Baron's Home Run Sparks Saint John Vianney In Monmouth County Tournament Semifinal Win

Above photos courtesy of Tom Smith: Baron crossing plate after hitting homer, Rivera on the mound and Rivard sliding safely home on Agrapsides squeeze bunt.

HOLMDEL – Top-seeded Saint John Vianney advanced to its eighth straight Monmouth County Tournament championship game Wednesday downing fifth-seeded Freehold Township 10-0 in six innings.

The Lancers – ranked No.2 in both the Shore Conference and the state – have won seven straight MCT titles and are in search of an unprecedented eighth straight MCT championship. They’re scheduled to meet the winner of the Middletown North-Howell semifinal game Saturday in Wall, weather permitting.

Junior Lindsey Baron’s two-out, two-run home run over the right field fence was the big blow in a five-run second inning for the Lancers (19-0, 12-0). The homer was the Monmouth University commit’s fourth long-ball of the season and raised her season RBI total to 21.

“My hitting hasn’t been where I’d like it to be so I was just going up there trying to get back into the groove,” Baron said of her approach at the plate. “I was just trying to get on with a base hit but sometimes you get the perfect pitch and just send it over.”

“Lindsey’s been starting since her freshman year,” Lancer head coach Kim Lombardi said. “She moved into the leadoff role this year and is doing a very nice job of it. She can hit the long ball....she can do everything really.”

Saint John Vianney jumped out to a 3-0 lead prior to Baron’s homer on two perfectly executed squeeze plays by Alexis Agrapides and Megan Masi that brought home three runs. Junior third baseman Shelli Rivard opened the bottom of first with a bunt single and moved to second on a one-out walk to senior Gianna Mavica.

A double steal moved the runners over to second and third before Agrapides laid down a perfect bunt down the first base line with Rivard just beating the throw home from Patriots pitcher, Gia McKnight, and sliding safely under the tag.

With runners now on first and second Lombardi went right back to the squeeze play with Mavica delivering another classic bunt that McKnight fielded cleanly but her throw to first was late and sailed over the head of her first baseman allowing both Mavica and Agrapides to score.

“At this level you need to be able to bunt,” Lonbardi said of her team’s success with the squeeze play. “Everyone in the lineup needs to be able to bunt or they don’t play. Today they executed everything I asked them to do.”

In the meantime, Rivera was benefiting from the 5-0 lead and having no trouble with the Patriot lineup setting the side down in order in the second and third innings that included five straight strikeouts.

“Demi always says that runs make her more confident on the mound so we do anything we can to make her more confident,” Baron said about handing Rivera the 5-0 lead. “Being able to provide that comfort for her is a good feeling.”

Rivera allowed two soft singles up the middle in the top of the fourth with one out before registering another strikeout and getting the final out pop up to the first baseman Masi.

The bottom half of the fourth produced two more runs for the Lancers pushing the lead to 7-0. Mavica hit a hard single through the 5-6 hole and Agrapides drilled a run-scoring double into the right centerfield gap. Sophomore shortstop Jess Campana then beat out a bunt for a hit with Agrapides scoring all the way from second.

Catcher Ally Jones’ third home run of the season – a two run blast over the fence in dead center – upped the score to 9-0 in the fifth before freshman sensation Julie Parker drilled a base loaded single into centerfield for the 10th run ending the game after six innings.

“Ally has elevated her game this year to a power hitter,” Lombardi said of her sophomore slugger. “She doing a great job behind the plate and hitting the ball for us.”

Rivera set the side down in order in the top of the sixth recording her eighth strikeout of the game. She picked up her 13th win of the season allowing no runs, four hits and did not issue a walk.

“The Monmouth County Tournament is a tournament we always want,” said Baron. “But we definitely want to further than that this year. We want to be there until the last day possible in June so we’re motivated and coming in hot. We want to be number one (in the state) and we’re trying to do everything we can to prove to people that we deserve that number one spot.”

The Lancers once again played flawless defense and took advantage of what was given to them.

“Defense wins championships,” Lombardi said referring to a long standing SJV motto. “And if you want to be playing in the finals or just keep winning you have to be able to execute off other teams mistakes.

“We want it (MCT title), we’re hungry,” Lombardi added. “We talk about what this tournament means to the program and we’ll be hungry against whoever we get.”