Barnegat Baseball Silenced by Brick

The Barnegat Bengals varsity boys baseball season continued on Monday afternoon, with a home loss to the Brick Dragons. Falling behind 3-0 after the first inning, the Bengals were unable to get the timely hits needed to break up the complete game shutout tossed by Brick righty Brandon Kieslor.

Ace pitcher Mark McCoy was on the mound for the Bengals, who struggled to pick him up offensively.

"I thought he pitched excellent today," said Barnegat head coach Brett Hardie, "He was making his throws, it just happened that today (Brick) got hold of a couple."

McCoy worked five innings, striking out six and surrendered five runs, one of them unearned.

After the Dragons leadoff man reached in the top of the first, McCoy quickly got two outs. With a chance to get out of the inning unharmed, two straight hits were yielded, giving Brick a 2-0 lead. Later in the inning, an unearned run scored as a pop up just outside the infield landed in fair territory, between three Bengals.

Barnegat did, however, have a few chances to get back into the game.

A double play ball ended the Bengals threat in the first inning. Barnegat's Pat Moran drew an one out walk in the bottom of the second. With two outs, short stop Mike Fusciello hit a single that placed runners on the corners. Unfortunately for the Bengals, P.J. Pansini grounded out to second base to end the inning.

"We had those chances early," said Hardie, "We expect ourselves to put the ball in play - its just a matter of executing."

Following the third inning, Barnegat was unsuccessful in getting another runner to third base - after the third inning Kieslor did not allow another hit.

"He really got ahead on us today," said Hardie, "threw a lot of strikes, had us off balance."

Bengals rightfielder Ryan Albanese was tremendous with his glove all game. After catching the second out of the first inning, he bounced off the hustling the throw in. Albanese was a vocal leader in the outfield, calling for everything in 'no mans land', around other players.

"That's one thing these guys have done all year," said Hardie, "hustle 100% of the time."

McCoy went 1-for-2 with a walk, at the plate. Catcher Mike Dunkin went 1-for-3 as Barnegat struggled to string together hits.

Rob DeSanti came on to pitch the final two innings, allowing one run relying mostly on fly outs.

"We're 3-10 now, 2-6 in 'B' South play," said Hardie, "this is a big week for us though, we have five games and still have a chance to get into the state playoff picture."

With Brick being the first game of four straight, the Bengals have plenty of time to start putting some wins together. Tuesday they will travel to Matawan followed by a trip to Central Regional on Wednesday. On Thursday the Bengals will return home to take on Lakewood.