The Jersey Shore entry in the annual Carpenter Cup Classic baseball tournament is off to a 2-0 start under coach Cip Apicelli and will play its remaining games at Citizens Bank Stadium in Philadelphia.
The 16-team tournament was started in 1986 to promote high school players from the Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware areas. It is named for former Phillies owners Bob and Ruly Carpenter.
Apicelli, the head coach at Ocean Township High School, leads a team that is composed of players from the Shore Conference. It’s his first season as head coach of the Carpenter Cup squad after having served as an assistant for the past three years.
The Jersey Shore team opened with a 12- 7 win over Chester County, Pa. Catcher Matt Theiss of Jackson Memorial High School rapped out a home run and a pair of doubles to drive in three runs, and Red Bank Catholic (RBC) High School’s Al Molina went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Kyle Cala of Brick Memorial High School also went 2-for-3 and scored a pair of runs, and Freehold Township High School’s Chris Talbot contributed a two-run double.
On the mound, Brian Cottrell of Brick Memorial went three innings, Tyler Pallante of Jackson Liberty went two innings, striking out four, while Karl Blum (Toms River High School North), Rich Power (Monsignor Donovan High School), Brad Currao (St. Rose High School) and Tom Broyles (Monmouth Regional High School) pitched an inning apiece in the win.
In its second game, Apicelli’s team faced the Inter-AC Independents and came away with a 13-1 victory. Thiess went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and an RBI single to pace the offense. Christian Brothers Academy’s Mike Caputo had three hits and two RBIs, Matt Kleinstein of Colts Neck High School poked a pair of doubles and scored twice, and Tyler Iannarone of Brick Township High School went 2-for-3, driving home two runs.
Freehold High School’s Jake Yanez went three innings, then Tyler Swiggart (Wall High School), Power, Currao, Blum, and Broyles took it from there. Apicelli’s pitchers allowed just eight hits and struck out 10.
The first two games were played at Ashburn Field, which is adjacent to Citizens Bank Park, where the quarterfinals through finals will be played.
“It’s a great tournament and the guys who play have a lot of fun. I know I did when I was on the team,” Apicelli said. “You play against these guys all year and now you get to play alongside them and get to know them. It’s a great experience, particularly playing in Citizens Bank Park.”
Apicelli said players are nominated for the team by Shore Conference coaches and that each of the conference’s divisions is represented.
Other members of the team are Anthony Santoro and Evan Pietranico (St. John Vianney High School), Matt Kurdewan (RBC), Spencer Young (Jackson Memorial), Andrew Mehr (Ocean Township), Joe Iacobellis (RBC), Ryan Wares (Howell High School), Matt Guarino (Jackson Memorial), Joe Sadler (Holmdel High School), Nick Cordare (Freehold Township), Ryan Ramiz (CBA), Jason Lundy (Freehold) and Russell Mesler (Toms River High School South).
The Jersey Shore team was scheduled to meet Mercer County on June 24.