Here's how Holbrook Little League keeps long winning streak going through summer tournaments
HAMILTON TOWNSHIP - Deep pitching and good pool parties have long been known to be helpful in building success in Little League baseball. The formula is working well for Holbrook’s 12-year-old All Stars.
“We’re just on a good run right now. Our pitchers are coming in and shutting everybody down,” said Erik Johnson, manager of the Jackson Township team. “But today was different and it was my favorite game because we had more than one pitcher get out there and we won it with three. We’re lucky.”
Dylan Johnson and Mason Monday shared pitching duties with Shaun Wood Friday night. The trio combined for a 5-0 shutout over Lincroft in the opening game of the Section 3 Tournament. The tournament winner will go on to play for the state championship, a title Holbrook took in 2017 when the team also reached the Little League World Series.
The current Holbrook team appears to have similar potential. Holbrook also won Saturday, beating South Wall, so the team has eight shutout victories from a 10-0 record in this summer’s tournaments.
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Praise of pool parties from Anthony Delpome
The team pool parties have a role in this, too.
Second baseman Anthony Delpome said the hangouts by the water help the kids recharge for the long grind through tournament season.
“It’s been fun hanging with my best friends, especially the pool parties. Sometimes it gets competitive there, but other times we will be friendly…most of the time,” Anthony said.
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Anthony played above the rim at second base Friday when he turned a double play that shut down an offensive rally from Lincroft to start the third. With two on and no outs, Anthony tagged a runner to cut off second and threw to teammate Ryan Yurgel at first.
“I just got to lock it down out there. I know I just have to back up my pitcher,” he said.
“I feel pretty good about this. And I don’t want it to end. I feel good enough to keep this going.”
Dylan Johnson, Mason Monday get offense going
Three scoreless innings saw a defensive battle, but it was time to get some runs. Dylan and Mason saw bat to ball to rally Holbrook in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings. And it started with a three-run homer to left field off a curveball Dylan said he was waiting on.
“I knew in my first at-bat that I hit the fastball really well, and I knew he didn’t want to go back to that,” Dylan said as he faced Lincroft’s Drew Cerminaro. “Part of me was just thinking ‘curveball’ so I was sitting on it…and when he threw it, I just hit it.”
With two out and two on, Dylan’s homer to left field scored Danny Abbonizio and Mason.
Mason took over pitching duties in the fifth, and that’s when he decided to add some runs to the board.
His hit to center field scored Brendan Varricchio and Quinn Daut, and Holbrook extended its lead with the insurance runs, 5-0 with just a half an inning left of defensive play to secure the win.
“I know we just have a good team. I know if we make the plays, in the end, we will win,” Mason said matter-of-factly.John Pratt and Dylan accounted for Lincroft’s two hits in the contest. Splitting duties on the mound for Lincroft with Dylan was Kingston Inglesias.
What’s next
Holbrook, now with a 2-0 record in the Section 3 Tournament, faces Nottingham (1-0) Monday at 8 p.m. The tournament runs through Thursday.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Little League: Holbrook defeats Lincroft in Section 3 Baseball Tournament
