Typically, when St. John Vianney and Red Bank Catholic meet up for a game, in any sport, it’s a competitive contest.
Such was the case Friday morning, when the Lancers visited the Caseys’ new turf field and scored a 4-1 Shore Conference Class A Central victory, thanks to several big hits.
The first of those occurred in the top of the third inning. The Lancers (2-0, 2-0) jumped out to a 3-0 lead after winning pitcher Kate Beriont doubled to right field with two outs and went to third on a single by Erica Krumbine, before junior catcher Kate Baron slugged the first pitch she saw over the left-field fence for a three-run home run.
RBC (1-1, 1-1) cut the deficit to two when Sarah Dnistrian, who went 2-for-3, swatted a solo homer to left-center during the bottom of the third. But Beriont, who allowed four hits and no walks while striking out 11, kept the Caseys at bay the rest of the way while her teammates added another run in the seventh.
The Lancers’ Amanda Durham went 4-for-4 while teammate Jackie Gallagher delivered two hits and a sacrifice fly for an RBI.
The victory gave SJV coach Kim Lombardi, who is in her ninth season, the 200th of her career.
MANASQUAN 4, LACEY 3 (10): The Warriors needed extra innings to get by the Lions, as Quinn Saito scored from second on a Katie Barnes double to right-center to tie the game, before Allyson Latourette singled to right to score Barnes with the game-winner in a nondivisional contest.
Manasquan (2-0) scored a run in the third to grab the lead, but the Lions (1-2) bounced back in the sixth with a pair of runs to snag the advantage heading into the bottom of the sixth, when the Warriors knotted the game at 2-2.
Winning pitcher Olivia Galinis, who had eight strikeouts and five walks, went 2-for-4 at the plate, while Barnes was 2-for-5.
For Lacey, Paula Szcypinski swatted two doubles in three at-bats, while Emily Dezendorf and Jackie Quinn each registered two hits.
MARLBORO 6, MANALAPAN 4: In a tie game heading into the seventh, freshman Jessica Zwerin led off with a walk and scored on consecutive throwing errors, before senior Sam Brinskelle scored Brianna Brienza with an insurance run on a sacrifice fly to right field, as the Mustangs came back to win the A North contest.
Junior Brooke Kaminsky, who went 2-for-3, blasted a two-run homer to right field to give Marlboro (3-0, 3-0) a first-inning lead, but the Braves (0-3, 0-3) rebounded with four runs in the bottom of the fifth to grab the lead. The Mustangs then tied the game with two runs in the top of the sixth.
Brinskelle had eight strikeouts and three walks from the pitcher’s circle.
For Manalapan, Chandler Matcovich, Jamie Denza and Cara Settnni each went 2-for-3.
RED BANK 13, POINT BORO 5: Sophomore pitcher Katie Serkus went 4-for-5 with five RBI and a pair of doubles, and fanned six while allowing five hits and four walks, to lead the Bucs to a nondivisional victory.
Tied 3-3 heading into the fourth, Red Bank (3-0) scored six times to break open the game. Kaylee Hartman, Briana Calabrese and Niki Lauro each drilled two hits for the Bucs.
HOWELL 15, COLTS NECK 6: Senior first baseman Kelly Hardiman was 3-for-4 with a double, homer, walk and three RBI, and Julia Moscato and Lauren Lord each had two hits with a double, as the Rebels earned their first victory of the season in a Class A North clash.
Howell (1-2, 1-2) jumped out to a 7-0 lead before the Cougars scored twice in the bottom of the second. For Colts Neck, Emily DeSimone and Molly Jackson each had two hits.
MIDD. NORTH 9, FREEHOLD TWP. 1: The Lions tallied eight hits en route to their first victory of the season, as they handed the Patriots their first loss in three games. Junior pitcher Audrie Thomas fanned five and allowed five hits and three walks for the victory, while freshman Christine Gebhardt went 2-for-4 and belted a two-run homer in the first to put the Lions ahead to stay. Sophomore Nicole Alfano swatted a two-run double in the fourth to make it 4-0.
TR NORTH 10, JACKSON LIB. 1: Junior third baseman Sam Reilly slammed a solo homer to lead off the game for a second straight day, and the Mariners added a run when Taylor Ward singled in Brielle Perrotta with the second run, as North rolled to a nondivisional victory. Reilly, who also walked twice, later whacked another solo homer to left in the fifth to make it 8-1. Perrotta was 3-for-5, while winning pitcher Ashley Hussey struck out three and walked one.
WALL 11, OCEAN 1: Junior catcher Dani Petrone, who belted 14 home runs last season, got off to a hot start this season in the Crimson Knights’ opener, slugging two homers, including a three-run blast to right-center in her first at-bat. In the sixth, Petrone hit a two-run bomb, again to right-center, ending up with five RBI. Meanwhile, Sydney Canessa, Katie Kilgallen and Emily Mullen each added two hits for Wall. Jackie Howarth fanned two and walked one for her first varsity win. Ocean’s Gianna Kinhofer smacked a solo homer in the sixth.
ST. ROSE 17, KEANSBURG 1: Senior Sara Case was 5-for-5 with a three-run triple as part of a seven-run, second-inning barrage, and senior pitcher Kaitlyn Kretzmer fanned eight and allowed five hits, as the Purple Roses started off their season with a B Central victory over the Titans. Kretzmer also went 3-for-5 at the plate.
HOLMDEL 17, SHORE 2: Junior third baseman Aimee Mnich had a pair of hits, including a double, and sophomore pitcher Ashley Wong earned her first victory as she registered five strikeouts while allowing three hits and a walk in five innings, and the Hornets rolled to the A Central win. Holmdel (1-2, 1-2) held a 7-2 lead into the seventh before adding 10 runs to complete the rout.
