The Ocean Township High School Spartans celebrate their Rocket Relays championship. Photo credit: Karyn Baggs
By CHRIS CHRISTOPHER
Chad King is back in Big Red Country.
The former Ocean Township High School football standout has been named the Spartans’ head coach for the 2024 season.
The 2000 graduate was appointed by a 7-0 vote of the Ocean Township Board of Education. One board member was absent from the meeting. Another abstained.
King said he learned of his selection during his final interview with Kelly Weldon, superintendent of the Ocean Township School District. The board took action after the interview.
“I am very excited for the opportunity and humbled at the same time,” King said. “I think the traditions of Big Red football make this opportunity very attractive. Our goal for the 2024 season is to put the work in and hopefully that will result in us playing in some meaningful games in November.”
King said he is impressed with Ocean’s athletics facilities.
“There is an entire athletic wing that resembles a college facility,” he said. “There is a state of the art weight room overlooking the football field. There are full sized basketball courts, a wrestling room, classrooms, locker rooms. Totally different from when I attended Ocean.”
King said a Hog Dinner will take place at 6 p.m. Monday, April 29, in Ocean’s cafeteria.
“It’s our first Hog Dinner,” he said. “I will officially meet the parents, alumni, faculty, community members and staff as we will break bread and get to know each other. By June, we will be preparing to be in a position to be the best version of ourselves when the lights are on, on Friday nights.
“We would just like to be fundamentally sound on both sides of the ball and tough. Our personnel will predict what we will look to do scheme wise offensively and defensively. I’d like to think I am a player’s coach with some old school values.”
King said he hopes former Ocean stars Phil Villapiano (who starred at linebacker for the Oakland Raiders), Kenny Pickett (who excelled at the University of Pittsburgh and competed for the Pittsburgh Steelers and is now the Philadelphia Eagles’ backup quarterback), Keith McPherson of WFAN fame, Tyler Douglas (now a Temple University quarterback) and Trebor Pena (now playing for Syracuse University) will contribute to the program.
“I am definitely looking forward to connecting with our alumni and the entire community of Ocean Township,” King said.
The former Stony Brook University standout said he enjoys coaching for several reasons.
“The most rewarding aspect of coaching are the relationships, times and memories you can share with others through sports,” he said. “Life is the most challenging aspect of coaching, finding the correlations in the two and being able to learn and grow in both. I got into education and coaching because some of the most influential people in my life were my teachers and coaches.”
King will run a Combine called Tell-A-Vision for the fifth season. It will take place at Manahassett Park in Long Branch on Saturday, June 8, from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. He will collaborate with what he termed “three top trainers” and 20-25 current and former college players who will return to coach at the clinic. It is open to girls and boys from grades two through eight.
“We had 144 athletes participate last year,” he said. “It was an exciting event for all who participated. We fed the athletes food.”
With King at the controls, the Long Branch Green Wave posted a 14-9 overall record over the previous two seasons. Among the wins were three road playoff victories. The Green Wave advanced to the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV championship game last year after downing Jackson Memorial and unbeaten Brick Memorial on the road. Long Branch 41-7 to Winslow Township in the finale.
The Green Wave was 7-5 overall last season, scoring 242 points and allowing 294. It was 7-4 overall in 2022, outscoring opponents 214-199.
King was an assistant coach for 11 seasons under the legendary Danny George, who retired after the 2021 campaign. With King on George’s staff, Long Branch won two NJSIAA sectional titles. One title was won with a 42-21 victory over Freehold Boro in overtime at Rutgers University. As an assistant, King coached the defensive backs and special teams and coordinated the defense.
King has played roles in the development of former Long Branch players Davon Craft (Merrimack College, Jermaine Corbett (Stonehill College), Matt Guidetti (Kean University), Andrew Conklin (Monmouth University), Shamar Williams (Wagner College), Sekou Kamau (Wagner) and Devyn Blount, Matt Clarke and Raul Rivera (the latter trio will graduate from William Paterson University in May).
George coached King at Ocean through King’s junior year. King played running back and defensive back and competed in basketball and track at Ocean. Geoff Weiner coached the Spartans during King’s senior year. King was a first-team all-shore safety and a third-team all-state defensive back in 2000.
“In my years at Long Branch, I had the opportunity to and still do confide in a Hall of Fame mentor in coach George,” King said. “I’ve honestly learned how to grind, work hard, put the time in, communicate effectively and how to coach the game of football.”
Rusty Todd, the Ocean Township School District director of athletics and student activities for grades 5-12, said “numerous” candidates applied for the position.
“We felt that Chad was the most qualified for the position,” he said. “He has been a long time assistant and a head coach (at Long Branch). He has a great plan for moving Ocean Township football forward. We like the things he can do and the things he can instill in our student-athletes outside of football. He has been on a coaching staff, Long Branch, that has won a state championship. I am thrilled to have Chad King leading our football program.”
Ocean owns an impressive tradition. George Conti Jr., an uncle of Pickett, guided the Spartans from 1983-93.They won their first sectional title in 1993 when they were unbeaten. The Spartans captured sectional crowns in 2000 and 2005 under coaches Scott Larkin and Sal Spamanato, respectively.
Coming off a 4-6 overall record last season under Donny Klein, now the head coach at Shore Regional (his alma mater), the Spartans will move into Shore Conference Class B North in 2024, competing against Middletown North, Matawan, Freehold Boro, Freehold Township and Red Bank Regional. The Spartans’ non-division opponents are Holmdel, Manasquan and Shore.
