Toms River Hosts State Baseball Championship

TOMS RIVER —Throughout their success-filled 2011 season, the Manalapan baseball team has relied heavily on their pitching. 

With a staff that featured the lowest team earned run average in the Shore Conference, there was no question as to why the Braves would rely on their arms for the duration of the season.

In Manalapan's group IV state final against Westfield, Saturday afternoon, however, it would be the bats that would eventually crown the Braves.

Manalapan (29-3) scored a whopping 29 runs on 32 hits, beating out the Blue Devils, 29-14 at Toms River High School South, the teams first overall group title in school history.

"I'm so happy for the kids," Manalapan head coach Brian Boyce said, "We set a goal early on and to accomplish this goal is a tribute to them. They worked hard all season."

Manalapan lead the entire game, but after Westfield mounted a rally in the bottom of the fifth — scoring seven runs, all with two outs — to draw within three runs at 16-13, it was then that the Braves displayed their most impressive output.

The Braves would go on to score a run in the top of the sixth inning, followed by 12 runs in the top of the seventh to run away with the win.

Derek Kawa and Joe Serrapica opened the seventh inning with singles to centerfield and left field, respectivley, followed by an attempted sacrifice bunt by Rich Ricciardi. Kawa would score on Ricciardi's bunt as the throw at first base was wild.

Nick Kreiger would then drive in Serrapica with a single to right field, followed by Alex Decastro's RBI single to center. 

With runners on second and third, Manalapan catcher Chris Baird would drive in two runs with a single to centerfield as well.

Courtesy runner Nick Benevento would steal second and score on Jake Winston's RBI single two batters later. After another single from Kawa, Serrapica would drive in three more runs with a home run to right field.

Ricciardi would double to centerfield following the home run, and Kreiger would then belt a two-run home run to right-center field.

Baird would add on one more RBI in the inning, as he legged out an infield single at short stop with two outs.

Kyle Rubbinaccio started for the Braves, and while the senior captain wasn't perfect in his final start in white, he was good enough, throwing 4 2/3 innings, allowing nine earned runs — ten total — on nine hits, striking out six batters and walking five more.

Winston came on in relief of Rubbinaccio and threw 2 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits, hit one batter, walked a batter and struck out two.

The Braves came out early on the Blue Devils, putting up four runs in the first inning to get started on their big day.

Manalapan's first three batters in Ricciardi, Kreiger and Decastro all reached base with no outs to open the game. Ricciardi singled to left, Kreiger drew a walk and Decastro singled to left as well.

Baird then drove in his first run with a single to left field.

Second basemen Brian Lamboy then drove a run in by drawing a walk, giving Manalapan the 2-0 lead.

Winston would drive in the final two runs on the first, with a two-RBI single to right field.

"Today was the day that our hitters picked up our pitchers," Boyce said, "[Our pitchers] carried us all year but today we were dialed in at the plate, and had some great appearances.

"You will take 32 hits and 29 runs any day."

In the second inning, the Braves were back at it, adding seven more runs to take an earl 11-0 lead.

After Ricciardi opened up again with a single to centerfield, Kreiger drove him in with a deep triple to left-center field.

Kreiger would then score on Decastro's double to right field.

Baird would drive Decastro in during the next at-bat, when he doubled to center field, and after another walk by Lamboy, Marco Ferrante belted a three-run home run to deep left field.

Winston would single to center field two batters later and score the innings final run on Serrapica's RBI double to center field.

The Braves' lone run in the sixth inning came after Lamboy's two out single to right field. He then stole second base and scored on Ferrante's double, giving Manalapan the 17-13 lead at the time.

Eight of Manalapan's nine starting hitters tallied an RBI on the day.

Rich Ricciardi went 4-6, drawing a walk and notching an RBI, while Kreiger went 4-5 with two walks and 5 RBI, including a two-run home run.

Decastro went 5-7 with 3 RBI on the day and Baird had the best day at the plate, with a 5-7 performance with 7 RBI.

Lamboy was 2-5, with an RBI on two walks and Ferrante was 2-6 with 4 RBI.

Winston went 5-6 with three RBI and Serrapica had 5 RBI, going 3-5.

"Greatest group of kids and greatest team I've ever coached," Boyce said, "29 wins is a tough number to beat."