Five-Run First Inning Powers Red Bank Catholic Into Monmouth County Tournament Final

Photo above courtesy of Tom Smith: Austin Nappi on the mound in Saturday's win over Ocean

RED BANK – Junior ace Austin Nappi tossed six-shutout innings and senior catcher Brian Sheehy’s bases loaded sun-aided two-run double was the big blow in Red Bank Catholic’s five-run first inning.

That was all the runs the Caseys would need in their 5-1 win over Ocean Township Saturday at Count Basie Field to advance to the Monmouth County Tournament final.

The big right-hander had a no hitter going for 3 2/3 innings on Saturday and allowed just three hits, struck out three and walked only one. He got 14 outs on 13 ground balls to pick up his fifth win of the season to help the Caseys defeat Ocean for the third time this season.

“He did a really good job,” Red Bank Catholic coach Buddy Hausmann said of Nappi’s performance. “He kept us in the game and has been doing that all year for us.”

Holding a 5-0 lead after five innings, Nappi’s pitch count was at 68 and Hausmann had to decide whether to pull Nappi before he reached the 70-pitch mark so he would be eligible to pitch Tuesday night - should they advance - against the winner of Sunday’s Freehold-Christian Brothers Academy semifinal in the Monmouth County Tournament final at First Energy Park in Lakewood

It was a tough decision for Hausmann, who was flashing back to a 2013 NJSIAA Tournament game where he lifted starting pitcher Mike Rescigno with a 4-0 lead heading into the seventh in a game the Caseys would eventually lose 5-4.

Hausmann made the decision to pull Nappi in favor of Red Bank Regional transfer Ryan O’Hara, who recently became eligible after sitting out the mandatory 30 days under the NJSIAA transfer rule, and it ultimately paid off for the Caseys.

O’Hara gave up a one-out infield single on a close play at first and a two-out RBI single through the 5-6 hole before closing out the game on a 5-4 fielder’s choice out.

“I still wasn’t going to do it (pull Nappi),” Hausmann said of his predicament. “You can look like the smartest person in the world of the biggest idiot. I’m very big on you’ve got to win today because there could be no tomorrow but I knew what we had in the bullpen was more than capable.”

The Caseys jumped all over Ocean ace Phil Demarco in the bottom of the first. Leadoff hitter Mike Veit lined a single into center and Rutgers-bound Anthony DeRosa dropped a soft liner in shallow center with one out before senior Montclair State commit Aiden Supp walked to load the bases.

Sheehy then brought Veit and DeRosa home with his two-bagger before junior designated hitter Jon Michael Rotondo, senior left fielder Steven Truk and senior center fielder Connor Caizza each followed with RBI singles for a 5-0 Casey lead after one inning.

With the Caseys bats slumping at the plate in recent games after being one of the most feared offenses in the Shore most the season, it was a welcomed sight to see their bats finally wake up as they banged out six hits in the first inning.

“Offensively we woke up in the first (inning),” Hausman said of his team’s offensive struggles. “DeMarco pitched a good game after settling in and he’s their number one (pitcher). Five runs isn’t what you usually get off him, so I was happy with it. I wanted more but it is what it is.”

Tuesday’s final will be the fourth appearance in the Monmouth County Tournament final since 2011 for Red Bank Catholic, which is seeking its first MCT title since 2013 when it defeated Wall for its only MCT championship in five appearances.

For the Casey’s, Sheehy finished 2-for-3 with two RBI, a double and a run scored while freshman right fielder David Glancy was 2-for-2 with a walk and two stolen bases and was thrown out at the plate trying to score in the sixth. Six different Caseys added one-hit apiece.

DeMarco fell to 3-1 on the year going 5 1/3 innings allowing five runs, 10 hits and two walks with four strikeouts on 107 pitches including 46 pitches just to get out of the first inning. Ryan Jenks came in relief of DeMarco in the bottom of the sixth with a man on second and one out to finish the inning without allowing a run.

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