Shore Regional Faces Challenges In Pursuit Of Back-To-Back Titles

Photo above: Captains James Kelly and Kevin Donegan

WEST LONG BRANCH - All of last season Shore Regional rallied around the motto “unfinished business” after losing in the 2013 Central Jersey Group I semifinal. Their mission was accomplished after they beat defending champion Middlesex in the semifinals then took care of New Egypt in the final for their sixth sectional title in program history and first since 2000.

They weren’t quit finished though; as the team continued to pick up steam in the group playoffs and went on to win the programs first state championship in 21 years and second overall.

This year’s team will have a new motto - along with a lot of new faces – after graduating five-of-six players at the top of their lineup, including All-Shore selections Matt Cosentino, Andrew Schulz and Nick Blaney. Cosentino (8-1) and Schulz (7-1) were responsible for 15 of Shores 19 wins on the mound while pitching to 1.85 and 1.62 earned run averages respectively.

When not pitching, Cosentino – now at George Washington University - was hitting .397 with two home runs, 17 runs batted in, six doubles and four triples with an eye-popping 1.206 OPS. Schulz is now at Brookdale and he was just as devastating at the plate last season with a .418 average, one home run, 19 RBI’s, eight doubles, 30 runs scored and a whopping 1.080 OPS.

Blaney, also playing for Brookdale, had an outstanding year behind the plate batting in the fifth hole for Shore, leading the team in RBI’s with 25 and home runs with three, while hitting .360 with a smashing 1.176 OPS.

Combined, no other team in the Shore Conference, except maybe Saint John Vianney, has a bigger job than Shore Regional in replacing the pitching, offense and defense that these special players brought to the table.

The Blue Devils do bring back pitcher/third baseman James Kelly, who Shore will be counting on heavily to soften the blow of losing so many graduating seniors. Kelly recently committed to pitch for Monmouth University next spring and had a very productive off season being selected to the Perfect Game All-American honorable mention list for the North East.

Last season he recorded a 2-4 a record with a 2.45 earned run average, striking out 48 in 45 2/3 innings pitched. In the batter’s box he hit .313, with 19 RBI’s, one home run, four doubles, and a triple.

“James will be our horse, he’s about ten-times better than he was last year,” Shore head coach Pat O’Neill said. “He’s throwing extremely hard now and hopefully we can ride him as far as we can. We’ll be depending on him on the mound more than anything, and he’ll be our guy.”

The Blues Devils return their entire outfield and O’Neill expects to see more offensive production out of those positions this season. Senior Justin Halper played the majority of the time in left field last year and gets the starting nod there, while senior Kevin Donegan will be back in right field. In center, senior Sam Perrino (.270, 7 RBI, 3B 3-2B) returns after manning the position last season when Cosentino was on the mound.

Senior Ryan Campi will be the fourth outfielder and will see some starts as O’Neill plans on rotating his outfielders. Juniors Alex Patton and Marco Parrino and senior Matt Recchia will battle for playing time as well.

First baseman Matt McCarthy gets the start there again this season after hitting .278 with seven RBI’s and one double as a junior. Junior Dhillon Barbetti is a newcomer and is penciled in as the starting catcher and will most likely hit at the top of the order and O’Neil expects big things him.

There’s some completion for the second base job with senior Alex Mango the frontrunner and getting the first shot at starting. The shortstop position is also up for grabs with junior Mike O’Halloran getting the first opportunity to nail down the job but the competition is wide open.

Kelly will be at third and when he’s on the mound it will be junior Devin McLaughlin who saw action in five games last season.

After Kelly the pitching rotation is still being sorted out with Campi and Parrino definitely in the mix after seeing some spot duty last season from the rubber. Campi was 0-1 in 10 2/3 innings with a 4.59 ERA while Parrino tossed 4 1/3 innings in relief with a nice 1.62 ERA. McLaughlin and newcomers Chas Breithoff – a junior – and sophomore Matt Pennell are all in the running for starting spots.

“This season can go a lot of different ways,” O’Neill said. “We have enough talent but we also lack some experience at certain positions. It’s a good mixture of great kids that experienced winning last year. There are question marks, but the only way you’re going to answer them is by playing. We play in a very tough division with some bigger schools but there’s no doubt in my mind that we can get back to the sectional final this year.”

The Blue Devils open the season at home Thursday, April 2 versus division rival Manasquan.

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