Sean McGrath
Scouting Director, New Jersey

Wayne Valley 7 – NV-Demarest 1

Game Played May 21
Northern Valley Demarest, the #10 seed in the NJSIAA North 1 Group 3 tournament, traveled to Wayne Valley High School to square off against the tournament's second seed. Both teams have had solid season and were coming off wins in the opening round that set up this matchup. Demarest had to bring their 'A' game if they had a chance to beat senior St. John's University commit Mike LoPresti. LoPresti brings a competitive fire and presence to each outing that makes him hard to beat and that proved to be the case.

LoPresti pitched a 7-inning complete game, scattering six hits, giving up only 1 run (unearned), while walking none and punching out 9. The 6-foot-3 RHP utilized his high 80s fastball, coupled with a sharp tilting slider and a potentially plus-plus changeup to navigate the Demarest lineup. 8 of his 9 strikeouts came via the fastball, expanding the zone away and up with two strikes.

Demarest had a solid start to the game in the top of the opening inning. Jr. second baseman Brandon Garcia led off the inning with a double to the right-center field gap and advanced on a sacrifice bunt. With one out and a runner in scoring position, LoPresti struck out senior SS and Siena commit Brian Kelly, hit senior senior Kean University commit Tyler Mornhineway with a pitch, and induced a fly out from junior CF Andrew Garcia to end the inning.

Senior RHP Christian Cefalo would get the start for Demarest. The reliable right-hander competed with solid command of a fastball, curveball combination but Wayne Valley's lineup would prove to be too much. Wayne Valley scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first due to a one out double by Sr. Tyler Blumenstyka and a hard hit RBI single by Sr. 3-hitter James Konopinski. They would tack on a second run thanks to an error on a hard hit ball to the shortstop. Wayne Valley would get right back to the batter's box thanks to a 1-2-3 inning, including two strikeouts to start the inning. A leadoff walk by Cefalo started Wayne Valley's 3-run rally in the second inning. Left-handed hitting Jr. catcher Tyler Walther and speedy Sr. CF Nico Andresakes would lay down bunts for consecutive singles to load the bases for junior shortstop and leadoff hitter Alex Kokos. Kokos showed great discipline in the box to work a 3-1 count before driving an RBI sacrifice fly to RF. Cefalo struck out the next two batters to bring up Mike LoPresti, who would single up the middle for two RBIs.

In the top of the third inning, Demarest would score a run thanks to an error and a trio of hits by Kelly, Mornhineway, and Andrew Garcia. A. Garcia's single brought home Brandon Garcia, which would prove to be Demarest's only run. In the bottom of the third inning, Wayne Valley's Sr. Joe Pascucci would be robbed of a leadoff base hit by Sr. 3B Joe Ferolie. Cefalo would then get a pop out to Ferolie for the second out of the inning. Tyler Walter put a short, compact swing on a fastball and he hit it hard; right at the centerfielder for the third out of the inning. In the next half, Sr. Tyler Luethke would scorch a double in the right center gap but would be forced out on a ground ball to third base on the next play. With Ferolie on first, Kokos would show off his smooth footwork and quick release to start an inning ending 6-4-3 double play. Cefalo would retire the first two hitters in the fourth inning by himself, catching a pop up from Andresakes, and picking off the pesky Kokos after giving up a hard line drive single over the shortstop's head. The third out of the inning would come via flyout and Demarest hurried into the dugout looking to score. However, LoPresti would retire nine out of the final 10 hitters, striking out five, including striking out the side in the final frame.

Cefalo would be taken out after the 5th inning and would be replaced by junior RHP Anthony Argenziano. Cefalo gave up seven hits, allowing five runs; four of which were earned. Wayne Valley would tack on two additional runs in the bottom of the 6th inning thanks to two infield errors and back-to-back sacrifice flies by Kokos and Blumenstyk. Kokos finished the game going 1 for 2 with 2 sacrifice flies. Konopinski went 3 for 4 with an RBI, and Lopresti helped himself by going 1 for 4 with 2 RBIs. Demarest's offense was led by Andrew Garcia who flew out, hit an RBI single, and a double in his three plate appearances.

Wayne Valley's eight hits, along with the help of four Demarest errors, was enough to win the game. The future Johnnie was as expected and did what he needed to do to help his team advance to the semifinals, where they will meet the 6th seeded River Dell Hawks who are coming off a 2-0 win over Montville.