Sean McGrath
Scouting Director, New Jersey

Christian Brothers Academy 4 – Red Bank Catholic 0

Game played June 4
CBA versus Red Bank Catholic was the matchup in the championship game of the Shore Conference Tournament Thursday night at Toms River North High School. The game was originally scheduled to be played Monday night at the home of the Lakewood Blue Claws, minor league affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, however rain forced the game to be rescheduled.

Christian Brothers Academy hasn’t lost in almost a month and is yet to lose a playoff game despite two tournaments being played at the same time. This winning has brought upon challenges for the talented ball club as they have had to pick and choose when to use junior ace and North Carolina commit Luca Dalatri. Having to use their number two arm, senior RHP Mike Garvey, in the semi-final round of the ‘NJSIAA Non-Public A’ tournament the day before, CBA chose to use the remaining members of the pitching staff in this championship matchup. They were clearly opting to save their ace for their matchup with undefeated ‘Non-Public North A’ champion Don Bosco on Saturday.

Juniors Joe Gargana and Kenny Campbell stepped up to the challenge to help their team win their second straight Shore Conference Championship. RBC 2016 RHP and ace John Poccia was very solid in the loss. He gave up 8 hits, 4 from the bottom of CBA’s lineup, and 4 runs (3 of which were earned).

Gargana and Campbell would not surrender a run, giving up only 3 hits in the ball game despite having to navigate a talented young RBC lineup.  Red Bank Catholic’s lineup features quality juniors Evan Madigan and Doug Facendo, and 2017 Navy commit Aaron Ahn.

Campbell was excellent in his 5 innings of relief. He surrendered only 2 hits, while walking 2 and striking out 2. His fastball lived down in the zone with some cutting action and ranged anywhere from 80-85 miles-per-hour. The athletic right-hander showed the ability to spin an above average curveball at 70-72. Although he only struck out two hitters, he was dominate in this outing, forcing a ton of groundballs and weak fly ball contact.

Three of CBA’s four runs were driven in by their talented middle of the order. The first run was scored after a leadoff error and an eventual RBI bloop single by Dalatri. Sr. SS and St. Peter’s commit Matt D’Angelo would double to lead off the second inning and would score on the third basemen’s RBI single. Their 3^rd and 4^th runs would score in the four inning after Sr. Old Dominion commit Will Morgan walked with the bases loaded. The 3^rd run would come around in the very next at-bat when Jr. North Carolina commit Brandon Martorano hit a shallow fly ball to the shortstop who slipped on the throw attempt to home.

CBA’s real challenge will be this Saturday in Toms River against Don Bosco, who is 29-0.