NEPTUNE BASEBALL BACK TO WINNING WAYS PUTTING TOGETHER SOLID 2019 CAMPAIGN By Mike Ready

NEPTUNE – Two seasons ago the Fliers made an unprecedented run into the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III finals where as a 14th seed they took No. 4 seed Allentown into extra innings before losing to the Redbirds, 4-3, in 10 innings. 

 

With five starters returning from that team for the 2018 season, expectations were high and it seemed like a given that Neptune would be in position to again contend for a state title as well as make a long-awaited appearance in the Shore Conference Tournament.  

 

Things didn’t go as planned, however, and the Fliers suffered through a rotten 3-16 season playing in the rugged A North.

 

“We lost two really good pitchers (Justin Tucker and Dylan Taliaferro – both now starting pitchers for DIII Brookdale [31-14, ranked No. 9 in the country]),” said Neptune head coach Kevin Frederick. “Our expected ace, University of Kentucky commit Ron Cole, had a down year, we had guys out of position and I had to move some guys around and we just didn’t live up to the expectations that we had entering the season. We didn’t have the pitching depth that we had the year before and that was our biggest issue. We struggled, and it was a learning curve for some our young guys. We were young and competed in a tough division and just didn’t play well enough.” 

 

Nonetheless, the season did end on a high note, as they won their final two games of the year, including a 13-4 rout of Central Jersey Group I semifinalist Point Beach and a 2-0 decision over a 16-win Ocean Township club in a game that then-freshman Bryan Young tossed a seven-hit complete-game shutout for his first career win. 

 

“I think that game solidified that we had two pitchers that we could count on to compete this year,” said Frederick. “Bryan was pitching J.V. and he was a kid we wanted to take a look at and he ended up throwing a shutout. We definitely started playing well at the end of the year and we were looking to gain some confidence going into this year.”

 

For most of the year, Young (4-2, 27.2 IP, 17 K, 18 BB, 4.30 ERA) has been counted on as the number two starter behind Cole in their three-man rotation, which also includes TCNJ commit Sebastian JnoBaptiste.   

 

“Bryan’s a sophomore lefty that has a good breaking ball,” said Frederick. “His command is his biggest issue and when he’s on he’s on and when’s he’s off he has to grind it out. He’s going to be a very good pitcher for us and he’s still kind of still learning how to pitch.”

 

JnoBaptiste (17 IP, 2-2, 2.06 ERA) has come on strong on the mound of late for the Fliers as well posting solid numbers at the plate (.273, 13 R, 1 HR) and according to Frederick is one of the best centerfielders in the Shore. 

 

“Sebastian is an athletic kid who can fly,” said Frederick. “The biggest surprise for us from him is he’s been pitching great. He threw six innings of two-hit ball against Wall and five innings of scoreless relief against Freehold Boro. I think he has our best ERA to be honest with you. In the outfield he’s about as good as it gets. He’s an unbelievable defender, the best outfield defender I’ve ever had.”

 

Cole has stepped it up a couple of notches this year both at the plate and on the rubber in his final season at Neptune. 

 

As their No. 1 pitcher and ace of the staff, he has 39 strikeouts in 26.1 innings pitched, going 4-3 with a 3.99 ERA and is hitting .400 with four home runs and 17 RBI – all team-highs. 

 

“Ron’s tough because his ball moves so much when he throws,” said Frederick. “Sometimes he can lose command for an inning or two but he usually finds it and the more he throws the better he gets. His ball is electric and he throws hard and really his ERA is a little skewed because of an early-season loss but no one has really hit him this year. 

 

“He’s a stud at the plate and a strong kid that has the power numbers,” added Frederick. “He’s a workout warrior and came in about 20 pounds heavier than he was last year. He has a great eye at the plate and pitchers want to avoid him but they can’t when you have the kid Gannon (junior catcher John Gannon) hitting behind him in the order.”

 

Gannon is hitting .410 with a team-high 18 RBI hitting cleanup in the batting order and has been on a home-run tear lately, hitting three home runs in the last two game giving him four for the season along with five doubles and a triple. 

 

“You really can’t throw to him either,” said Frederick of Gannon’s prowess at the plate. “He’s unbelievable. He’s a big, strong kid that also plays linebacker on the football team. He’s crushing the ball now and if can finish off the year strong and duplicate it next year, he has a chance at being the program’ first career 100-hit player – he’s that good.” 

 

Frederick also singled out sophomore outfielder Jett Tinik, sophomore shortstop Rocco Richards and senior third baseman Kyle Bailey for taking their game to the next level this season. 

 

“Jett’s a kid that chokes up on the bat and does anything he can to get on base. He’s a coach’s dream and really underappreciated. He’s a grinder, he’s fast and he’s a three-sport athlete and you can trust the kid to do anything. Rocco’s a kid that has a ton of potential and he’s a real slick fielder. He’s always been a really good defender but has come into his own as an offensive player. He came in bigger and stronger this year and it’s made a world of difference power-wise. Kyle’s also a big, strong kid and when he hits it he can do damage. He has a good eye and when he makes contact he can hurt you.” 

 

The Fliers are currently 11-7 and finished with a 7-7 division record. They’ve qualified for a spot in the Shore Conference Tournament for the first time in over 10 years and that has the team pumped. 

 

“We’re absolutely excited,” said Frederick about qualifying. “We took our lumps last year and this has been a long time coming. The way we’ve battled this year after what the guys went through last year I couldn’t be any more happy for them.” 

 

Neptune would also like to make another run in the state playoffs and Frederick feels the opportunity is there. 

 

“We’re going to be either the seventh or eighth seed; I think right now we’re the seventh,” said Frederick on where his team will be seeded. “We have the talent to make a run – we can really hit – and if our pitchers can consistently find the strike zone, we’ll be fine. I don’t think we’re an easy out for anyone in our bracket.”