By Wayne Witkowski
It was a triumphant ending for the Christian Brothers Academy (CBA) baseball team.
While the Colts’ season ended earlier than expected, the way the season closed was satisfying enough for the players, coach Marty Kenny and in achievement of a milestone victory for pitcher Luca Dalatri.
The right-hander became the Shore’s Conference’s all-time leader in wins at 35-2 when he scattered six hits in CBA’s 2-0 victory over Middletown High School South at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood June 8 for the Shore Conference Tournament championship.
Cid Porter, a Middletown resident, lashed a run-scoring single to center field in the second inning, and that was all Dalatri needed. He struck out 10 and did not walk a batter, as CBA ended its season at 21-9.
His victory eclipsed the 10-year-old record of former Toms River High School East star and current Rutgers University assistant coach Casey Gaynor.
Dalatri remains committed to his scholarship offer from the University of North Carolina after he was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 40th and final round of Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft. He was the 1,190th overall pick.
Dalatri ended his senior season with a 6-0 record and a 0.58 ERA, bolstered by 105 strikeouts and only three walks.
Teammate and batterymate Brandon Martorano also committed to North Carolina after he was selected in the 30th round by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He was the 899th overall selection. On the season, Martorano batted .490 with five home runs and 22 RBIs.
Although CBA hoped to return to defend its NJSIAA Non-Public A title, it was knocked out by St. Augustine Preparatory School, 8-3, in the quarterfinals May 31. But Dalatri would not let that tarnish the season.
“It was nice to be part of this atmosphere. I’m lucky to be a part of it,” Dalatri said after the game.
Dalatri threw 90 pitches after giving up an untypically high number of hits. He ended a bases-loaded threat with none out in the first inning with two strikeouts and by coaxing Zach Schild into a groundout to short.
“Even though this year did not end like last year, this team won the Shore Conference Tournament three years in a row, the Monmouth County Tournament three years in a row and beating Middletown South. And I live in [Middletown] … and watching Luca pitch has been amazing. To be in the lineup when he set the record is such a privilege,” Porter said.
“I’m still disappointed that it was not the way we wanted it to go without a state title, but we won two others and the Shore Conference A North, and it was a great way to end my career here,” Martorano said. “Luca was great. He had command of his fastball, curve, changeup and slider. He had command of the strike zone very well. He’s incredible.”
Kenny was a little more philosophical about the ending of the season for his team.
“It was a good year,” Kenny said. “I told them for us to duplicate what we did last year was asking too much for five championships. What they achieved is a credit to how hard they worked.”
It was the fourth time that CBA played and beat Middletown South this season. Playing the same team four times has happened only three times in Kenny’s long coaching career. CBA also played Middletown High School North four times this year and won three of those games.
“We had a great season — nothing to be shamed of,” said Middletown South coach Ryan Spillane, whose Eagles finished 23-6. “I thought we prepared well, but they played a little better with [Dalatri] on the mound. We gave it our best shot.”
Jon Martin got the start for Middletown South. He threw 96 pitches in six innings, as CBA came out aggressive at the plate, forcing many deep pitching counts. Three dazzling diving plays by Tom Frandsen in right field, Tom Gannon in center and Johnny Zega at shortstop for Middletown South prevented worse damage.
CBA’s cleanup hitter, Nick Hohenstein, lined a double that drove in Martorano, who singled, with the insurance run. He ended the season batting a team-best .521 with 18 RBIs.
Dalatri, meanwhile, fell behind only six times on the count, while Spillane second-guessed that maybe he should not have held at third base Gannon in the first inning. Gannon led off the game with a single, moved to second when Jeremy Joyce reached on a fielder’s choice and Zega ripped a single past third base as Gannon was stopped at third. Dalatri then ended the threat.
To top it off, Dalatri was the only player on the night to have two hits.