CHRIS KELLY staff The Freehold Clippers Dan Lanzano, an former East Brunswick High School star, fires a pitch during an ABCCL game at Michael Tighe Park in Freehold Township. With the summer heat upon us, action in the Atlantic Baseball Confederation Collegiate League (ABCCL) wood-bat baseball league is beginning to sizzle once again.
Some the nation’s top collegiate ballplayers have descended upon the Shore area to play in the ninth ABCCL season, while many of the top local players have returned to their hometowns to play for one of the league’s eight teams.
This year’s Jersey Shore Tides roster includes several local players, including Holmdel’s Chris Kapsales (a junior infielder at Niagra University), Marty Cecire (a freshman infielder at Ramapo College) and Amabile (a junior pitcher at The College of New Jersey), as well as Middletown’s Matt Miller (a sophomore infielder at Middlesex Community College) and Chris Messa (a freshman infielder at College Misericordia in Pennsylvania), Hazlet’s Alex Mautone (a senior infielder at Wesleyan University), and Old Bridge’s Mike Rossi (a junior pitcher at Centenary College).
The Tides are coached by Jeremy Milonas, who is assisted by Hy Gumnitz and Chris Seibert. Peter Kapsales is the team’s general manager.
The Ocean Giants, coached by Dave Yorke, have Raritan’s Keith Kwiatek (a junior outfielder for Kean University) on their roster, as well as Howell’s Matt Watson (a sophomore pitcher/third baseman at Wagner College), Middletown’s Dan Gallagher (a sophomore at Marist University), Manalapan’s Pete Delleani (a sophomore infielder at Wagner College), and RBC graduate Kyle Bradley of Howell (a freshman pitcher at Rutgers).
The Freehold Clippers feature a slew of local players this year, including Middletown’s Pat Rogers (a senior infielder at Wagner College) and Chris Yamaguchi (a sophomore pitcher at Bucknell University); Jackson’s Bruce Reibis (a junior infielder at Rowan University), Dan Morvay (a junior catcher at Wagner) and Pete Doherty (a junior pitcher at St. Francis University); Allentown’s Matt Grinkevich (a sophomore pitcher at Kean University); Hazlet’s Mike Nunes (a junior infielder at Montclair State University); Colts Neck’s Sean Driscoll (a sophomore pitcher at Bucknell); and East Brunswick’s Dan Lanzano (a senior pitcher at Wagner).
The Clippers are coached by Anthony Piccola, while the general manager is John Morvay.
The Wall Angels, coached by Sal Palmieri, include a trio of Monmouth University players – sophomore infielder Kyle Higgins, sophomore pitcher Tim Ballard (from Sayreville) and sophomore first baseman Rick Niederhaus – as well Holmdel’s Vincent Foley (a sophomore third baseman from Brookdale), Brick’s Kevin Gambrino (a sophomore shortstop at Moravian College, Pa.), Howell’s Kevin Barrett (a senior pitcher at Felician College), Oceanport’s Dennis Chachko (a sophomore pitcher at Niagara University) and his brother Brett (a junior at Central Connecticut State University), Tinton Fall’s Maurice Williams (a sophomore outfielder at Rider University), Manasquan’s Ryan Jefray (a sophomore pitcher at Brookdale), and Freehold’s Casey Walko (a sophomore catcher at Central Connecticut State).
The Middletown Monarchs’ roster includes CBA graduate Kevin Lillis of Fair Haven (a sophomore pitcher at Rutgers), as well as Colts Neck’s John Minio (a junior infielder at Drew University) and Atlantic Highlands’ Nick Ricker (a pitcher from Brookdale Community College). The Monarchs are coached by Jim Duffy, while Monique Koehler, the league’s commissioner, is the general manager.
Monmouth University’s Mike Casale, a sophomore infielder from Toms River, is playing for the Toms River Black Sox, along with CBA grad Chris Lillis (a senior pitcher at Rutgers) and South River’s Harry Douglas (a sophomore infielder at Harvard University.
Brick’s Efrain Velazquez, a senior infielder at Caldwell College, is playing for the Manchester Yankees this summer, along with Manalapan’s Mike Santoro (a senior catcher at Villanova University), Red Bank’s Matt Hicks (a senior outfielder at Drew), Freehold’s Matt Coulson (a senior pitcher at Monmouth University), and Brookdale’s Joe Schiettino.
Manalapan’s Chris Raniere, a senior infielder at Alvernia College in Pennsylvania, is also in the league, playing for the Protocall Starz.
As has become tradition, the 2006 ABCCL All-Star Game will be held July 22 at FirstEnergy Park in Lakewood, home of the Philadelphia Phillies’ Class A affiliate Lakewood BlueClaws. The game will feature standout players from each of ABCCL’s eight teams in a special 10-inning contest designed to showcase their
talents for Major League Baseball scouts. The day will include a special workout prior to the game conducted the Majo League Scouting Bureau. Scout workout begins at 11 a.m.
The All-Star Game starting time is scheduled for 1 p.m. Admission to both events is $5 and is a fully tax-deductible donation to the Going to Bat for Brian fund. This year’s game is also a fundraiser on behalf of New Jersey State trooper Brian Malast, who was seriously injured in the line of duty in October of last year and is still undergoing extensive rehabilitation. All donations from the Going to Bat for Brian fundraiser will go directly to the Malast family to help pay for rehabilitation services and equipment that Brian will need to continue his recovery when he returns home.