BY MIKE WHITE
Staff Writer
JACKSON — The Jersey Shore Bombers, an under-14 travel baseball team, finished the spring season in the USABL with a regular season mark of 10-0. That earned the Bombers a berth into the playoffs, where they advanced to the semifinals before finally bowing out.
Bombers coach George Guarino is hoping his team can play with the same intensity as the summer season gets under way.
"We played very fundamentally sound baseball during the spring season," coach Guarino said. "We made the plays we were supposed to make and we hit in key situations. It was really nice to be a part of watching the team grow together. This group of boys has been working together for a couple of years now. All the hard work and dedication is starting to payoff."
The Bombers are off to a solid 3-1 start in the summer season. The team defeated the Jersey Shore Wave, 15-2, last weekend in a game that was shortened to six innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.
"We hope to continue to play at a high level," Guarino said. "So far we have looked very good in the summer season. If our pitching continues to be as solid as it has been through the first four games, we’re looking at having another stellar campaign."
In the win over the Wave, the Bombers pounded out 12 hits and erupted for eight runs in the first three innings to build what appeared to be an insurmountable lead.
"We jumped on them quick in this game," Guarino said. "We mixed in some key hits with a couple of their mistakes. We have been very good at taking advantage when a team makes a mistake against us. We have the confidence to cash in on scoring opportunities."
Steve Spino led the offensive assault, going 2 for 2 with two RBIs. In addition, Spino smacked a solo home run in the fifth inning. Teammate Brendan Stilwell poked a pair of doubles and finished with a game-high four runs batted in.
Rob Burke had two hits and two RBIs, while Ken Passarelli and Ryan Guarino each contributed a pair of hits.
"We had the bats working in this game," Guarino said. "It was a total team effort. We had a number of different guys chip in and make this win possible."
Stilwell pitched six strong innings, scattering five hits and striking out seven.
"He had command right from the start," Guarino said. "He stayed ahead in the count and made them put the ball in play. Our defense did a solid job behind him. If we make the routine plays, then we’re going to be fine."
The Bombers are scheduled to host Manchester at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Justice Complex. On Sunday, the Bombers travel to Holmdel to square off against the Monmouth Hawks.
A few weeks ago, the Bombers finished fifth out of 18 teams at the Sports at the Beach Jubilee, held at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Competing against teams from all over the northeast, the Bombers won three out of four games.
The Bombers knocked off teams from Virginia, Maryland and Delaware.
"We were quite happy with the way the kids performed at that event," Guarino said. "We didn’t know what kind of competition we would be going up against."
Offensively, the Bombers had no trouble scoring runs. Stilwell led all batters with a gaudy .667 average. Stilwell was 8 for 12 with 6 RBIs.
"He had a great tournament for us," Guarino said. "He was using all parts of the field."
Ryan Guarino was 5 for 9 with four RBI and Kevin Scattergood finished with six runs batted in. Scattergood also was the winning pitcher in two of the Bombers’ victories.
Guarino cited the fine defensive play of Don Murphy, Craig Turner, Roger Cooney, Cory Johnson, Ed Jennings and Joe Abarno.
"Right now we’re playing with a lot of confidence," Guarino said. "We still have a number of weeks left with the summer season. We want to remain focused and finish as strong as we did in the spring."