For the first time in its history, the Jackson Memorial High School baseball team was playing toward two tournament championships in June.
Jackson Liberty High School catcher Korey McGuiness waits for Jackson Memorial’s James Volpe in a play at the plate during a Shore Conference Tournament semifinal game on May 26. The Jaguars beat the Lions, 7-5, to advance to the championship game. PHOTOS BY ERIC SUCAR On June 1 the Jaguars played Washington Township at Rider University, Lawrenceville, in an NJSIAA Group IV state tournament semifinal game. If the Jaguars won that game they will play in the Group IV state tournament championship game on June 5 in Toms River.
On June 2 the Jaguars played Toms River South in the championship game of the Shore Conference Tournament at FirstEnergy Park, Lakewood. The Jaguars won the first conference championship game in 1972.
All of this comes after Jackson won the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV state sectional championship over Manalapan, 5-1, on May 28 at home.
Alex Herceg’s teammates on the Jackson Memorial High School baseball team congratulate him after he hit a home run the during the Jaguars’ 7-5 victory over Jackson Liberty High School in a Shore Conference Tournament semifinal on May 26. “At this time everybody left is playing good and you see decent pitchers,” said Jackson Memorial coach Frank Malta, whose 24-5 team has surpassed the previous school record of 23 wins set in the 1984 season. “The great thing about this is that our guys have been challenged every day in the Shore Conference. They are not seeing anything they haven’t seen. Now it’s who plays the cleanest game (defensively). They have done a good job of capitalizing and making the most of the situation.”
“This is very cool. We definitely expected to be here,” said Jaguars’ pitcher Bryan Soloman.
The Jaguars have capitalized on their opportunities with the help of a power hitting lineup that has cranked out 45 home runs, an average of about 1.5 per game, with Soloman’s 12 home runs leading the way. Alex Herceg has hit six home runs and Joe Ogren and Matt Meleo each have hit five.
Meleo homered in the Shore Conference Tournament semifinals, a game-winning three-run blast with two out and two strikes on him as Jackson Memorial beat crosstown rival Jackson Liberty High School, 7-5, on May 26.
“He’s a very good player coming into his own in center field,” Malta said of Meleo. “We feel he’s one of the best ones in the conference.”
As for two teams from Jackson being locked in such a gritty contested game, Malta said, “It says a lot about the Little League programs in town at Jackson and Holbrook.”
Jackson Liberty, which finished its season at 18-6, had taken a 5-4 lead in the sixth inning on a two-run single by Alex Garced.
Soloman (5-3) was expected to start against Washington Township on June 1 and Joe Ogren, a sophomore, was expected to take his 3-0 pitching record into the June 2 game against Toms River South.
“We stunk in the Ocean County Tournament championship game and gave them opportunities,” Malta said of the Jaguars’ most recent loss to Toms River South.
As for the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV tournament, Jackson Memorial won its championship when Ian Booth’s three-run double to right center field on the first pitch thrown to him in the seventh inning sealed a 5-1 victory over Manalapan.
The victory over the Braves gave Jackson Memorial its first Central Jersey sectional title since the 2002 season.
“He (Booth) has done such a good job and they walked two people to get to him,” said Malta, referring to two intentional walks during the Jaguars’ four-run uprising that was capped by a run-scoring single by Cory Iampaglia.
Dan Falvo (6-1) used a fastball and change-up to limit Manalapan to five hits and only one run which scored in the first inning on a sacrifice fly. Falvo struck out seven and walked one.
“We have talked about lengthening the lineup and making it deep to the No. 7 hitter,” said Malta, referring to designated hitter Booth. “He (Booth) has had a lot of big hits. We have confidence in him capitalizing on opportunities.”
Soloman started the winning rally in the Central Jersey Group IV title game with a single and Brandon Adams bunted him to second. Ogren was walked intentionally. That was followed by a passed ball in which Manalapan coach Brian Boyce said afterward he was thinking, “Now we’re in trouble.” Herceg also was walked intentionally, bringing Booth to the plate.
“When he’s going good, he’s hitting the ball all over,” Malta commented after the game.