Local Athletes Participate in Senior All-Star Baseball Game

LAKEWOOD – Shore Regional senior Evan Ruane played in his final baseball game on Monday night, but as far as all-star games are concerned for the Blue Devils standout, he is just getting started.

Ruane and Long Branch pitcher/outfielder Paul Tracey were part of the victorious Monmouth County squad in a 7-5 win over Ocean County at FirstEnergy Park in the annual Shore Baseball Coaches Association Senior All-Star Game. It kicked off a summer in which Ruane will also play in the annual North-South All-Star Football Classic on Monday at Kean University and in the U.S. Army All-Shore Gridiron Classic on July 14 at Toms River North.

“I’ve got three all-star games, so it should be a fun experience,’’ Ruane said.

Ruane is headed to play long-snapper on the football team at Monmouth University after a brilliant career as a quarterback/linebacker/defensive end for Shore Regional. Monday night marked the final game of his baseball career after playing all four years in high school.

He reached base on an error in the first inning and eventually scored on a wild pitch as part of a four-run frame for Monmouth County. He popped up to third base in his other at-bat.

“It’s just really good to see all the other talent and how well they’ve been coached,’’ Ruane said.

Ruane was selected to the Class A Central All-Division team by the coaches this season as a designated hitter after serving as an infielder for the Blue Devils. He added that accolade to his All-Division honors from Class B Central during a football season in which Shore finished 11-1 and captured its first NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I title since 1997.

Monday allowed him to finish on a high note after a tough season for a young Shore team that finished 6-15.

“Without a doubt, it was definitely a down year for Shore, but it was definitely a great time tonight,’’ Ruane said. “I’m just going to miss competing, and the tradition at Shore. Plus, I love playing baseball.’’

Ruane will now get prepared for Monday’s North-South game, where he will be part of the South squad when the game kicks off at 7 p.m. at Kean University. He is one of 14 Shore Conference players who were selected to participate, and he will most likely play defensive end for the South.

He then will be part of the Monmouth County team in the Gridiron Classic, where he is one of three Shore Regional players selected to participate.

While Ruane ended his baseball career with a smile, the night was a little tougher for Tracey, who surrendered five runs in two-thirds of an inning in the eighth inning after Monmouth entered the frame leading 7-0. Tracey, a lefty headed to Brookdale Community College, was victimized by three errors that prolonged the inning and gave up a three-run double to Toms River South’s Rocco Mellot. He then threw a wild pitch that allowed another run to score and prompted Monmouth coach Brian Boyce to bring in Red Bank Catholic’s Brendan McGann to shut the door.

Tracey also had a pair of at-bats, striking out in both plate appearances.