Freehold, RBC, Biserta, Bill Frank, have big days

Once again, in the better late (or early) than never department, another full day of high school baseball has come and gone.

Red Bank Catholic is officially the non-public Class A Central champion with its 2-1 ein over Rumson Tuesday night coupled with St. John Vianney's loss to Raritan earlier. This also means there will be no public school champion in the division because SJV finishes second and no team lower than second can be awarded a championship according to Shore Conference rules.

But what RBC should be applauded for is winning a real championship, no matter what you call it, by finishing first after two second place finishes that gave them the ridiculous, who cares non-public crowns.


Meanwhile, in Class A North, Ocean and Freehold Township get the public school ""champion" consolation prize for finsishing second to CBA. Whupee. Maybe I am old school but as I said early in the season on this forum second place is well.... second place. and the kids know it.

The big game Thursday between title contenders was at Freehold where the Colonials can now hang that championship banner in their gym for the first time since 1989. Of course Wall still has a shot to share the title if they beat Colts Neck Monday. Wall leftfielder Connor Shanley pulled a hammie running out his two-run single in the fourth inning and it remains to be seen how long he's sidelined.
. The middle of that Freehold lineup is one of the best in the Shore Conference. John Marx, a line drive hitter bats third, and Ryan Cuneo is a long drive waiting to happen every time he steps to the plate.
No 5 batter Jason Nardi is another legitamate home run threat and is still trying to figure out how his blast to deep left field midway through the game stayed in the ball park.

Speaking of home run threats..Pat Biserta of Point Boro clouted his daily dinger, he hit two actually , including a slam ,and Tom Heuer hit another home run in the win over Point Beach. Ok. It's Point Beach which was starting a pitcher with almost no varsity experience. . But they still count.


I am so looking forward to seeing the Boro play Lacey on Saturday in the Ocean County Tournament in the "'rubber game" of their three-game series. This will be my first time watching Biserta in high school and, as he's a junior, I don't think will be my last.
In high school circles Biserta is now is drawing favorable comparisons to Todd and or Jeff Frazier and or Colin Gaynor. Not bad company.

Congratulations to Bill Frank for joining the 400 club.
Frank, baseball coach at Tom River East since 1985, won his 400th career game Thursday night when the No. 1 Raiders defeated Southern, 3-2, in a Shore Conference Class A South game.
Frank joins his brother Ken, head coach at Toms River South (629) and CBA boss Marty Kenney (572) as the only active conference coaches with 400 or more victories.
Other former conference coaches with 400 wins were Barry Cook (St. John Vianney - 481), and Larry D'Zio junior (Jackson - 407).
Southern was also the victim last year when Ken Frank won his 600th game. Southern was also the victim when TR South's Rod Velardi pitched his state record third no-hitter in a row in 1991.
Also, Southern was the victim when Brick football coach Warren Wolf won - I think it was - his 300th game back in the early '90.s . Anyway, it was a milestone.
Notice a trend here?


I will not be attending any high school baseball Friday as I am covering the Monmouth U. women's lacrosse match in the Northeast Conference Tournament. C'mon now. I know something about lacrosse. If the ball goes in that little net...it's a goal..isn't it?

In college baseball Brookdale opens play in junior college Region 19 and the Press will provide on the spot coverage with Josh Newman doing the honors for Saturday's paper. We wish good luck to Johnny Johnson and the Jersey Blues.

See you at the OCT!!