“Chad is a top notch coach who is familiar with our program and traditions,” Todd said. “Chad being a former football standout at Ocean had nothing to do with his hiring, but it was another feather in his cap as well as ours in our tradition rich football program. Chad is quiet and reserved, but extremely confident in his abilities as a head coach. He is very passionate and is thankful in having the opportunity to lead the Big Red football program.”
King’s name was on the lips of Monmouth University, Lafayette College, Rowan University, The College of New Jersey and Montclair State University after he starred at Ocean. He said he “ended up walking on” at Stony Brook where he earned postseason honors in 2002.
King was a first-team All-American defensive back and second-team All-American kick returner as a junior when he was named to the Don Hansen Football Gazette NCAA Division I-A Mid-Major All-America first team. He was a first-team All-Northeast Conference selection at defensive back after leading the league in interceptions and tying for fifth nationally in picks. He was an All-NEC second-teamer as a kick returner when he led the league in kickoff return average (27.8 yards per return) and blazed with two kickoffs for touchdowns.
He returned 32 punts for 317 yards, averaging 9.9 yards per return. He returned one punt for a score. His longest punt return was 67 yards. He returned seven picks for 109 yards and one touchdown, averaging 15.6 yards per return. His longest return was 90 yards. He returned 16 kickoffs for 445 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 27.8 yards per return. His longest return was 94 yards.
He paced the Seawolves in all-purpose yards with 871, averaging 87.1 yards per game as they went 8-2, then the best overall record in program history. He added 22 solo tackles and 19 assisted stops. He broke up six passes for third on the team and forced one fumble.
In 2003, King made three solo stops, added three assists, broke up one pass and returned three punts for 22 yards, averaging 7.3 yards per return. He was fifth on the team in 2004 in all-purpose yards with 331, averaging 66.2 yards per game. He made nine solo tackles and added seven assists. He broke up two passes. He picked off two passes for 19 yards and returned 10 punts for 108 yards, averaging 10.8 yards per return.
King made 19 solo stops, added 10 assists, broke up three passes and made one tackle for one yard lost in 2001. He piled up 303 all-purpose yards, averaging 37.9 yards per game. He returned one pick for four yards. He returned three punts for 34 yards and ran back 17 kickoffs for 265 yards.
He owns a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Sciences Interdisciplinary Studies and is a student facilitator at Long Branch.
Klein (93-75-1) leads the program in career wins. He began his tenure in 2007 and led the Spartans to four division titles. They were 10-1 in 2013. He nurtured Pickett, Douglas, Pena (now playing for Syracuse University), running back Tyler Thompson and several others who enjoyed productive collegiate careers.
Appointed by the Shore Regional Board of Education for the 2024 season, Klein is the ninth coach in program history. He takes over for the retired Mark Constantino, who coached the Blue Devils for 32 seasons and is the program’s career wins leader (218-118-1). Klein played quarterback for Constantino and excelled in baseball. With Klein under center as a senior, Shore won the Class C South championship in 1996.
Shore was 6-4 overall and lost in the Central Jersey Group I semifinals last season. Constantino led the Blue Devils to four sectional titles and 10 division championships. He was inducted into the Shore Football Coaches Foundation Hall of Fame in 2015 with Chris Christopher, The Coaster’s sports journalist, and Chris Barnes, the former Middletown North standout who coached at Jackson Memorial and Wall Township.
Shore will compete in Class D in 2024 with Asbury Park, Keansburg, Neptune, New Egypt and Point Pleasant Beach.
In ice hockey:
Tragedy strikes: Former Ocean player Vladimir Gorelov has died.
He lost his life Tuesday, April 9, at the age of 20 in a motorcycle crash in Colts Neck on Route 18 at mile marker 17, patch.com reported. The crash occurred at 6:02 p.m. The Eatontown resident was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:27 p.m.
Gorelov’s 2017 Honda CBR hit the rear of a 2011 Ford F350 utility truck driven by a 27-year-old man. The man was ejected and stayed on the scene. The motorcycle slid to a stop and caught fire. No charges have been filed.
A GOFUNDME page has been formed to help his family with funeral expenses. A total of $7,705 was raised since mid-Sunday afternoon, April 14. The goal is $15,000. To donate, Google GOFUNDME.COM/Vladimir Gorelov. The page’s organizer is Lance Devlin of Eatontown. Gorelov’s picture atop a motorcycle is on the page.
Hockey sticks in Gorelov’s memory are on the porches of homes. One stick is in the front of the home of ex-Ocean player Dylan Haar, now a television meteorologist in Fargo, N.D. His brother, Alex Haar, also played for the Spartans.
Gorelov scored one goal and added two assists as a freshman varsity player in 2018-19. He scored 13 goals, including one game-winning goal, and added 13 assists in 2019-20. He netted one goal and added three assists during the pandemic shortened 2020-21 season. He netted one goal and added two assists as a senior. He finished his career with 16 goals and 26 assists for 42 points.
“This one hits hard,” Ocean coach Mike Ryan said on Facebook. “Vlad was a great kid, a fantastic teammate and a pleasure to coach. He had his whole life ahead of him. I’, so glad the last time I saw him was at our alumni game last December. We all had a lot of laughs and a fantastic time.”
