Sports
Shore Regional Baseball Team Shines in Season Opener
Pitcher Matt Dwyer tosses a gem for the Blue Devils en route to a 5-3 victory over Point Beach
The Shore Regional High School baseball team opened its season in style, defeating Point Pleasant Beach, 5-3, in West Long Branch on Saturday afternoon.
The Gulls were bedeviled by Shore's starter Matt Dwyer, who was dominant allowing one unearned run over five innings.
“He was tremendous for us today,” said Shore head coach Jeff Karpell. “He was able to mix all of his pitches and did a good job of keeping Point Beach off balanced.”
Find out what's happening in Little Silver-Oceanportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Gulls were able to plate the game's first run aided by a two-base error by Shore’s right fielder Alex Cameron. However, the Devils countered in the bottom half of the second inning after Evan Ruane belted a triple and scored on a Matt Cosantino sacrifice fly.
Dwyer was locked in a pitcher's duel with Point Beach starter Joe Scerbo until the bottom of the fouth inning. Dwyer helped his own cause with a two out run scoring single plating Ruane for a 2-1 advantage.
Find out what's happening in Little Silver-Oceanportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“It’s always nice to help yourself out, especially when it’s a tight, low scoring game,” Dwyer said. “I just looked to shorten up and put the ball in play.”
The Devils were able to build upon their one run lead in the bottom half of the fifth inning. Point Beach removed Scerbo for reliever Matt Percheski, who was clocked for three runs in the inning capped off by a two-run single by R.J. Bohnert. The big inning led to Karpell pulling Dwyer after just 71 pitches through five inning
“I was debating whether I was going to let Matty start the sixth,” Karpell said. “Once we were able to plate a few, I decided enough was enough, especially considered he hasn’t gone more than three innings so far in the preseason.”
The Gulls were able to mount a late rally in the top half of the seventh inning against Ruane. Point Beach plated runs and sent right fielder Nick Fiore to the plate as the tying run. Fiore proceeded to harmlessly popup to third base sealing the opener for the Devils.
“Point Beach definitely gave us a scare in the seventh,” Karpell said. “That’s the type of team they are, they’re going to have a good season.”
