Napolitano Shines in Critical Shore 'B' Central Battle

After an impressive weekend win against Howell, the St. Rose Purple Roses varsity baseball team continued to roll blowing out the Mater Dei Seraphs 9-2. 

After such an emotional win Saturday, it may have appeared to be a 'trap' game as St. Rose was coming into the contest very high and still thinking about the win against Howell.

"I made sure the boys knew we couldn't afford a let down," said St. Rose head coach Jerry Frulio, "I don't think they needed to be reminded, we came here last year and they beat us to drop us to 3-3. It was a tough time, today we came to play."

With the win St. Rose now starts the year 6-0 and, more importantly, 3-0 in divisional play.

Ace pitcher Chris Napolitano looked fantastic in his complete game win, striking out 14. Over the seven innings Napolitano yielded only one walk and two runs off five hits.

"Just a dominant performance from Chris Napolitano today," said Frulio, "We expect that from him as well as need it, he's our ace. He had a very nice game today."

Napolitano had a great day in the batters box also. He went 2-for-3 with a two RBI double, a walk, and a run scored.

After stranding runners on second and third in the top of the second, in the top of the third inning St. Rose pulled away.

Left fielder Shayne Smith led off the third with a solo home run over the high leftfield wall, giving the Roses a lead they would not surrender.

Smith, hitting last in the ninth hole, went 2-for-3, and scored twice, continuing the recent production from the bottom of the lineup. In Howell on Saturday, Steve Frost was hitting eigth when he tripled and he later scored the winning run.

"Making me look good, that's what they're doing," joked Frulio, "but it really is so comforting knowing that whether the first or ninth hitter is up, we still have a chance to score some runs."

Kevin Case and Todd Elkow both reached on errors following the home run and were brought home by a Chris Reynolds double. Napolitano singled to put runners on first and third for Brad Currao, who doubled in a run. Currao, the first baseman, went 3-for-4 with two RBI's. By the time the inning was over St. Rose was up 5-0.

With Napolitano on the mound Mater Dei could only scratch out two runs and watch the Roses tack on four more.

St. Rose will have another Shore 'B' Central match up on Wednesday, when they travel to Keansburg for another 3:45 game.