Wall Rolls Past Rival Manasquan

Two days after suffering its first loss of the season, Wall’s baseball team took it out on old rival Manasquan with a five-inning, 10-0 rout of the Warriors on Thursday afternoon to remain alone in first place in Class C Central.

The victory capped a two-win day, as the Crimson Knights also defeated Freehold 8-2 in a nondivisional victory in the morning to help erase a 4-3 nonconference loss to Hamilton West in eight innings that halted a 6-0 start. The victory over Manasquan came in front of a large crowd at Wall’s home field on 18^th Avenue.

“It was a challenge to bounce back, but we were preparing to have to play these two games all week long, and for the Manasquan game, you’ve got to be ready,’’ said junior outfielder Tyler Block. “Both teams go as hard as they can in this game.’’

Wall erupted for eight runs in the fourth inning to push the lead to 10-0 before junior righthander Harry Paytas pitched a scoreless fifth inning to close out the win via the mercy rule and improve to a Shore Conference-best 4-0 on the season.

“We just wanted to come out and swing the bats after the loss,’’ said junior Jim Guiliano. “Yesterday we only had three hits, but it’s going to happen. Even the Yankees do it. We just wanted to bounce back today.’’

Block got the scoring started with an RBI double in the third inning, and after advancing to third on a single by Luke Pasick, he scored on a dropped pop-up to make it 2-0.

Wall (8-1) then seized control of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning when Scott Duncan ripped a two-run double with one out to push the lead to 4-0, and then Pasick followed with a two-out RBI single for a five-run advantage. An RBI infield single by catcher Connor White brought home another run and chased Manasquan starter Alex Branch, who was relieved by junior Tyler Saito.

Guiliano greated Saito with a two-run double down the right field line, and following a double steal, senior designated hitter Mike Meszaros roped a two-run single to left field to swell the lead to 10-0.

“(Branch) has a pretty good curveball, so we just wanted to poke it to rightfield or up the middle,’’ Guiliano said.

Guiliano finished the game 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored, Block was 2-for-2 with a hit-by-pitch, two runs scored and an RBI, and Meszaros went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored to lead the attack. On the mound, Paytas only allowed three hits, walked one and struck out four to keep the Warriors off the scoreboard.

It polished off a strong day for the Crimson Knights, as White went 4-for-4 with a double, a triple, two RBIs and a run scored to lead the way in the earlier win over Freehold. Pasick was also 2-for-2 with four runs score and two walks in the win over the Colonials, while Matt Osgoodby pitched six innings to get the win.

Wall remains in command in the divisional race and also looks to secure a high seed in the upcoming Monmouth County Tournament after reaching the MCT championship game last spring. A balanced lineup and a new group of starting pitchers who have excelled from the outset, along with Wall’s usual airtight defense, have quickly established the Crimson Knights as a top-five team in the Shore.

“We knew we were going to have the hitting, but the pitching has been excellent,’’ Block said.

With four divisional games remaining, Wall is clinging to a one-game lead over Jackson Liberty, which it defeated 8-1 in their first meeting. The Crimson Knights are seeking a second straight division title after sharing the Class B North championship with Ocean last season. They have nondivisional games against Brick Memorial on Saturday and Middletown North on Monday before resuming their division schedule.