“A promising life taken tragically and far too soon,” former Ocean coach Dave Smith said. “Prayers for family and all who knew and loved him.”
Gorelov scored two goals and added two assists in 13 games with the Jersey Shore Whalers, a 15U AAA team, in 2019-20. He netted three goals and added two assists in 2020-21 in 12 games with the New Jersey Junior Titans, a 16U AAA team. He was scoreless in nine games in 2020-21 with the New Jersey Titans.
“I love you so much Vlad,” Mikey Bruno said on Facebook. “I can’t even find the words to express my sadness.”
“He was one of my students in Eatontown,” Kristin Lancton said on Facebook. “He was quiet and always had a beautiful smile. A tragic loss. Prayers for his family and friends.”
Gorelov and his family moved to the United States from Russia six years ago, Kristen Kurzynowski-Haar, mother of Alex and Dylan Harr, told The Coaster.
“It’s beyond heartbreaking,” she said on Facebook. “The family doesn’t have much.”
In girls track and field:
Ocean prevails: The Spartans won the Rocket Relays with 58 points besting second-place Rumson-Fair Haven Regional (52) in the 18-team meet at Raritan.
Seniors Katie Burke (30-1 1/2) and Lauren Convery (27-7) secured the win with a third-place finish in the Spartans’ final event of the day. They were 4-7 as individuals. Burke set a personal record.
“They needed to place among the top six teams to get us enough points to win the meet,” Ocean coach Alexander Lynch said. “They rose to the occasion and gave us the necessary six points.”
Seniors Eve Segal (38-3 3/4) and Gamila Betton (33-9) won the shot put. Segal was first as an individual. Betton was second. Segal (101-7) and Betton (90-0) won the discus. Segal was first as an individual. Betton was fourth.
Freshman Jada Dawson (14-8) and senior Danielle Towler (13-3 1/2) captured the long jump. Dawson was second as an individual. Towler was 14th. Towler, junior Angelica Karbainova, Burke and senior Mackenzie Baggs sped to first place in the 4×100-meter shuttle hurdles relay in 1:14.93.
“We don’t have a shuttle hurdles team without Angelica,” Lynch said.
Baggs (1:16), Avery O’Hara (1:17) and junior Sara Patino-Gallego (1:21) placed third in the 3×400 intermediate hurdles. Convery, Dawson, Towler and Patino were fourth in the 4×100 in 55.96.
“I have been coaching this team for four years,” Lynch said. “Throughout my four years, we have always had two to five girls who were considered at the top of our state section, but we could never piece together a full team across all of the events. We have a team that can score in all of the events and the girls support each other in such a way that makes you want to see them do nothing but succeed. To begin our season with a victory in our first meet of the season because of a full team effort across all of the events makes it so special.
“The girls have worked their tail off with me since the indoor season and it is so gratifying to see their hard work reap this recognition. This title also holds a special place in my heart as a coach because this senior class is the very first class I started with in my coaching career. I have watched them grow from freshmen to now and I am so excited to see them cap off their athletics careers with even more accomplishments this season.”
Lynch was confident of a strong finish for the Spartans.
“Entering the meet, I knew with the girls we had that we could finish among the top three teams,” he said. “I wasn’t sure how the rest of the track meet would go, but I knew if we put our best foot forward we could finish in first place. I went in with the expectation that if the girls had fun and practiced their skills in their events we could get the top three finish. When it came down to the end of the meet and we saw we had secured first place, I wasn’t shocked because I knew what the team was capable of.”
The Spartans overpowered opponents with star power, depth and teamwork.
“The key reason, of course, was the team effort put in by all of the girls,” Lynch said. “This was not just one athlete scoring multiple points. This was a relay track and field meet. You cannot score points unless you have two to four girls working together to secure points for the team. That means the girls had to work together during the week prior to the meet to make sure we could execute on the day of the meet. Luckily for myself and the other coaches, we have such a strong bond as a team that the girls love to race for each other and want to better each other by being the best teammates possible. We have such strong senior leadership that we know we can give them any task and they will execute it.”
The captains are Baggs, Towler, senior Raegan Goldey, Segal, Burke, Convery and senior Chelsea Kipnis. The team’s assistant coaches are Paul Looney (distance runners, jumpers) and Emily Dorony (distance runners, sprinters).
Trinity Hall update: Senior Cadence Zink of the Monarchs placed sixth in the javelin (83-3) at the Huskie Relays.
The Monarchs’ 4×800 team was second in 10:38.85.
In boys track and field:
Asbury Park update: Senior Jah’Vell Carter of the Blue Bishops was sixth in the long jump (20-1) at the Huskie Relays.
In girls flag football:
Neptune 35, Shore Regional 25: The first-year Scarlet Fliers, led by Lana Ellington’s four touchdowns, bested the host Blue Devils (0-1).
Gianna Massimino, Kaitlin Hankins, Casey Magee and Adriana Siciliano added touchdowns in Neptune’s regular-season opener. Middle linebacker Kaddy Braxon added seven quarterback pressures.
“This win sent shockwaves throughout the entire Shore Conference as we beat a veteran Shore team,” coach Louis DalPra said. “I was hoping to see our girls represent Neptune well, but I knew Shore was a top level team to open with. Our girls surprised even myself with their tenacity and drive from the first play to the last. The game ball is being painted and will be placed in Neptune’s trophy case.”
