Manasquan Gets First Win of the Season Behind Sheehan Brothers Combined No-Hitter

Photos above: Tommy Sheehan on the mound and Matt Edwards eyeing game-winning hit

HOLMDEL – As far as early season must games go, this was one Manasquan desperately needed to win. Picked to win the Shore Conference Class A Central and a preseason top-ten pick, the Warriors return eight of nine players from last season’s starting lineup, including five DI recruits. So after starting the season with two consecutive losses without a win, a third straight loss would be a crippling blow to their chances.

“We started our 0-2 and it kind of left a sour taste in my mouth,” Wednesday’s starting pitcher Tommy Sheehan said. “All we wanted to do today was get the win and get on a good note.”

Sheehan combined to throw an eight-inning no-hitter with his older brother Jack as the Warriors got their much-anticipated first win of the season with a 2-0 extra-inning victory over the Lancers (2-1, 1-1) on a cold, drizzly and windy day on Saint John Vianney’s home field.

“There was a little pressure; we just needed to get the win after starting 0-2,” Jack Sheehan said. “I’m just glad we got the win and to get the no-hitter is even better. Hopefully, this can get us on a roll, especially against a great A Central opponent.”

Tommy Sheehan - a left-handed sophomore – was untouchable as the Lancers really didn’t even come close to getting a clean hit. Second baseman Victor Jamandron’s liner to center in the first inning was the closest thing to a hit all day as Sheehan used both sides of the plate relying on a tailing two-seam fast ball while mixing in off-speed pitches leaving the SJV hitters off balance and unsettled at the plate.

“I just kept telling them every time they turned around ‘stick with the fastball,’” hitting star and shortstop Matt Edwards said. “The way they throw the ball, the way his (Tommy Sheehan) ball has so much tail on it, no one was touching it. You know when they’re on the mound you’re going to get a great effort every time; they’re just so good.”

The lefty went six innings and threw 76 pitches in brutal weather conditions. He struck out nine, gave up two walks and got eight ground-ball outs before turning the game over to his brother in the seventh. Jack Sheehan – a junior right hander - closed out the game going the final two innings giving up one walk in the top of the eighth before stranding the runner at third after striking out the final batter of the game to complete the no-hitter.

With both players having already committed to pitch for the University of Notre Dame, and close to two years left together at Manasquan, this just may be a glimpse of things to come.

“It’s a lot of fun playing together, I just wanted him to get the win when I came out,” Tommy Sheehan said. “It was really hard (with the weather), my hand was getting a little cold and it was hard getting a grip on the ball but we got the win anyway.”

Entering the top of the eighth - as weather conditions continued to deteriorate – there was a sense of urgency among the Warrior batters as they stepped to the plate.

Jamandron bobbled leadoff hitter Tommy Sheehan’s grounder to second and his throw was wide placing Sheehan at first with no outs. Jack Sheehan then grounded a single between the five and six hole putting runners at first and second. Senior first baseman Kevin Fay laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move the runners up before Edwards drilled the first pitch he saw all the way to the fence in left field scoring both Sheehan’s for the only runs of the game.

“My first at bats I wasn’t seeing the ball well,” Edward said. “He (Dan Schimacher) did a great job keeping us off balance. He got me with a curve ball a couple times so I was sitting on the fastball and got one on the inside half. I got solid contact and it felt really good off the bat and saw the left fielder over toward center so I knew it was coming down and two runs were going to score. To get the game winning hit is pretty cool.”

Saint John Vianney senior pitcher Dan Schirmacher was outstanding as a tough-luck loser going the distance while giving up four hits and striking out ten without issuing a walk.

“After we dropped the first two (games) we sat down and talked about it,” Edwards said. “That we had to get our heads in the game and come out and win. We came out here today; this was a playoff game, we knew we had to win.”

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