Seton Hall Prep baseball team wins in season opener

WEST ORANGE – On a partly cloudy day, the Seton Hall Prep baseball team opened its brand new baseball field at the Kelly Athletic Complex in West Orange on Saturday, April 2. The pre-game ceremonies were emotional as Msgr. Robert E. Harahan, the Headmaster of Seton Hall Prep, and Father Zack Swantek started the ceremony with a prayer as the two teams, Montclair and Seton Hall Prep, gathered around the home plate area. Msgr. Michael E. Kelly, the President of Seton Hall Prep, then said a prayer, blessed the field and introduced Fr. Stephen Kilcarr for the ceremonial opening pitch. Kilcarr was the head coach for SHP  from 1974-1986 (13 years) and also coached in the freshman program for SHP for more than 20 years. Fr. Kilcarr threw out ceremonial first pitch to assistant coach Frank Gately, Class of 1986.

SHP defeated Montclair, 10-0, in five innings. The Pirates opened the scoring with two runs in the first inning as senior first baseman Ryan Toohers had a RBI single and senior third baseman Patrick O’Hare had a sacrifice fly to center field. They extended their lead to 8-0, scoring six runs in the fourth inning. Junior shortstop Francis Prior had a two-run double; sophomore centerfielder Jack Zyska had a sac fly to center field, and Toohers had a RBI single. The other two runs scored on an error and a wild pitch.

The Pirates ended the game in the fifth as Zyska stroked a two-run single to left field. Senior right-hander Brendan Shamieh pitched a complete game, allowing two hits with three strikeouts and one walk. Senior catcher Nick DeNicola was 1-for-3 and junior second baseman Kevin Gately – Frank’s son – walked twice, stole a base and scored a run.