With four teams left, Brick American looked to stay alive in the Barnegat-Waretown 9-year-old Little League baseball tournament when it played Toms River East American at 5:45 p.m. last night.
After reeling off three victories earlier in the week, manager Steve Nash’s Brick American team lost on Sunday to Barnegat, 5-2, despite the fine pitching of Michael Cook, who allowed three hits with eight strikeouts. Ryan Civello had two hits and drove in a run, and Mike Staub and Ray Triano scored the runs.
Brick American had scored over 10 runs in each of its three prior games.
It started with an 11-10 victory over Holbrook of Jackson early in the week, as Guy Corrubia drilled a run-scoring double in the fifth inning that gave the Americans an 11-9 lead. Mike Martone smashed a two-run triple, and Vince Lombardi, Civello and Cook each had two hits. Kevin Nilsen pitched the victory and Andrew LaMura got the save.
LaMura then pitched a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts and Mike Salerno clubbed two hits for two RBIs as Brick American trimmed Lacey, 12-0.
It was followed by an 11-0 blowout of Point Pleasant, as Nilsen hurled a no-hitter with six strikeouts and no walks. Spencer Cohen batted in two runs and Joe Civello knocked in another. They each had two hits.