Dragons Roll Past Mustangs in Rivalry Game

LAKEWOOD -- With the resumption of the Ocean County Tournament still in question and not appearing to be picking up anytime soon, it was a simple decision for coach Jason Groschel as to who to send to the mound for his Brick Dragons, Sunday afternoon.

Taking on cross-town rival Brick Memorial (8-10), at First Energy Park in Lakewood -- an annual tradition of Brick Day -- the Brick coach sent his ace, Tim Carney, to the hill.

The decision paid off, as Carney led the Dragons (14-4) to their ninth straight win, giving up just one earned run on two hits through five innings, while striking out three batters.

"Tim Carney gives us the best shot to win," Groschel said. "To have your guy is great there, and it's a big win for the seniors."

The Dragons opened the scoring in the second inning, when they loaded the bases as Victor Wilenta led off the inning by reaching base after a fielding error by Brick Memorial short stop Mike Rytelewski. Dylan McDonnel then notched an infield single and would eventually beat out a play at second base on Tyler Iannarone's ground ball with one out.

Nick Vitale would then drive in Wilenta and McDonnel on a two-RBI single to left field. Iannarone and Vitale advanced to third and second base, respectivley, on the throw to home plate, giving the Dragons the 2-0 lead.

Brick added to their lead in the third inning as Carney and Sean Henry got things going with leadoff singles to left field. After Wilenta grounded into a fielder's choice at second base, McDonnel brought in courtesy runner John Fuino with a suicide squeeze.

Wilenta would score in the next at-bat as John Kizzman reached base when Ray Triano made a fielding error at second base.

McDonnel scored in the next at-bat, as Iannarone drove him in with a sacrifice fly to left, giving Brick the prominent 5-0 lead.

"We wanted to go in on a high note, since the Shore Conference seeding is [Monday] night," Groschel said.

Kevin Nilsen made the start for Brick Memorial, going five innings and giving up six runs -- three earned -- on six hits and striking out four batters.

The Mustangs struck just once, in the fifth inning, as Ryan Civello led the inning off for Memorial's first hit, belting a double to right-center field.

Civello would be driven in later, with two outs as Zack Santos drilled an RBI single to center field.

The 'Stangs were plagued by mistakes, particularly in the field throughout the game, as they saw their three game win streak come to an end.

"We need to make plays, especially against a team who's top ten in the Shore," Brick Memorial head coach Evan Rizzitello said.

Nilsen had a strong game despite the errors, as well as reliever Rob Schmidt who pitched an inning in relief, and only yielded a two-out walk.

Henry led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a single, stole second and third base, and scored on an RBI single by Kizzman to finalize the score at 6-1.

Brandon Kieslor pitched a strong sixth inning and A.J. Esposito pitched a perfect seventh inning to close out the win.