The Scarlet Fliers will host St. Rose at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18, at the Summerfield Elementary School in their regular-season home opener. DalPra coached the Purple Roses last season when they began their program. He also was the school’s athletic director.
Neptune 25, Shore 12: Freshman captain Belen Rugama scored three rushing touchdowns and Janyah Harris scored one touchdown and added one extra point for the first-year Scarlet Fliers in their conquest of the host Blue Devils in Neptune’s first regular-season game in junior varsity action.
“I knew we were going to win as the girls have been practicing very well,” DalPra said. “I could see they were ready.”
The Scarlet Fliers will host St. Rose at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 18, in their home regular-season opener at the Summerfield Elementary School.
DalPra is in his first season as Neptune’s head baseball coach.
“Coaching baseball and girls flag football is a hard thing for anyone, but these kids at Neptune make it easy every day,” he said. “I love the connections I have made in my first year here. It’s a great school and the kids are the foundation of that.”
In baseball:
Asbury Park 27, Lakewood 5: The Blue Bishops (1-1) won their first game since 2019, snapping a 27-game losing streak with a win over the Piners (1-1) in five innings.
Their previous win was 3-2 over Keansburg on May 7, 2019. They were 0-11 in 2022 and 0-13 last season. They did not field a team in 2021.
Winning pitcher Nestor Castillo Jr. allowed six hits on one earned run, walked none and whiffed 10. He stroked three hits in four at-bats, drove in three runs and scored two. Teammate Jader Castillo hit a two-run double in a seven-run outburst in the second inning. He scored two runs and was hit by two pitches on the day. Nestor Castillo hit an RBI single in a five-run third and stroked an RBI one-bagger in a five-run fourth.
Nicholas Chathuant went 1-for-4, drove in three runs and scored one run for the winners. Teammate Tyree Nelson went 1-for-4 and scored two runs.
Lakewood 16, Asbury Park 5: Prince Gue hit one triple in two at-bats, scored one run and drove in one run for the Blue Bishops (0-1) in their loss to the Piners (1-0) in five innings.
Teammate Israel Villegas-Diaz went 1-for-3 and drove in one run.
Wall 7, Monmouth Regional 2: Evan Booth hit one home run in four at-bats and drove in two runs and Will Theobald went 2-for-4 for the Falcons (1-1) in their loss to the Crimson Knights (2-1).
Rumson 5, Monmouth 1: Beckett Langdon went 1-for-1, drew one walk and scored one run for the Falcons (2-2) in their loss to the Bulldogs.
Monmouth 10, Shore Regional 9: Bobby Davidson went 1-for-2, drove in three runs and drew one walk for the Falcons (2-1) in their win over the Blue Devils (0-1).
For Monmouth, Alejandro Ocelotl stroked three hits, including one double, in four at-bats, drove in one run and scored one run. Booth went 3-for-3 and scored two runs. Collin Denton went 1-for-3 and scored two runs. Joe Alfano went 1-for-4 and scored two runs. Vaughn Bociulis was the winning pitcher.
Monmouth 4, Shore 3: Brandon Geiger’s sacrifice fly scored Beckett Langdon in the top of the seventh, giving the Falcons (3-2) a win over the Blue Devils (0-3).
Winning pitcher Vaughn Bociulis (2-0) hurled one third of one scoreless inning and the Ocean County College-bound Booth notched his first save of the season, blanking the Blue Devils in the seventh. Davidson stroked three hits, including one double, in four at-bats and drove in two runs. Geiger went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs.
Booth hit one double in three at-bats. Teammate Dom Migliaccio went 1-for-2 and drove in one run.
Ocean 3, Freehold Boro 0: Tommy Kowaliwsky whiffed seven through 6 1/3 innings for the Spartans in their win over the Colonials.
Ben Robinson added two strikeouts. Connor Tongring stroked two hits and scored two runs. Derek Vazqued added two hits. Jack Kelly added one run batted in and was 1-for-3. Will Walsh plated one run.
Matawan 7, Ocean 2: Tongring, Robinson, Walsh and Matt Richter stroked hits for the Spartans in their loss to the Huskies.
Matawan 9, Ocean 1: Robinson went 1-for-4 and scored one run for the Spartans (2-2) in their loss to the Huskies (4-0).
Ocean 3, Freehold Boro 1: Tommy Kowaliwskyj tossed a five-inning three-hitter, whiffing 12 and walking one for the Spartans in their win over the Colonials.
Ocean 2, Jackson Liberty 1: Tongring, a junior catcher, hit an RBI double in the bottom of the 14th, giving the Spartans (2-1) a win over the Lions (2-1).
Winning pitcher Derek Vazquez (1-1) hurled four innings, allowing two hits, whiffing four and walking three, tossin 67 innings. Starter Jack Kelly worked seven innings and allowed one earned run. He whiffed four, walked two and allowed eight hits, tossing 92 pitches. Robinson hurled three hitless innings, fanning six and walking none. Ocean’s Alejandro Sanchez went 1-for-1 and drew two walks.
Ocean 5, Hillsborough 1: Kelly tossed a three-hitter and allowed one earned run for the Spartans (4-3) in their win over Hillsborough (2-4).
Kelly (1-0) whiffed six and walked three, tossing 102 pitches. Tongring hit a two-run double and stole two bases. Robinson hit one triple in three at-bats, scored one run and stole two bases. Teammate Will Walsh scored two runs, stole two bases and drew two walks. Ocean’s Matt Richter scored one run.
