Tides looking like team to beat in ABCCL play

LAKEWOOD — As summer is heating up, so are the Jersey Shore Tides.

The Tides, one of several local representatives in the ABC Collegiate League, a wood bat league, won three of its four games last week, raising its league-leading record to 12-4.

They had an 11-game winning streak ended in the second game of Sunday’s doubleheader against Lakewood Prep by a score of 4-3, but remain in first place in the ABCCL.

Last Tuesday, the Tides beat the Ocean Giants, 7-1. Dallas Sims (Lincoln Trail College, Illinois) and Brielle’s Dave Imperato (Virginia Weslyan) combined to hold the Giants to one run on four hits. The Tides offense was provided by Dumont’s Angel Aponte (Manhattan College), Holmdel’s Mike Pahira (Pace University, New York), and Dumont’s Sean Abate (University of Pennsylvania), each getting two hits, including a double.

PHOTOS BY CHRIS KELLY staff Marlboro’s Chris Contrino (above left) lashes a base hit during the Jersey Shore Tides’ win at Lakewood Prep on Sunday. Along with some solid offense, the Tides got some solid pitching from Holmdel’s NickAmabile (above) and Brielle’s David Imperato (below left).

On Thursday, the Tides beat the Protocol Starz, 5-2. Pitching for the Tides was Abate, Brick’s Steve Holt (Rutgers), Green Brook’s Brian Searls (Manhattan), and Justin Green (Olney Central, Illinois). Will Benoit (University of Dayton) knocked in two runs with a base hit. Marlboro’s Craig Rodwogin (Columbia University, New York), Holmdel’s Chris Kapsales (Brookdale Community College), Pahira, and Nick Pulos (University of Pennsylvania) each had two hits for the Tides.

On Sunday, the Tides played a doubleheader against the Lakewood Prep Cougars, winning the first contest, 5-0, but losing the second game 4-3. The Tides ran an 11-game winning streak before the tough-luck loss ended it.

In the first game, the Tides’ pitchers limited the Cougars to only three hits and held them scoreless throughout the contest. Holt and Erik Johanson (Tufts Univer-sity, Massachusetts) pitched three scoreless innings each. Holmdel’s Nick Amabile (The College of New Jersey), Imperato, and Sims each pitched a scoreless inning to finish the game. Marlboro’s Chris Contrino (Brown University, Rhode Island) led the offense with two hits and two RBIs. Benoit, Pulos, and Pahira also had RBIs, and Kapsales added two hits and a run scored.

In the second game, the Tides offense could not generate enough clutch hits to overcome a 4-0 lead by the Cougars. The Tides came back with three runs, led by Pahira, who had a single, a double, two RBIs, and a run scored. Marlboro’s Jason Gumnitz (The College of New Jersey) added a double and a run scored. Justin Green threw 4 2/3 innings of hitless ball for the Tides to keep the game close.

The Tides play their home games at Holmdel High School. Check www.abccl.com for the updated schedule. League games are played every Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday, mostly throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties.

This week, the Tides were scheduled to take on the Protocall Starz on Tuesday at Hartford Crossing, and will be back in action tomorrow at Holmdel when they will host the Manchester Yankees, a team that features a number of local products, including Red Bank Regional graduate Mike Young (now at Seton Hall), Lakewood’s Joe Schietino (Brookdale), Middletown North grad Rob Ogorzat (Monmouth University), Manalapan’s Justin Cocliff (Rider University), Ocean’s Larry Samples (Middlesex County College), Oceanport’s Mike Spahr (Quinnipiac University, Connecticut), and Brick’s Mike Downs and Efrain Velazquez (both at Caldwell College).

Then on Saturday, the Tides will travel to HealthQuest Park in Hunterdon County to take on the Middletown Monarchs, who feature Middletown natives Eric D’Alessandro (Rider), Justin Distler (Drew University) and Matt Inzerillo (Montclair State University).