By TJ Hunt
Scouting Director, New Jersey

NORTH BRUNSWICK – Red Bank Catholic defeated Delbarton 8-7 in a back and forth battle between Power Top 20 Teams. The big news came pregame, however, when No. 6 ranked 2017 and Virginia recruit Andrew Papantonis would make his season debut. Papantonis had torn his ACL in football in the fall, leaving the final year of his high school baseball career in jeopardy.

Delbarton jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning highlighted by Vanderbilt recruit, 2019 SS Anthony Volpe's lead off triple. In his first at bat of the season, Papantonis drove a ball into the left-centerfield gap and one hopping the wall, bringing in Volpe. The hit would have been extra bases, and it seemed like Papantonis wanted it to be, but stopped at first base as a precaution. Papantonis would be pinch ran for, and again in the second inning when he singled through the left side which by rule would force him out of the game. In his first appearance of the year, Papantonis would finish 2-2 with an RBI.

RBC would answer back with a six-run second inning – highlighted by Rutgers recruit 2017 3B Anthony DeRosa's grand slam. To start the inning, with one out Steve Turk walked, Sean Carver reached on a dropped third strike, and 2019 OF David Glancy walked to load the bases. Connor Caizza singled in a run and then with two outs, Navy recruit, 2017 SS Aaron Ahn drew a bases loaded walk. DeRosa came up with two down and blasted one into the night, making it 6-4 in favor of the Caseys.

The lead would be taken away in the fourth inning when Delbarton plated three. Thomas Colicchio doubled and George Parsells and Liam Corcoran both reached on errors, scoring a run. Volpe came to the plate and laced a groundball to shortstop, scoring a run. Papantonis' pinch hitter Pete Royse squeezed in a run to make it 7-6.

In the bottom of the fifth, the lead would be given up again. Ahn led off with a single, and then with two outs Aidan Supp homered to deep center field. 

RBC relief pitcher 2019 RHP Vincent Bianchi threw three scoreless innings, striking out four and walking two to keep the Green Wave bats at bay. Bianchi as a lanky-athletic frame at 6-foot-1 160-pounds and was sitting 82-83 mph with a long, loose arm. The Preseason All-State Showcase participant also flashed a big 11/5 curveball at 60-61 for strikes.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Delbarton (5-4)	4	0	0	3	0	0	0	7	7	1
Red Bank Catholic (6-4)	0	6	0	0	2	0	X	8	5	3

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