Winston Big at Plate as Braves Roll For States Victory

If the Manalapan boys baseball team ever needed a win, it was on Friday afternoon, May 27.

Less than 24 hours after being stunned by Red Bank Catholic in the Monmouth County Tournament semi-finals, the second-seeded Braves were back at it, playing their fourth game in as many days, hosting 10-seed Pennsauken in the Central Jersey Group IV quarter-finals.

Jake Winston, who will go on to play division one college baseball as a pitcher, lead the way for Manalapan, drilling a three-run double in the bottom of the first inning, and finishing with four runs batted in on the day in a 9-1 win at Manalapan high school.

"This team is resillient and we knew what we had to accomplish," Manalapan head coach Brian Boyce said, "We knew that yesterday was a hiccup and today we responded well."

Kyle Rubbinaccio got the start for the Braves, allowing just two hits and no runs on five innings of work, helping Manalapan to a much needed win after using four pitchers yesterday.

"Rubbinaccio gives us a lot of confidence when he's on the mound," Boyce said.

It did not take the Braves long to prove that they had forgotten about their previous loss.

Rich Ricciardi and Nick Kreiger opened the game in the bottom of the first inning with an infield single and walk, for Manalapan. Two batters later, Brian Lamboy drew a walk as well, and Marco Ferrante reached on an error by the short stop as the game's first run came home.

Winston then hammered a three RBI double into the left-center field gap, giving the Braves an early, commanding lead at 4-0.

Manalapan added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. After Joe Serrapica's lead-off single to left field, Ricciardi was able to display his power and speed, driving in the run with a rocketing triple to center field. 

Ricciardi would score two batters later, when Alex Decastro drove him in with a sacrifice fly to left field.

Chris Baird would then smack a single to left and courtesy runner Nick Beneveto would later score on an RBI single off the bat of Lamboy.

After Lamboy stole second base, Ferrante would walk, and the duo would later double-steal and be stranded on second and third base, but the damage was done as the Braves extended their lead to 7-0.

In the sixth inning, Baird would get things started once again with a one-out single to left field. Lamboy would then drive the run in with a double to left field and then scored on Winston's fourth RBI of the game -- a single to center field.

"We were fortunate that we were able to take a couple extra bases and capitalize on a mistake early," Boyce said, "We were piecing things together and Jake [Winston] had a good day but our lineup worked well together."

Steve Canora worked the final two innings in relief, allowing one run on three hits and struck out three batters.

Still, Rubbinaccio was the difference, not allowing Pennsauken to mount any kind of rally.

"He's our stopper and our go-to-guy," Boyce said of Rubbinaccio, whose record improved to 8-0 with the win, "Everytime he's on the mound he gives us a great oppurtunity to win."

In the top of the second, Rubbinaccio allowed a lead-off double, but the runner was stranded at third base after two huge strike outs to avoid the damage.

The Indians' managed to get a runner across to lead off the top of the fourth inning on an infield single, but Baird gunned him down on an attempted stolen base at second.

Manalapan will next take on the winner of three-seed Jackson Memorial and six-seeded Marlboro, at home, likely on Tuesday, May 31.