Long Branch 7, Newark East Side 3: Winning pitcher Kellen Campbell tripled home a run in the top of the first and plated a second-inning run for the Green Wave (1-2) in its win over Newark East Side (1-4).
Campbell (1-0) allowed two runs, including one earned run, and one hit through four innings. He struck out eight and walked three, tossing 74 pitches. Teammate David Jules allowed one unearned run through three innings. He surrendered two hits, whiffed six and walked one, tossing 46 pitches.
Red Bank Regional 10, Ranney School 7: Andrew Parisi hit one double in three at-bats, drove in three runs and scored one run for the Panthers in their loss to the Bucs.
For the Panthers, Curis Chropuvka went 1-for-3, drew one walk and scored one run. Ryan Costello scored one run. Rob Wrobel went 1-for-1 and scored one run. Nate Fuller went 1-for-4 and plated one run. Justin Kauffman stroked two hits in four at-bats. Brody Mauro scored one run. J.L. Gallina went 1-for-3 and scored one run.
Red Bank Regional 10, Ranney School 7: Andrew Parisi hit one double in three at-bats, plated three runs, scored one run and drew one walk for the Panthers (1-1) in their loss to the Bucs (1-1).
Manasquan 10, Ranney School 8: Costello went 2-for-3, including one home run, drove in two runs, scored two runs and drew one walk for the Panthers (1-2) in their loss to the Warriors (3-0).
For the Panthers, Brody Garguilo hit one solo home run in three at-bats, scored two runs and drew one walk. Parisi homered, drove in two runs and drew one walk in three at-bats. Chropuvka hit one home run in four at-bats and drove in two runs. Greyson Testino went 1-for-4, drove in one run and scored one run.
Ranney School 8, Red Bank Regional 5: Freshman Justin Kauffman stroked two hits in three at-bats, knocked in three runs and pitched 1 2/3 innings of relief for the win and Brody Mauro notched the save as the Panthers downed the Bucs.
Ranney School 7, Ocean 3: Costello clouted two homers in two at-bats, drove in three runs, scored three runs and drew two walks for the Panthers (2-2) in their win over the Spartans (3-3).
Chropuvka went 2-for-3, including one solo homer, in three at-bats, drove in one run, scored two runs and drew one walk, Testino hit one homer in two at-bats, drove in three runs and scored one run. Kauffman (2-0) allowed one unearned run and three hits through four innings. He whiffed six, walked one and tossed 61 pitches.
Middletown North 20, Long Branch 1: The Green Wave (0-1) fell to the Lions (1-0) in five innings.
St. Rose 13, Henry Hudson Regional 1: Jack Tiernan, Peter Nolan and Chris Zahlman teamed on a no-hitter for the Purple Roses (1-0) in their win over the Admirals in five innings.
Tiernan started and allowed one earned run, whiffed one and walked two. He tossed 30 pitches. Nolan (1-0) hurled two innings. He whiffed six, walked none, tossed 32 pitches and plated one run. Zahlman whiffed four and walked one, tossing 22 pitches through two innings. Anthony Crudo hit one double in one at-bat, drove in three runs, scored two, stole two bases and drew one walk.
Frank Soos hit one home run, drove in two runs and scored two runs. Jake Whitehead plated two runs.
St. Rose 10, Henry Hudson 0: James Alesso blanked the Admirals (1-2) for the Purple Roses (2-0) in a five-inning game.
He allowed two hits, whiffed eight and walked one, tossing 61 pitches. Soos went 3-for-4, including one double, and drove in two runs. Nolan went 1-for-2, drove in one run, scored two runs and drew one walk. Crudo went 2-for-4, plated one run and scored one run. Brendan Sherman hit one double in three at-bats, drove in one run and scored one run.
Max Glassberg went 1-for-3, drove in one run and scored one run. James Alesso went 1-for-2, scored one run and drew one walk.
St. Rose 15, Neptune 0: Jack Tiernan (1-0) tossed a five-inning no-hitter, whiffing eight and walking one for the Purple Roses (3-0) in their win over the Scarlet Fliers (0-6).
Trevor Rummel broke up the perfect game when he led off the top of the fifth with a walk. Tiernan stroked two hits in three at-bats, plated three runs and scored one run. Tyler Hager went 1-for-1 and scored one run. Soos went 2-for-4 and drove in one run.
Crudo went 1-for-3, drove in two runs and scored one run, Nolan went 2-for-3, drove in two runs and scored two runs. Sherman stroked two doubles in three at-bats, scored three runs and knocked in two runs.
St. John Vianney 14, Neptune 13: Rummel went 2-for-5, including one double, plated six runs and scored two runs for the Scarlet Fliers (0-4) in their loss to the Lancers (2-2).
For Neptune, Hunter Morgan went 2-for-3, scored three runs, drew two walks and was hit by one pitch. Carl Christie went 1-for-3, drew three walks and scored one run. Jack Gamba-Ellis went 2-for-4, scored three runs and drew one walk. Andrew Wardell went 2-for-4, scored one run and drew one walk. Alex Soto hit one double in five at-bats and plated two runs.
Freehold Boro 6, Neptune 3: Gamba-Ellis hit one triple in three at-bats, drove in one run, scored one run and drew one walk for the Scarlet Fliers (0-5) in their loss to the Colonials (1-5).
