Strong Finish Pushes Mustangs to Victory

MANCHESTER -- For the duration of the top of the seventh inning, Brick Memorial's Mike Rytelewski stood, bat in hand, with a look of determination on his face.

His spot in the batting order was due up fifth in a dead-locked tie at one, and he had a feeling he would get a shot to play the hero role.

With runners on second and third and two outs, Rytelewski got his chance, drilling a two-strike fastball into right field, driving in two runs and giving Brick Memorial (3-3) the 3-1 lead over Manchester Township at Manchester Township high school, Monday afternoon.

"There is no one we would rather have in that spot," Brick Memorial head coach Evan Rizzitello said of Rytelewski. "Before the inning started, he said he wanted to be there and I knew if we could get to him, he would come through."

Kevin Nilsen would hammer the very next pitch for his second home-run of the season as the Mustangs extended their lead to 5-1, the final tally on the afternoon.

Mike Nebesne made the start for Memorial on the mound, and after battling through a tough first inning in which he walked two batters and allowed an un-earned run, finished strong in six innings, allowing just three hits and striking out eight batters.

"He did a hell of a job," Rizzitello said. "We're real proud of him. He worked hard in the off-season and he is showing it now. I think he got stronger as the game grew on."

After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, Brick Memorial answered when Rytelewski walked with two outs in the top of the third. The captain would later steal second base, using his speed to beat out an attempted pick-off move. Nilsen would drive him in during the next at-bat when he laced a ball to right field.

"We have a lot of resilliency in this group," Rizzitello said. "When they get down a little bit we just need to re-focus."

The Mustangs had base-runners reach scoring position in the first four innings, but were unable to drive any of them in with the exception of their third inning run.

Nebesne ran into his biggest trouble in the bottom of the fifth. With runners on second and third and no outs, the senior battled tough managing one of his eight strikeouts, and a big ground out to second base to escape the trouble.

Zack Santos batted lead-off for the first time this season, going three-for-four, including a single in the seventh inning. He would eventually score on Rytelewski's base-knock.

Mike Martone had a strong day as well, knocking in his first two varsity hits of his career, both to left field.

'Stangs catcher Ryan Shaughnessey struggled early in the game, allowing two passed balls in the first inning, but rebounded nicely and played a very strong defensive game behind the plate. He also had two sacrifice bunts throughout the game.

Second basemen Ray Triano was solid defensivley as well.

Brick Memorial will be at home Wednesday morning as they take on Southern Regional at 11 a.m.