Just chalk it up as another historic day for Toms River East senior pitcher Jordan Weed.
Not only did Weed swat the 100th hit of her career while going 2-for-3 with three RBI, she fanned 21 Hawks during a perfect-game effort, as the Raiders cruised to a 9-0 victory in an Ocean County Tournament first-round matchup with Manchester. In her first at-bat, Weed delivered an RBI single for career hit No. 100 during a five-run inning for East (7-3).
“It was little nerve-racking, but it was exciting,” Weed said of tossing the “perfect-perfect” game. “It was crazy, because you get to the seventh inning and there’s two outs, and you’re just thinking, ‘Holy Christmas, is this really happening?’ It’s just a crazy moment but a lot of fun.”
Later in the game, East teammate Sarah Benvicenga slugged her third hit of the contest — a solo home run in the fourth — for the 100th of her career as well. Bencivenga also whacked a double.
“It’s really cool to have all that happen on the same day,” Weed said. “I’m proud of Sarah. It was a great day for a couple of us seniors.”
MONMOUTH 4, MANASQUAN 3 (10 INN): After tying the game in the bottom of the fifth inning and holding Manasquan scoreless in the top of the 10th, Monmouth Regional made the most of its opportunity in the bottom of the 10th to score a big victory over Manasquan in a Shore Conference Class A Central contest.
With Kayla Hueston on second base to start the Falcons’ at-bat, Taylor Hager singled to put runners on the corners before Jade Eggleston, who was 3-for-5, reached on an infield hit to jam the bases. After a strikeout to the next batter, Alexandra Montefinese hit a fly ball to right field that allowed Hueston to tag up and score the game-winner.
For the Warriors (3-3, 2-3), Allyson Latourette went 4-for-5.
SJ VIANNEY 9, RARITAN 1: Junior pitcher Kate Beriont allowed three hits and four walks while fanning 12, and Amanda Durham drilled a two-run home run in the top of the third to make it a 4-1 game, and the Lancers cruised to the A Central victory. Vianney (7-1, 6-0) added two runs in the fifth, one in the sixth and two more in the seventh to secure the win. Helena Coppola swatted an RBI double with two outs in the fifth to make it a five-run margin. Nicole Coppolino went 2-for-3 for the Rocekts (6-4, 4-3).
MIDD. SOUTH 3, HOWELL 1: Alli Podmajersky struck out 14, walked one and allowed four hits, and bashed a solo homer to left to lead off the second, as the Eagles (5-2, 4-2) captured the Class A North victory. Hannah Milano added an RBI single in the second to give South a 2-0 advantage. Down by three in the seventh, Alexarae Rizzo drove in Howell’s only run with a single, her first varsity hit.
BARNEGAT 6, LACEY 4: Holly Walker slugged her first career homer, a solo shot to left-center, in the fourth to give the Bengals a 4-0 lead, before they added two more runs in the fifth to secure the nondivisional victory. Emily Gambuti fanned three and walked five while earning the victory for Barnegat (3-6), which snapped a five-game skid. Morgan Mitchell and Ryann Farley each had two hits and an RBI for the Bengals, while Lacey’s Caitlyn Linstra had three hits and Amanda Santoro added two hits.