Christie went 1-for-3, drove in one run and was hit by one pitch. Teammate Aedan Martin went 2-for-4. Teammate Jordan Torres went 2-for-4 and scored one run. Teammate Nicholas Bailey belted one triple in two at-bats and scored one run.
In girls softball:
Raritan 22, Monmouth 2: Kelly Dopazo tripled home two runs and Sophia Alonso hit one triple and scored one run for the Falcons (0-1) in their loss to the Rockets (1-1).
Manasquan 5, Ocean 2: The Spartans (0-3) stroked two hits–singles by Ryleigh Cerco and losing pitcher Emma Fitterer–in their loss to the Warriors (2-1).
Teammates Anna Poniros and Nathalie Staten scored one run.
Manalapan 6, Ocean 2: Losing pitcher Jillian Scotto hit one double in four at-bats and scored one run for the Spartans (0-4) in their loss to the Braves (2-1).
Emma Fitterer pitched 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief and allowed one hit, walked none and whiffed two. Ocean’s Hailey Morrow hit one double in three at-bats and scored one run. Ocean’s Nathalie Staten stroked one double and plated one run in three at-bats.
St. John Vianney 11, Ocean 0: Madison McDougall tossed a five-inning no-hitter, whiffing 11, walking none and hitting one batter for the Lancers (4-0) in their win over the Spartans (0-5).
Ocean 5, Holmdel 3: Winning pitcher Fitterer scattered nine hits and allowed three earned runs, whiffed two and walked two for the Spartans (1-5) in their win over the Hornets (3-1).
Scotto drove in one run. Taylor Hough added two hits in three at-bats and scored two runs. Staten went 1-for-2, scored two runs and drove in one run. Morrow went 1-for-2, drove in one run and drew one walk. Poniros went 1-for-3 and plated three runs.
St. Rose 11, Keansburg 10: Maggie Turnbach went 2-for-4, including one triple, scored three runs, drove in two runs and was hit by one pitch for the Purple Roses (1-0) in their win over the Titans (1-1).
For St. Rose, Lily Rodgers scored two runs. Gianna Decina hit one double in three at-bats, drove in two runs, scored one run, drew two walks and stole one base. Stevie Greco stroked two hits in four at-bats, drove in two runs, scored two runs and stole one base. Bridget Taylor went 1-for-3, drove in one run and drew one walk. Gianna Rivera went 1-for-3, scored one run, drew one walk and stole one base.
Mikayla Herbert scored one run. Keri McGee, the third of three pitchers, hurled three innings. She allowed one earned run, walked six, whiffed six and hit one batter.
St. Rose 16, Neptune 4: Turnbach hit two doubles in three at-bats, drove in four runs, scored three runs, sped to five stolen bases and drew two walks for the Purple Roses (2-0) in their win over the Scarlet Fliers (0-2).
Winning pitcher Keri McGee scored one run. Rodgers scored two runs, drew two walks and stole one base. Decina went 2-for-3, stole seven bases, scored three runs and drew one walk. Greco hit one double in two at-bats, scored three runs, stole four bases and drew two walks. Teammate Marion Moore scored one run and drew one walk.
Taylor went 1-for-3, scored one run, drove in one run, stole one base and was hit by one pitch. Teammate Violet Moynihan stroked two hits, including one double, in three at-bats, drove in two runs, scored one run, stole two bases and was hit by one pitch. St. Rose’s Juliet Smith scored one run.
For Neptune, Braxton scored one run and drove in one run. Allison Herrera knocked in one run. Jordan Janulis stroked two hits, including one double, in three at-bats, scored one run and stole one base. Massimino hit one triple in two at-bats, drove in one run and drew one walk. Janyah Harris hit one triple in three at-bats, scored two runs and stole one base.
Red Bank Regional 17, Neptune 0: Kennedy Whitehead tossed a four-inning no-hitter, whiffing seven and walking one for the Bucs (1-4) in their win over the Scarlet Fliers (0-1).
In girls lacrosse:
Ocean 12, Jackson Liberty 0: Maddie Kirchner erupted for five goals and two assists and added two ground balls and three forced turnovers for the Spartans (1-2) in their win over the Lions (0-3).
The sophomore midfielder pushed her varsity career points total to 100. Brooke Todd added two goals, eight ground balls, 11 draw controls and four forced turnovers. Ella Grace Hertling added three ground balls and two forced turnovers.
Emma Bonforte added two goals, one assist, four ground balls, one draw control and three forced turnovers. Megan Fisher added two ground balls, two draw controls and one forced turnover.
Dani Taylor added four ground balls. Tasi Ryan added one ground ball and two forced turnovers. Julia Wagner added two goals, two ground balls and one forced turnover. Casey Maruka added one assist and two ground balls. Mara Leonardi added one assist and one ground ball. Gabriella Da Silva added one ground ball. Maggie Guzauskas added one save and one ground ball. Molly Tantrum added one goal. Christina Azimov added one save.
Barnegat 19, Ocean 7: Kirchner scored four goals and added three ground balls, four draw controls and two forced turnovers for the Spartans (1-3) in their loss to the Bengals (3-0).
Todd added seven ground balls, three draw controls and two forced turnovers. Taylor added seven ground balls and three forced turnovers. Bonforte added one goal, three ground balls and two forced turnovers. Ryan added one ground ball and one forced turnover. Fisher added one ground ball and two forced turnovers. Grace Fuller added one ground ball. Wagner added one goal, five ground balls and six draw controls.
