Monmouth squad falls to Ocean in All-Star game
Ocean All-Stars use
late-inning rally to
thwart local boys
By Doug mckenzie

JERRY WOLKOWITZ Middletown High School South first baseman Steve Sakosits registers a putout during the AMerican Legion All-Star game at Monmouth Regional High School on Sunday.

Sunday’s American Legion All-Star game at Monmouth Regional High School contained a little bit of everything, as the Ocean County team managed to score seven unanswered runs in the last two innings to beat the squad from Monmouth.

The Ocean County team prevailed by a score of 13-11, after trailing for much of the game behind some timely hitting and defensive miscues from their opponents.

Ocean County’s Jeff Frazier was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after he hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth inning to put his team ahead, and then proceeded to shut down the Monmouth County team’s offense for the last two innings to preserve the win.

With a score as high as 13-11, one would assume that the game was filled with over-powering hitting. However, both teams manufactured most of their runs through walks, errors and fielders’ choices.

JERRY WOLKOWITZ CBA catcher Louis Santangelo, of Colts Neck, keeps an eye on a baserunner during Sunday’s American Legion All-Star game.

The Monmouth County team, for example, used a balanced amount of hits and walks to build an 11-6 lead going in to the eighth inning. Ocean County pitchers walked a total of nine Monmouth County players over the course of the first seven innings.

Among some of the players who contributed to Monmouth’s offensive attack were Manalapan’s Christopher Legiadreu, a third baseman who went 2 for 3, with a single, a double, two walks and two runs scored; Middletown North outfielder Cory Smith, who went 2 for 5 with two singles, three runs scored and two stolen bases; Middletown South infielder Steve Sakosits, Wall Township’s Anthony Tomaro, and Holmdel infielder Jon Rue, each with a single.

However, the Ocean County team was also successful at taking advantage of their opponents’ miscues, capitalizing on six Monmouth County errors and a pair of walks to score six runs through seven innings.

However, it was the eighth inning when the Monmouth County squad unraveled, allowing the Ocean County All-Stars to score five times to tie the game.

During the eighth inning, Monmouth County issued four walks and committed an error which helped to spark the inning. Ocean’s Matt Martin delivered the biggest blow when he banged a two-RBI double.

After the team from Ocean tied the game, Frazier came in and recorded a one-two-three bottom of the eighth, paving the way for Ocean’s lead in the ninth.

Ocean’s Rich Carr walked in the ninth, and trotted home after Frazier delivered the deciding two-run home run.

Frazier then closed out the game by recording his second consecutive one-two-three inning.

Despite the loss, the Monmouth County players played a strong game, competing up until the last out was recorded.

In addition, several players may have improved their chances of playing baseball at the next level due to the presence of a number of scouts at the game.

Scouts from the Colorado Rockies, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Francisco Giants were seen at the game, pointing their radar guns at various pitchers from both teams.

Several college scouts were also in attendance from schools such as Rutgers University, Montclair State University, Kean University, Seton Hall University and Monmouth University.

According to Mike Kalb, the official scorekeeper for the Monmouth County squad, everyone in attendance witnessed a good game played by some exceptional players.

"There was a lot of see-sawing back and forth, and, in the end, Ocean had the big hits," he said. "But both teams played well."

Legiadreu was named the Monmouth County team’s MVP for his offensive numbers, while Ed Kunder took the MVP honors for the Ocean County team.

The remainder of the Monmouth County team consisted of Freehold Township outfielder Ryan Dyer and catcher Matthew Yucisin; Wall Township pitcher Michale Hughes; CBA pitcher/shortstop Christopher Contrino and catcher Louis Santangelo; Manalapan catcher Even Sliwoski; Middletown North pitcher/infielder Aaron Kalb and pitcher/third baseman Ryan McCabe; Holmdel outfielder Mike Pahira, Ocean Township catcher Adam Smith, shortstop Cipriano Appicelli and pitcher Thomas Siciliano; and Middletown South pitcher/infielder Kevin Dudzinski.