Manalapan Braves Capture 2nd Straight State Baseball Crown

TOMS RIVER - Manalapan senior left fielder Vito Gadaleta remembered his last at bat.

      In the bottom of the fourth inning, Gadaleta received a steady dose of curve balls from Hillsborough pitcher Evan Edelman and proceeded to strike out.

      With that in mind the senior moved up in the plate and was ready for his at bat in the bottom of the sixth inning.

      The Braves left fielder smacked the first pitch another Edelman curve ball, over the left field wall at Toms River North on Saturday in the Group 4 state title game.

      With a runner on base, it gave Manalapan a 2-0 lead and Braves ace pitcher Joseph Serrapica did the rest in the top of the seventh inning by setting down the Hillsborough side.

      And with the 2-0 victory over Hillsborough, it made it back-to-back Group 4 championships for the Braves.

  Hillsborough (17-14) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1

  Manalapan (18-11)    0 0 0 0 0 2 X 2 2 0

IN SHORT

Manalapan pitcher Joseph Serrapica won the expected pitcher's duel with Hillsborough's Evan Edelman. Serrapica allowed only three hits while striking out four to squash the Raiders offense.

      Serrapica was also helped by some very good Braves defense especially in the top of the sixth inning.

      With the bases loaded and one out in the top of the sixth inning, Manalapan shortstop Brian Lamboy caught a liner in shallow left field. He turned around and fired to second baseman Matt Parke who touched second base to complete the double play and keep the Raiders off the score board.

      In the bottom of the sixth inning, Vito Gadaleta smacked a curve ball over the left field wall for a 2-0 Braves lead that would hold up in the end.

BRAVE OF THE GAME

Joseph Serrapica - The Braves senior ace pitcher allowed only three hits while striking out four Hillsborough batters.

KEY PERFORMANCES

Vito Gadaleta - The senior left fielder crushed a pitch over the left field wall for a two-run home run that was the difference in the game.

Brian Lamboy - The senior shortstop caught a liner in shallow left field that started the double play in the sixth inning that ended the inning after Hillsborough loaded the bases. Lamboy also stroked a double in the bottom of the fourth inning. The senior also walked in the bottom of the sixth inning and scored on the Gadaleta home run.

COACH'S TAKE

"There was no doubt (that it was going to be a home run)...He (Gadaleta) got his opportunity this year and made the most of it," said Manalapan head coach Brian Boyce about Gadaleta who was a reserve last season.

THEY SAID IT

"It was a curve ball. He threw all curve balls last time to me. I knew it was coming so I moved up in the box," said Vito Gadaleta who struck out in the bottom of the fourth inning and then smacked a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

"This is the greatest moment of my life," said Gadaleta.

"It was the greatest play and I was yelling to Brian (Lamboy) to throw to second," said Gadaleta about the double play in the top of the sixth inning.

"It's unbelievable whenever we needed him (Joseph Serrapica) he came through. Knowing that he is on the mound gives us great confidence," said Gadaleta about Serrapica.

"Guts. What you say about him (Joseph Serrapica). He wanted the ball even though it was on three days' rest," said Brian Boyce about his senior pitcher.

 "Brian's (Lamboy) catch really got us going and the adrenaline was flowing," said Joseph Serrapica.

"I told him (Vito Gadaleta) that I wanted to pitch just one more inning," said Serrapica to Gadaleta who would go out and smack a two-run home run.