Madison Clark added one goal, four ground balls, one draw control and one forced turnover. Maruka added one assist and three ground balls. Guzauskas added 13 saves. Kilsarys Diaz added three ground balls.
Toms River North 18, Ocean 8: Bonforte erupted for five goals and added three ground balls and one forced turnover for the Spartans (1-4) in their loss to the Mariners (1-3).
Kirchner added two goals, two ground balls, three draw controls and one forced turnover. Todd added one goal, one assist, nine ground balls, four draw controls and four forced turnovers. Taylor added five ground balls and one forced turnover. Kilsarys Diaz added one ground ball.
Grace Fuller added one ground ball. Madison Clark added two ground balls. Tasi Ryan added two ground balls. Julia Wagner added two ground balls and two draw controls. Hertling added 27 saves. Guzauskas added six saves.
Jackson Memorial 10, Monmouth 7: Michaela Demeo netted five goals and added four ground balls and one draw control for the Falcons (0-3) in their loss to the Jaguars (2-0).
Madison Natale added one goal. Katherine Parent added two ground balls. Christina Ensaur added four ground balls. Julia Biasi added two ground balls. Mareli Ocelotl added 14 saves.
Point Pleasant Beach 21, Monmouth 9: The Falcons (0-4) fell to the Garnet Gulls (2-0).
Manalapan 19, Ranney School 1: Sophia Lennon scored one goal and added two ground balls, two draw controls and two forced turnovers for the Panthers (0-3) in their loss to the Braves (2-0).
Gwen Wollshleager added one ground ball and seven draw controls. Kennedy Poser added one ground ball, one draw control and one forced turnover. Katie Renaud added one draw control and two forced turnovers. Brooke Lembo added one draw control. Maddy Renaud and Nadia Chatar added one forced turnover each.
Ranney School 11, Neptune 5: Siena Karp scored three goals and Sophia Lennon added three scores for the Panthers (1-3) in their win over the Scarlet Fliers.
Kennedy Poser added two goals. Adding one goal each were Chloe Foster, Hailey Mullen and Wollshleager. Nadia Chatar added seven saves.
For Neptune, Hankins scored two goals and added three ground balls. Eva Sims added one goal and six ground balls.
Majiah Foster added one goal and six ground balls. Katina Kalfin added eight saves. Claire Browning added three ground balls. Sharon Guzman added four ground balls. Casey McGhee added one goal and three ground balls. Mairelys Ramirez-Montoya added one ground ball. Jha’nae LeGrande added one ground ball. Stella Curto added one ground ball. Charlie Curto added three ground balls.
Trinity Hall 12, Southern Regional 7: Lily Wood and Bridie Fitzgerald scored four goals apiece for the Monarchs (1-2) in their win over the Rams (0-3).
Wood added one assist, three ground balls, three draw controls and two forced turnovers. Fitzgerald added one assist and one ground ball. Chiara Donohue added one goal, three assists, five ground balls, five draw controls and three forced turnovers.
Georgie Avrillon added two assists, two ground balls and one forced turnover. Kiya Martin added one goal, two assists, three ground balls, three draw controls and two forced turnovers. Winnie Popham added four ground balls and two forced turnovers. Sands Webber added one goal, one assist and one ground ball. Virginia Avery added six saves. Katie Cisar added three saves.
Trinity Hall 6, Middletown South 4: Martin scored three goals and added one assist, two ground balls and two draw controls for the Monarchs (2-2) in their win over the Eagles (1-3).
Donohue added one goal, one assist, five ground balls, one draw control and one forced turnover. Wood added two goals, one assist, five ground balls and three forced turnovers. Maeve Shanley added two ground balls and two forced turnovers. Mairead Merkler added one ground ball. Webber added one ground ball.
Anne Sperber added two ground balls and one forced turnover. Cecillia Sperber added three ground balls and one forced turnover. Popham added three ground balls, one draw control and one forced turnover. Avrillon added two ground balls and one forced turnover. Avery added six saves.
Trinity Hall 12, Hillsborough 4: Fitzgerald scored five goals and added one ground ball for the Monarchs (3-2) in their win over Hillsborough (1-4).
Wood added three goals, two assists, seven ground balls, one draw control and five forced turnovers. Donohue added two goals, five ground balls, two draw controls and three forced turnovers. Martin added two assists, three ground balls and one draw control. Avrillon added one goal, one assist, two ground balls, three draw controls and two forced turnovers.
Webber added one goal, one assist and one ground ball. Shanley added one assist and two ground balls. Cecilla Sperber added two ground balls and one forced turnover. Popham added one ground ball and two forced turnovers. Anne Sperber added two ground balls and two forced turnovers.
Toms River East 15, St. Rose 5: Mackenzie Nerenberg and Maggie Kerr scored two goals each, Maura Kerr added one goal and Davis Dugan added 10 saves for the Purple Roses (0-3) in their loss to the Raiders (4-0).
In boys lacrosse:
Toms River East 14, St. Rose 3: The Purple Roses (0-2) fell to the Raiders (2-0).
Ben Meyer scored two goals for the Purple Roses. Luke Mason added one goal and Nicholas Garcia added 15 saves.
St. John Vianney 19, St. Rose 11: Meyer erupted for seven goals and one assist and won eight of 15 faceoffs for the Purple Roses (0-3) in their loss to the Lancers (1-3).
