St. Rose Wins Behind Dominant Morrissey Performance

TOMS RIVER -- For young athletes, adversity is often the breaking point, stopping certain players from performing to outstanding abilities.

Not Nick Morrissey.

After allowing a contraversial three-run home run in the first inning, on a ball that appeared to hit the warning track dirt before bouncing over the fence, to draw the Toms River East Raiders (1-5) to within one run at 4-3, Morrissey stepped up.

Morrissey allowed just two more runs over six innings, striking out six and allowing nine hits as St Rose (8-0) powered past Toms River East, 14-6, Thursday night at Toms River High School East.

He struck out the side in the third inning and went 3-4 with 4 RBI on the day as well, completing his second eye-opening performance after a strong start against Howell last Saturday.

"He has done it two start outings," St. Rose head coach Jerry Frulio said. "I've never ever coached a kid who can go through a situation like that without having some sort of mental meltdown."

After apparent back-to-back blown calls in the opening inning, Morrissey sent the remaining Raiders batters back to the dugout.

"He just wants the ball in his hands," Frulio said.

The Purple Roses jumped out to an early lead when sophomore Brad Currao legged out an infield single with the bases loaded to bring home the first run. After Tom Elkow scored on a wild pitch, Morrissey drove in two runs with a single to center field.

St. Rose would add to their lead in the top of the third, when Sean Stewart would blast a two-run home run, the first of six un-answered runs for the Purple Roses.

Morrisey would add his third RBI of the game when he legged out an infield single. Shayne Smith would also add an RBI single to make it 8-4 in the fifth inning.

Chris Napolitano would smack a two-run home run to left field in the sixth inning to make it a 10-4 contest.

Smith, Elkow and Chris Reynolds would all add RBI's in the seventh inning, to ensure the blowout victory for St. Rose at 14-6.

Still, Morrissey was the star of the show on all sides of the plate, proving the Purple Roses as a force to be reckoned with this season.

"When you can pitch Chris Napolitano and know the very next day you can come back with Nick Morrissey, it feels like we can't be beat," Frulio said.

"Anyone can come put to bite you at anytime, but right now we're playing like we can't be beat."

St. Rose scored 14 runs on 16 hits and were not once retired in order throughout the game as they remained unbeaten at 8-0.

"[Toms River] East is off to a tough start, but they play in a tough division," Frulio said, "I'm thrilled that we can come here on their home field at night and to be able to dominate the way we did, I can't put it into words, really."

St. Rose will look to remain unbeaten on Tuesday, April 26 at Asbury Park at 3:45 p.m.