The month of May is here, and with its arrival, scholastic sports continue to roll on.
Here is a look at who has been sparkling on the local athletic fields and tracks.
Hitting the baseball fields …
Monmouth Regional High School rung up three victories this past week behind the fine overall play of Paul Birzin.
On May 1, Birzin took to the mound where he pitched a two-hitter, struck out six and issued three walks while also picking up two hits in Monmouth Regional’s 6-2 victory over Manasquan High School. On the following afternoon, Birzin connected on a three-run home run and scored twice and Falcons teammate Josh Jackson socked a solo homer to guide Monmouth Regional past Long Branch High School, 12-2. Monmouth Regional pulled out a 5-4 victory May 3 against Middletown High School North when Birzin came through once again. He drove in one run, and winner Charlie Kelly scattered nine hits.
The pitching performance of the week came May 1 from the strong arm of Tyler Burnham. The East Brunswick High School ace fired a no-hitter and struck out 10 while walking two in a 4-0 shutout over South Brunswick High School. Burnham also contributed at the plate with two hits and a run batted in.
Jack Povey delivered a fine pitching effort as well for Red Bank Regional High School. He allowed three hits and struck out eight when Red Bank Regional knocked off Ocean Township High School, 5-1.
Spotswood High School claimed the Blue Division championship in the Greater Middlesex Conference when the Chargers defeated Middlesex High School, 4-1, May 2. Helping send Spotswood to the division title was Nick Vincelli, who hit a two-run double, and Mike Izzo, who slugged a solo home run.
Raritan High School flexed its offensive muscle when the Rockets pounded a 13-5 victory over Holmdel High School. The hitting leaders for Raritan were Jake Tennant, who finished with three hits and five RBIs, and Dan Vanmeerbeke, who recorded four hits and two runs scored.
Robby Zega came through with four hits and three runs scored, and then he earned the save on the mound when he secured Middletown High School South’s 8-7 decision over Wall High School.
Mark Ventre slugged a homer and ended with three RBIs when he led Marlboro High School to an 8-5 victory over Howell High School. Howell bounced back a day later May 3 when the Rebels held off Freehold Township High School, 5-4. Nick Rusczyk collected two hits and two RBIs and Dylan Beyer registered the save for Howell when he induced the final two outs with the bases loaded in the seventh inning.
Freehold Township opened the week with a victory May 1 when the Patriots blanked Manalapan High School, 5-0. Freehold Township was paced in that victory by Ryan Ford, who socked a two-run homer run, and Nick Coluccio, who slammed a solo homer.
Kyle Angle was the hitting star for Saint Joseph High School in Metuchen during the Falcons’ 15-1 victory over Perth Amboy High School. Angel ended with two hits, including a home run, and three RBIs. Then two days later May 4, Angel produced once again when he recorded two hits and three RBIs in Saint Joseph’s 6-0 triumph over Sayreville War Memorial High School.
His hitting supported the shutout pitched by the Falcons’ Ryan Stamm, who limited Sayreville to just three hits, while he struck out six and did not issue a walk.
North Brunswick Township High School rolled to a 12-2 victory over John P. Stevens High School behind the bat of Danny Reardon, who delivered two hits and four RBIs.
The keen eye of Chris Reeder enabled Allentown High School to pull out a 3-2 victory over Holy Cross High School. Reeder drew three walks on the day, with the final one coming in the bottom of the 10th inning with the bases loaded. That walk snapped a tie and gave Allentown the triumph. Ryan Huth, who pitched the final four innings to earn the victory, paced the Redbirds with three hits and a run batted in.
Tom Collazo produced four hits, four RBIs and two runs scored when he guided Matawan Regional High School past Shore Regional High School, 13-3.
Freehold High School rode the arm and bat of Tom Holdorf to defeat Manalapan, 9-2. Holdorf pitched a four-hitter and hit three doubles to drive in three runs.
Dillion Pellecchia was masterful on the hill for Colts Neck High School when he threw a two-hitter in his team’s 6-0 victory over Freehold Township.
Over to the softball diamond …
Meghan Conroy delivered on the mound and at the plate when she guided Jackson Liberty High School past Point Pleasant Borough High School, 14-1, May 1.
Conroy was the winning pitcher, while she recorded three hits, including a home run, two RBIs and three runs scored. Contributing to the victory for Jackson Liberty was Brianna Holder, who finished with three hits, including a homer, and two RBIs.
Also producing with her arm and her bat was Emily Savicky of Keyport High School. Savicky connected on a homer, which resulted in the game’s only run, and she amassed 16 strikeouts when Keyport edged Keansburg High School, 1-0.
Savicky was at it again two days later May 4 when she struck out seven over seven innings in Keyport’s 6-3 decision over Henry Hudson Regional High School.
Howell posted a dramatic victory when the Rebels knocked off Freehold Township, 5-4. That game was settled when Stephanie Maxson connected on a two-run homer in the last of the seventh inning to rally Howell from a one-run deficit.
Erynn Boyle also offered a strikeout pitch when she chalked up 10 whiffs in pitching Raritan to 9-0 victory over Shore Regional.
Mater Dei Prep erupted on offense in a 17-1 victory over Saint Rose High School. The offensive stalwarts for Mater Dei were Kaylee Anthony and Sam Nalpoli, who combined on seven hits, seven RBIs and five runs scored.
South Brunswick High School relied on a balanced attack to post a 9-7 victory over J.P. Stevens. Haley Grossi, Emily Collins and Jaime Klimas each drove in two runs, while Grossi also homered to lead the Vikings.
Anna Curreiri recorded two hits and three RBIs when she guided East Brunswick past Piscataway Township High School, 10-6.
Jenna Thoret came up with two RBIs in Monroe Township High School’s 3-2 triumph over Old Bridge High School. Old Bridge posted a triumph the day before its loss to Monroe when the Knights stormed past Piscataway, 14-2. Nia Carrasco led the offense for Old Bridge with two hits and three RBIs.
Kayla Gallo produced a home run when she anchored the 12-2 triumph scored by Middletown North over Red Bank Catholic High School.
Demi Rivera amassed 15 strikeouts on the mound and contributed to the attack with two hits and two RBIs in leading Saint John Vianney High School to an 8-0 victory over Keyport.
Running to the track …
Hats off to the Old Bridge boys and the South Brunswick girls, who each won the Greater Middlesex Conference Relays championships May 4 at South Brunswick.
Old Bridge was steered by its star runner, Rey Rivera, while South Brunswick was sparked by its outstanding thrower, Miranda Irizarry.
Rivera contributed to winning efforts in the 4×1,600-meter relay and the distance medley relay. Irizarry anchored three throwing titles: shot put, discus and javelin.
On the lacrosse fields …
Connor Macrae pumped in five goals when he steered Christian Brothers Academy to a 19-5 victory over Howell in boys’ lacrosse play.
Brittany Bruno recorded four goals and one assist and Elizabeth Scarrone connected on four goals when they led Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School past Freehold Township, 12-5.