Antonio Dalia added one goal, one assist and three ground balls. Cole Russoniello added one goal, one assist and two ground balls. Jack Harmon added one goal and five ground balls. Nicholas Pirone added one goal, one assist and six ground balls. Garcia added four saves. Noah Arena added 11 saves.
Red Bank Catholic 20, Ocean 3: Connor Holevinski netted two goals, Ben Girard added one goal and Vincent Stolowski and Mickey McGovern added one assist each for the Spartans (2-2) in their loss to the Caseys (3-1).
Ocean 9, St. John Vianney 8: Holevinski scored off an assist from Girard with six minutes left in the game, giving the Spartans (3-2) a win over the Lancers (0-3).
With the Lancers playing one man short because of a penalty, Holevinski cut across the middle of the field and scored on the crease. Girard notched the assist after making what winning coach Tom Ryan termed “a great pass” to a cutting Holevinski who finished the game with four goals and one assist. Girard added three goals and three assists.
Matt Mosey and James Knight added one goal each and Willie Canavan added two assists. River Pinto added 19 saves.
With the Spartans one player down because of a penalty, Girard picked up a long pole to play defense on the Lancers’ final possession to clinch the win. Pinto made a crucial save with 25 seconds to go in the game.
“Pinto played a great game,” Ryan said. “Canavan is the leader of the defense.”
In boys golf:
Monmouth 161, Ocean 166: Jack Hennelly fired a one-under-par 34 for the Falcons (1-3) in their win over the Spartans (1-1).
Matthew Bontz added a 40. Brad Hennelly added a 42. Jaiden Shields added a 45 and Matthew Bontz added a 49. For Ocean, Niall Tantrum carded a 38, Flanagan a 40, Jon Williams a 43, Eddie Greco a 45, Chris Koenig a 45 and Reese Corcoran a 50.
Ocean 161, Red Bank Regional 175: Flanagan fired a three-over-par 38 for the Spartans (3-1) in their win over the Bucs (3-1). Koenig added a 39, Tantrum a 40, Williams a 44, Greco a 46 and Corcoran a 47.
In girls golf:
St. Rose 208, Holmdel 211: Tatiana Konczyk and Colleen Ragan each fired a 50 and Ava Abrahamson added a 53 for the Purple Roses (1-1) in their win over the Hornets (1-1).
St. Rose 205, Rumson 221: Konczyk fired a 45, Abrahamson a 52, Ragan a 53 and Cecilia Esquieres a 55 for the Purple Roses (2-1) in their win over the Bulldogs (1-1).
Rumson-Fair Haven Regional 216, Ranney School 232, Trinity Hall 242: Leah Krampert fired a 59 for the Monarchs (1-0) and Alex Presutti (51) led the Panthers (1-1) against the Bulldogs (1-0).
In boys tennis:
St. Rose 5, Henry Hudson Regional 0: The Purple Roses (1-0) downed the Admirals (0-1).
Singles winners were No. 1 Joey Murphy (6-2, 6-4), No. 2 Owen Mehring (6-0, 6-0) and No. 3 Matt Nash (6-1, 6-0). Doubles victors were No. 1 Thomas Rogers-James Giunco (6-0, 6-0) and No. 2 Brian Crosseboom-Jason Jennings (6-1, 6-0).
Colts Neck 4, Ocean 1: Todd Elison, competing at first singles, won 6-0, 6-1 for the Spartans (1-1) in their loss to the Cougars (2-0).
Ranney School 5, Henry Hudson Regional 0: The Panthers (3-0) downed the Admirals (0-2).
Braden Chavez won 6-0, 6-0 at first singles. Max Goldenberg won 6-0, 6-0 at second singles. Harris Marcus won 6-1, 6-0 at third singles. Connoly Chavez and Trey Junkin won 6-1, 6-0 at first doubles. Max Kelner and Ansh Patel won by forfeit at second doubles.
SPRING PREVIEWS
ASBURY PARK
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Head coach: Felix Flavien
Assistant coach: Sherie Love
Last season’s overall record: 2-12
Roster: Elliott Delgado, Joel Guzman, Victor Javier, Gustabo Lazo, Ricardo Mezquitila, Ryan Monroe, Gustavo Noyola, Kevin Ogden, Kevin Ortiz, Robert Pennington, Juan Villanueva, Danny Martinez and Jayden Godso
St. ROSE
BOYS TRACK AND FIELD
Head coach: Pete Casagrande, 12th season
Assistant coaches: Kaitlyn Lavender and Marissa Godynick
Key returners: Matt Ern, Isaiah Taylor, Danny Phipps, Gavin Monahan and Josh Huisman
Key newcomers: Max Lindung, Ryan Dudas, Andy Clark and Brian McKeon
Outlook: Ranked as the state’ stop shot putter, Huisman, a senior, will continue his career at the University of Michigan.
“The throwing squad looks especially strong and is led by Huisman,” Lavender said. “We should be competitive in Non-Public B in several events and we look to win the title.”
GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD
Head coach: Casagrande, 12th season
Assistant coaches: Lavender and Godynick
Ker returners: Fiona Olsen, Mary Laudien and Lily Lang
Key newcomers: McKinley Crowe and Madelyn DuBois
Outlook: Lauden will attend Fairfield University.
“We should be competitive in Non-Public B in several events,” Lavender said.
Contact Chris Christopher at cchristopher1259@gmailcom. Check Chris out on X (@cchristophernj) and Facebook (Chris Christopher).