RBC Has A Combination Of Veteran Star Power And Rising Newcomers

Red Bank Catholic players at Jersey Sporting News photo shoot: (L to R) #11 Allison Tomaino, #10 Taylor Lane, #35 Colby Coppola, #16 Gabby Ciancio, #30 Alexandra DiBenedetto

RED BANK - The Caseys will ask five returning senior starters this season to guide a group of up-and-coming underclassmen into the 2018 season, including four rising freshman and two juniors, who have head coach Tony Flego excited about their upside.

“We’re going to have a couple of juniors and some freshman that are going to step up and fill some key spots for us,” said Flego. “Our seniors are going to have to push them along and help them out which they’ve been doing a great with so far. But they’re really good players that come from some great programs so they’re well-schooled already and we expect them to step in and do a great job for us.”

Those seniors Flego is referring to make up the core of this year’s team and brings along enough proven talent that when you combine it with the raw potential of the newcomers, this is a team you’ll want to keep an eye on once May and June come around.

Red Bank Catholic has the luxury of bringing back two proven big-time pitchers, a perk very few Shore Conference teams enjoy, in junior Alexandra DiBeneditto and senior Colby Coppola, who combined to win 18 games for the Caseys last season.

DiBeneditto went 10-4 with 97 K’s in 100.1 IP a year ago, including going the distance in a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Camden Catholic in the South, Non-Public A quarterfinals when she allowed just one run on three hits in the loss. She also tossed a gem in the Caseys 2-1 comeback win against Pinelands when she out-dueled stud pitcher Jessica Rising in the Shore Conference quarterfinals going seven innings and tossing a five-hitter while allowing just one unearned run.

Copola is no slouch either, going 8-4 last season in 61.2 innings pitched while allowing just 26 earned runs and striking out 56 on the season.

“They form a great one-two punch,” said Flego of his two hurlers. “I don’t know how many teams in the Shore have that so I think we’re pretty blessed with the two of them coming back. They’ll help giving each other a spell here and there and I love throwing them both in a game to give teams two different looks.”

When not in the circle pitching, DiBeneditto will be the DP and see a little action at first base after hitting .306 with three doubles, a triple, home run and 13 RBI. Coppola will be used primarily at third base if she’s in the field after being used sparingly there a year ago.

First-team All-Shore pick and Syracuse commit, Taylor Lane, will leadoff and play shortstop after a stellar 2017 campaign which also saw her selected to the NJ.com All-Non-Public second team and All-Shore first team. As the premier leadoff hitter in the Shore, she hit for an eye-popping .519 average with 31 runs scored and 19 stolen bases along with six doubles and 17 runs batted in.

“Taylor’s probably the best athlete I’ve ever coached,” said Flego of his star shortstop. “She’s a great person who can do it all. She’s got great speed and she’s going to do great things here this season and at Syracuse.”

Senior Seton Hall commit, Gabby Ciancio, is back catching after garnering All-Class B North honors when she averaged a stellar .432 at the plate with one home run, 23 RBI, four doubles and two triples. She not only rips the ball she’s also a quality backstop that has a gun for an arm.

“I’m not just saying this because she’s my catcher, but she might be the best catcher in the Shore to be honest with you,” Flego said. “She’s got a great arm, she’s going to Seton Hall and she’s not going to Seton Hall because she’s a bad player; that’s for sure. She’s got great power and she’s going to be our 3-4 hitter this year.”

The Caseys fifth senior, Allison Tomaino, is another All-Class B North selection for the Caseys at second base and has committed to Bryant University to continue her academic and athletic career. She’s a flawless fielder that stroked the ball at a fantastic .471 pace a year ago along with scoring 26 runs and belting 41 hits.

“Great kid, great speed and she slaps the ball to all fields,” said Flego. “She’s got some power and is a great team player.”

After seeing spot duty a year ago, junior Isabella Goehring gets the starting nod in left field for the Caseys. In the Caseys loss to eventual winner Saint John Vianney in the Shore Conference quarterfinal, Goehring went 1-for-3 on the big stage.

Two freshmen will start in the outfield for the Caseys withy Ashley DeGaetano in right field and Kiley Rochford in centerfield. Another freshman, Emily Lane, won the job at first base giving the Caseys three starting frosh.

Junior Alysa Sarino and freshman Gabriella Goehring – Isabella’s sister – will split time at third base when Coppola’s not there and Goehring could see time in right field as well.

“We’re just going to take every day one step at a time, prepare and hope for the best,” said Lane of the upcoming season. “I think we have the pitching and defense but have to work more on hitting. I think if we hit we can be a really good team and it’s up to us (the five seniors) to do it.”

The Caseys will open the season this Tuesday at Long Branch.

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