Ryan Toohers
WEST ORANGE – The Seton Hall Prep varsity baseball team enjoyed a season for the ages.
The Pirates finished the season with a 4-2 win over St. Augustine Prep to capture the state Non-Public A championship on June 11 at Toms River North, capping a 28-3 campaign. It was the Pirates’ eighth state Non-Public A title.
Under head coach Mike Sheppard Jr., who completed his 30th year at the Pirate helm and won his 700th career game during the season, the Pirates also won the Greater Newark Tournament title for the fourth straight season on May 21, beating Nutley, 11-1, to extend their tournament record to 16 GNT titles. The GNT is regarded as the Essex County tournament.
The following SHP players have earned Worrall Media All-Area honors:
First Team: Ryan Toohers, Brendan Shamieh, Jack Zyska, Nick DeNicola, Joe Giovinco, John Savino, Brenden Weiss, Justin Miller, and Patrick O’Hare.
Second team: Nick Maldonado.
In addition, Toohers, a senior first baseman/pitcher, and Shamieh, a pitcher, are the Players of the Year, along with Nutley High School senior right fielder Anthony Condito.
The following are their season statistics:
Batting
Ryan Toohers: 31 games, .371 Batting Average, 33 hits (4 doubles and 2 triples), 20 RBI, 20 runs scored, 11-for-12 stolen bases, 18 walks, .500 On-Base Percentage.
Jack Zyska, sophomore center fielder: 28 games, .500 BA, 33 hits (8 doubles, 3 home runs), 19 RBI, 37 runs scored, 8-for-10 stolen bases, 13 walks, .570 OBP.
Nick DeNicola, senior catcher: 27 games, .356 BA, 26 hits (4 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs), 20 RBI, 3 runs scored, 5 walks, .410 OBP.
Joe Giovinco, senior second baseman: 22 games, .346 BA, 18 hits (1 double), 8 RBI, 13 runs scored, 3-for-3 stolen bases, 6 walks, .414 OBP.
John Savino, senior right fielder: 31 games, .325 BA, 27 hits (5 doubles), 23 RBI, 14 runs scored, 3-for-3 stolen bases, 10 walks, .412 OBP.
Brenden Weiss, senior left fielder: 28 games, .323 BA, 20 hits (5 doubles), 12 RBI, 25 runs, 11-for-15 stolen bases, 22 walks, .500 OBP.
Patrick O’Hare, senior third baseman: 30 games, .321 BA, 26 hits (10 doubles, 1 home run), 30 RBI, 19 runs scored, 3-for-3 stolen bases, 20 walks, .459 OBP.
Justin Miller, senior designated hitter: 24 games, .321 BA, 18 hits (3 doubles, 1 home run), 12 RBI, 16 runs scored, 14 walks, .457 OBP.
Nick Maldonado, freshman shortstop: 22 games, .243 BA, 9 hits (2 doubles), 6 RBI, 4 runs scored, 4 walks, .383 BA.
Other key players were junior outfielder Mike Ukrainskyj, junior shortstop Francis Prior and senior infielder Dwayne Marshall.
Mike Ukrainskyj: 11 games, .333 BA, 5 hits (1 triple, 1 home run), 8 RBI, 13 runs scored, 6 walks, .500 OBP.
Francis Prior: 18 games, .316 BA, 12 hits (1 double, 1 triple, 1 home run), 9 RBI, 11 runs scored, 2-for-3 stolen bases, 8 walks, .469 OBP.
Dwayne Marshall: 16 games, .318 BA, 7 hits (1 triple), 6 RBI, 4 runs, 3 walks, .400 OBP.
Pitching
Brendan Shamieh, senior righty: 12 games, 9 starts, 4 complete games, 7-0 record, 0.52 earned run average, 2 saves, 53 1/3 innings pitched, 45 hits, 39 strikeouts, 8 walks.
Nick Maldonado: 12 games, 5 starts, 6-0 record, 1 CG, 1.11 ERA, 31 2/3 IP, 21 hits, 33 strikeouts, 6 walks.
Ryan Toohers: 8 games, 7 starts, 2 CG, 5-1 record, 1.68 ERA, 37 2/3 IP, 24 hits, 33 strikeouts, 10 walks.
Other key pitchers were senior Gerard DePhillips, and brothers Jermaine and Jamil Vanheyningen, both of West Orange, and Marshall.
Gerard DePhillips, righty: 5 games, 4 starts, 4-0 record, 0.32 ERA, 21 2/3 IP, 12 hits, 19 strikeouts, 4 walks.
Jermaine Vanheyningen, righty: 3 games, all in relief, 1-0 reord, 1.40 ERA, 5 IP, 1 hit, 4 strikeouts, 4 walks.
Jamil Vanheyninghen, righty: 5 games, 4 starts, 2-0 record, 1.72 ERA, 20 1/3 IP, 11 hits, 21 strikeouts, 10 walks.
Dwayne Marshall, righty: 6 games, all in relief, 1-1 record, 1.56 ERA, 9 IP, 6 hits, 9 strikeouts, 2 walks.
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