Mustangs are getting hot following slow start
BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI
Staff Writer

SCOTT PILLING staff Brick Memorial’s Joe Baldesare keeps his eye on the ball before connecting for a single during the Mustangs’ win over rival Brick Township on Friday.

If Brick Memorial’s baseball team makes the NJSIAA and Shore Conference tournaments next month, it can look to Saturday’s 6-3 eight-inning victory over Toms River South as a defining moment.

The Mustangs forced extra innings in the seventh inning when Mark Cerrachio grounded a run-scoring single to left with two out in the seventh inning, and broke out an inning later when Rob Russo laced a run-scoring single and Kyle Strang lined a two-run double. Brian Streilein, a right-hander who allowed six hits, three after the second inning, got the victory. He struck out six and walked two.

It’s the third straight victory for the Mustangs after losses in the first two games that opened the Shore Conference A South schedule against Toms River South, 10-1, and Toms River North, 8-4.

A surprising start for a team that has struggled in the past?

“Not really,” said first-year head coach Jeff Pierce. “It’s a good team but we have to execute.”

Brick Memorial showed signs of improving in that regard last season when it finished 9-11, with Pierce serving as an assistant coach.

“The pitching is better,” said Pierce who feels his team has depth in that area, even though ace Joe Short still is sidelined with tendinitis in his right [pitching] shoulder. “The guys are still making some mistakes but they’re hitting the ball well.”

That was evident in the previous game against Brick Township, a 17-6 pounding that went the full seven innings, as Jay Frank put on a hitting display with two home runs to left center field — a grand slam in the sixth inning when the Mustangs broke open a 7-6 lead and a three-run shot in the seventh.

“He bats in the No. 7 spot, and I like him there because he sees a lot of fastballs and he’s a fastball hitter,” said Pierce.

The sixth-inning surge came after left fielder Tom Clarke robbed Doug Gleason of a home run and doubled a Brick Township runner off second base.

“That was big because that [home run] would’ve put them ahead, 9-7,” said Pierce.

Jay Frank also doubled in a run while finishing with eight RBIs, and Rob Gonzalez smashed two hits for two RBIs for Brick Memorial. Chris James, who pitched the first 5 2/3 innings, got the victory.

Chris Hines and Mike LaBrutto homered for Brick Township.

Brick Memorial started the week with the Toms River North loss as Russo, who bats ninth in the order, drove in two runs and Gonzalez knocked in another with one of his two hits. Streilein pitched so well in 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief of Cerrachio that Pierce decided to start him on Saturday against Toms River South.

After the TRN loss, Brick Memorial started its win streak with an 8-4 triumph over error-prone Southern as Cerrachio and Gonzalez each had two hits and one RBI to make a winner out of Chris Meyers, who pitched the first six innings