Red Bank, RBC Teams Participating In Strike Out Autism Challenge

With reporting by PATRICIA A. MILLER (Patch Staff)

The Red Bank and Red Bank Catholic baseball teams are joining 40 others from around the Shore Conference on Saturday in participating in the Strike Out Autism Challenge.

The event, marking its fourth year, was started by Jerry Frulio and his wife, Jo-Dee, whose son Dayton, 8, was diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum at age 3.

The Frulios have funneled their energies into promoting awareness of the condition and raising money for school programs and research. The Strike Out Autism Challenge, started four years ago by the Frulios at Central Regional High School, where Jerry Frulio teaches and is a former baseball coach, is one of those efforts.

The event began with just four teams playing at Central in 2013 and has expanded to 10 sites, including Red Bank. Count Basie Field will host Brick Memorial vs. Red Bank Regional at 4 p.m. in what was expected to be the prelude to the Jason Groome Show before the Barnegat pitcher, widely expected to be the No. 1 pick in the Major League Baseball draft this spring, was ruled ineligible by the NJSIAA on Thursday. Barnegat takes on Red Bank Catholic at 7 p.m.

This year, softball is joining in, with the inaugural Strike Out Autism Softball Challenge featuring Mater Dei vs. Central Regional at 11 a.m. and Freehold Township vs. Lacey at 1 p.m. at Central Regional.

"It's a big day for us and a big day for many people in the Ocean-Monmouth area as well as their families," Frulio said. "I consciously try to match teams up on the schedule that will produce competitive games among schools that don't normally have a chance to play each other."

Proceeds from the event will go to various autism charities and academic programs in Ocean and Monmouth County schools, he said.

"We purchase various items -- iPads, art supplies, adaptive physical education items, other classroom tools - that help these school programs directly in many ways," Frulio said.

The schedule of baseball games is as follows:

At Central Regional

Mater Dei vs. Central Regional, 11 a.m.
Freehold Twp. vs. Lacey, 2 p.m.

At Howell

Manchester Twp. vs. Howell, 10 a.m.
Middletown South vs. Southern, 1 p.m.

At Jackson Liberty

Jackson Memorial vs. Jackson Liberty, 11 a.m.
St. Rose vs. Brick, 2 p.m.

At Red Bank Catholic (Count Basie Field)

Brick Memorial vs. Red Bank, 4 p.m.
Barnegat vs. Red Bank Catholic, 7 p.m.

At St. John Vianney, Holmdel

Monmouth vs. St. John Vianney, 11 p.m.
Colts Neck vs. Middletown North, 2 p.m.

At Raritan High School, Hazlet

Holmdel vs. Raritan, 10 a.m.
Asbury Park vs. Long Branch, 12:30 p.m.

At Ocean Township

Matawan vs. Shore, 10 a.m.
Freehold Boro vs. Ocean, 1:30 p.m.

At Point Pleasant Boro

Manalapan vs. Point Pleasant Boro, 10 a.m.
Lakewood at Point Pleasant Beach, 1 p.m.

At Toms River South

Williamstown vs. Toms River East, 1 p.m.
Christian Brothers Academy vs. Toms River North, 4 p.m.
Donovan Catholic vs. Toms River South, 7 p.m.

At Wall Municipal Complex

Pinelands vs Rumson-Fair Haven, 3 p.m.
Manasquan vs. Wall, 6 p.m.