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All Smiles at Dragons Banquet Following Tourney Win

Brick baseball wraps up season with night of awards

After winning the Ocean County Tournament less than 24 hours before their season-ending banquet June 9, it goes without saying that morale was high among the Dragons family of players, coaches and parents.

The Green Dragons varisty baseball team came together one final time as the 2011 season came to a close.

As head coach Jason Groschel would go on to say, they were "possibly the best team in school history" finishing with a 22-6 record, OCT champions, 'B' South co-champs, Central Jersey Group III finalists, Shore Conference semifinalists, and holders of a 16 game winning streak. 

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Groschel noted tough losses early, which had the team standing at a 5-4 record, after they were just crushed by Toms River South. Then Brick notched four straight wins before facing their biggest loss of the season, as Cody Schnebel was lost for the year with a knee injury. 

"That was devastating," said Groschel. "He was a heart and soul player for us. But guys step up and the next thing you know, we're the hottest team in Ocean County."

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Along the way the Dragons would host their first sectional final ever, a 7-1 loss to Middletown South.

Throughout the season, the Dragons would knock down teams from Toms River East, North, and South; Central Regional; Monmouth Regional (twice); and Jackson Memorial out of various tournaments, a far-from-easy task.

With a team high .400 average, Nick Vitale won his third straight fleet feet and ended his season with 11 stolen bases, 12 walks and 29 runs scored. Vitale was presented with golden bat awards and team awards presented at the banquet. Sean Henry would win the team's gold glove award and share the coach's award with Vitale.

Junior pitcher Brandon Kieslor would win the unsung hero award after going 5-1 with a 2.39 ERA. Scott Hurley would bring home the sportsmanship award, while Dylan McDonnell won Rookie of the Year. Tim Carney took home the most hardware with the 'Bionic Arm,' Brick Little Leauge Scholarship and MVP awards.

"If it was up to me, Carney would be the OCT MVP and Shore Conference Player of the Year, but we'll have to wait and see what happens," said Groschel.

Carney's final totals are a 10-2 pitching record with three saves, 2.44 ERA, four complete games, two complete game shutouts and 76 strikeouts. In the batters box he hit .386, while smashing a school record 12 homers and 37 RBI's.

All three levels of Dragons baseball held winning records this season. JV went 9-5 and the freshman were 5-4.

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