By TJ Hunt
Scouting Director, New Jersey

Toms River South 11, Toms River North 2

In the morning matchup from today, Toms River South made a statement with their victory over cross-town rival Toms River North. The Indians ripped off 18 hits on their way to an impressive 11-2 win on the road. Toms River South's two through five batters in the order accounted for 13 of the team's 18 hits.

Uncommitted 2018 OF TJ Scuderi led the way for the Indians, going an impressive 5-5 on the day, with a triple and two RBI. Number two batter in the order, Wagner recruit 3B Ben Montenegro had a stellar day of his own, going 4-5 with a triple and an RBI.

Toms River South jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top half of the 3rd and did not look back. North kept the game in reach until the back breaking blow in the 5th inning, when 2017 1B Matthew Fitzpatrick launched a bases clearing double to extend South's lead from 4-1 to 7-1, and there was no looking back.

St. John's recruit, 2017 LHP Justin Fall got the win, going 5.2 innings, scattering seven hits, striking out six and surrendering two runs. Fall helped his own cause in the top of the 3rd with a two run double to break the scoreless tie.

St. Joseph's (Mont.) 4, Don Bosco 3
 
St. Joe's got a strong pitching performance from Marist recruit 2017 RHP Nick Cantone on their way to a 4-3 victory over their Big North Conference rival Don Bosco. Cantone kept the Don Bosco order at bay with a strong mix of fastballs and off speed pitches. Cantone topped at 89 mph, and sat mostly 87-88. He flashed a sharp 11/5 breaking ball for strikes at 74-76 - on his way to a complete game performance. Cantone surrendered just three hits and struck out 11 while walking three.

St. Joe's jumped out to an early lead in the home half of the first inning when Cantone led off the inning with a clean single and stole second base. With one out, Virginia recruit, 2017 RHP/SS Devin Ortiz singled him in. Don Bosco would respond in the top of the second when Ryan Carr led the inning off with a long home run over the left field fence.

The score would remain tied at 1 until the bottom of the 3rd when Oritz came to the plate again, this time with two on and two outs. With two strikes, Ortiz doubled just inside the first base bag, bringing in one run. After Vanderbilt recruit 3B Justyn-Henry Malloy was walked intentionally, uncommitted 2018 1B Matthew Alaimo singled up the middle to score two - extending the lead to 4-1.

Don Bosco got two back in the 5th when Cantone ran into some command trouble, hitting the first hitter of the inning and then walking the next two to turn the order over to lead off batter Tommy Courtney. Courtney proceeded to barrel a one hopper back to Cantone that bounced out of his glove, scoring a run. Don Bosco's third run came on a wild pitch that took a nasty bounce out toward third base. Credit to Cantone though, as he was able to put out the fire, striking out the next three Bosco batters in order.

Neither team threatened to score again, and St. Joseph's remains undefeated, and the new No. 1 team in the state.

Don Bosco's uncommitted 2018 RHP Matthew Semon was electric, however. Sitting 86-89 for the entire game, he flashed a 10/4 gradual breaker at 70-74 mph and a true swing-and-miss changeup at 77-78 mph with significant armside fade and fastball arm action from a high-3/4 slot. Short, quick arm action, Semon's arm is clean and his body shows some length and projection as well. Semon has made an impressive jump since last summer and fall – which shouldn't see him uncommitted for much longer.

The two power houses meet up again on Wednesday at Don Bosco.


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