben Levin went six innings allowing one run on six hits while walking one and striking out four. Aaron Ayers finished up for Levin tossing a scoreless seventh and junior Billy Watters went 3-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI.
Following a one-run loss to Marlboro, the Braves reeled off four straight wins including an 11-1 win at Toms River North – ranked No. 7 in the Shore at the time. Jomo and Melendez combined on a four hitter, with Melendez tossing three one-hit innings of relief.
The Braves scored seven runs in the top of the seventh against TRN to break open a 3-1 game. Senior outfielder Anthony Naylor doubled and drove in three runs; senior centerfielder Giovanni Ciaccio went 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI and senior Nick DiMiceli was 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Watters (2-for-4, 2B, RBI) and junior Michael Kuver (3-for-4) also chipped in.
With their record now 10-2 the Braves stumbled a bit losing three of their next four games including another blowout loss (13-2) to CBA that helped the Colts clinch the A North. That was followed by a disappointing 7-5 loss to No. 12 seed and red-hot St. Rose in the Monmouth County Tournament second round after receiving an opening-round bye as the fifth seed. St. Rose went on to advance to the final before losing to Red Bank Catholic.
After the loss to St. Rose, the Braves regrouped to win their next eight games in a row to run their record to 19-5. Included in the eight-game winning streak was a 5-4 win over Marlboro for a season split and a 10-0 win over 26th-seed Mater Dei in the opening round of the Shore Conference Tournament.
In their opening round win over Mater Dei, senior hurler Justin Korman picked up the win tossing three innings of two-hit shutout ball without issuing a walk while striking out five. Levin relieved Korman throwing two scoreless innings in the run-rule shortened five-inning game.
Senior outfielder Robert Gargano was 3-for-3 with a double, run and four RBI while Kulver blasted a three-run homer and junior shortstop Jake Pellecchia was 2-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.
The seventh-seeded Braves are waiting on the outcome of the 23rd-seed Matawan at the tenth-seeded Freehold Township first-round game, which has been affected by a week of rain, to see who their next opponent will be in the second round of the SCT.
As of Saturday it looked as though Matawan and Freehold Township wouldn’t meet until May 22.
Also, the state playoff seedings were released on Thursday and Manalapan was handed the second-seed in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV bracket and will host 15th-seeded Long Branch. The game is tentatively scheduled for May 21 with time to be determined, but with rain predicted through the weekend, stay tuned.
Following his meltdown in the loss to CBA, Melendez has been lights out, posting a 5-1 record with a 0.97 ERA. Levin has been equally as good posting a 5-1 record with sparkling 1.21 ERA while Korman has asserted himself going 5-1 on the year with 2.76 ERA. Seniors Ryan Crehan (3-1, 0.84) and Gargano (2-1, 3.00 ERA) give the Braves five quality starters they can turn too on staff that boasts a phenomenal 2.04 team ERA.
Ciaccio has been dynamic at the plate leading the Braves in virtually every offensive category. He’s hitting .477 with two home runs, 23 RBI, 13 doubles, five triples, 32 runs scored and 31 hits while batting cleanup. Seniors Dan DeBlasio (.400 BA, 11 RBI, 4 2B, 2 3B), Naylor (.367 BA, 1 HR, 17 RBI, 4 3B, 19 R), DiMiceli (.543 BA, 14 RBI, 3 2B), Gargano (.433, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 4 2B, 1 3B) and juniors Nick Serrentino (.421 in 19 AB, 6 RBI, 1 2B), Watters (.400, 9 RBI, 7 2B) and Pellecchia (.439, 10 RBI, 18 H) give the Braves a dynamite offense that can erupt at any time.
Last season the Braves – as a second seed – advanced to the CJG IV semifinal before losing to No. 3 seed Hunterdon Central. They’re in search of their first sectional title since 2012 when they won their second straight NJSIAA Group IV championship after winning their first-ever group title in 2011.
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