DeNicola celebrates after homering.
WEST ORANGE – The second-seeded Seton Hall Prep varsity baseball team won two state tournament games to raise its record to 26-3 going into the state North Jersey Non-Public A final on Tuesday, June 8, against fourth-seeded St. Joseph of Montvale at Ramapo College, Mahwah.
This is the 13th meeting between the non-public powers since 1971. They have each won six games. SHP has won 12 North Jersey Non-Public A titles since 1971 when the group played to a North Jersey champion. They have also won seven state Non-Public A titles.
On Tuesday, May 31, the Pirates hosted seventh-seeded Paramus Catholic in the quarterfinal round at the Kelly Athletic Complex. In the first inning, sophomore Jack Zyska singled to left and later scored on a single to right by senior Ryan Toohers. In the third, they scored when senior John Savino doubled to left-center and scored on a single to right by Toohers. In the top of the third, Paramus Catholic scored three runs to take a 3-2 lead before SHP tied the score in the bottom of the third when senior Nick DeNicola walked. Senior A.J. Cerbo ran for him as the courtesy runner and later scored on an error. SHP scored the go-ahead run in the sixth when Zyska singled, went to second on an error, was sacrificed to third by senior Patrick O’Hare, and scored on a high chopper back-to-the-mound hit by Savino, who was thrown out at first base.
Senior righty Gerard DePhillips (4-0) picked up the win in relief, pitching 2 2/3 innings of one-hit ball with one strikeout.
On Thursday, June 2, the Pirates hosted third-seeded Bergen Catholic in the semifinal round and won 8-5.
Bergen Catholic scored one in the top of the first before SHP tied it in the bottom of the first when Zyska walked and later scored on an infield ground-out by O’Hare. Bergen Catholic scored single runs in the third and fourth innings to take a 3-1 lead. In the bottom of the third, Toohers, the pitcher, had an infield single and senior Brenden Weiss ran for him as the courtesy runner. Senior Justin Miller walked and then DeNicola hit a three-run homer to right field to give SHP a 4-3 lead.
In the sixth, SHP scored four runs when DeNicola had a sac fly to right and Zyska doubled into the left-field corner. The other two runs scored on BC errors to make the score 8-3 after six innings.
Bergen scored two runs in the top of the seventh to make the final 8-5.
Toohers (4-1), a right-hander, pitched six innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits with five strikeouts and one walk.
Following the game, DeNicola commented on the home run. “I thought they were going to pitch me outside with a curve ball thanks to (assistant) coach Frank Gately telling me to look for it. I got a good swing on it.”
Toohers said about his pitching: “I knew I had to get my off-speed pitches over for strikes consistently because they are a real good fast-ball hitting team and I feel I did.” SHP head coach Mike Sheppard Jr. talked about the game and said, “We were down 3-1 and got a three-run homer by Nick. Anytime you get a three-run homer, especially in high school baseball, it is a real momentum-changer.”
About Toohers, Sheppard said, “Ryan is very poised. He is out there probably for his mental makeup as much as his physical abilities. He is a very poised and confident senior and he does not get rattled.”
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