LINCROFT – The Jersey Blues battled the Road Runners to a one, one tie for seven and a third innings, before giving up three runs in the bottom of the eighth in their 4-1 loss Saturday in the NJCAA DIII REGION XIX Playoffs.

With the loss, Brookdale finishes the season with a (36-15, 22-4) record, good for third place in the conference.

Gloucester (45-9, 23-3) went on to defeat Camden in two games for their nineteenth Region XIX Championship and will travel to Tyler Texas this weekend in quest of their seventh National Championship.

Rich Gabriel (Toms River South) kept the Blues in the game with an outstanding pitching performance, going 7 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on five hits and three walks, while striking out six batters.

Juedy Ventura (Union City) drove in the Blues lone run with a RBI single in the fifth inning. Joe Henderson (Spring Lake NC) and Dean Wilson (Hadden Heights) singled and Joe Post (Bishop Ahr) hit a sacrifice fly to move the runner into scoring position.

Brookdale had split two games on Friday (losing 12-2 to Camden then beating Northampton 10-2) to advance in the tournament.

In the Northampton game, Will Siegfried (Middletown South) got the win in impressive fashion by going the distance. Siegfried tossed eight innings, giving up one earned run on seven hits, walking one, and striking out eight.

Dave Egeland (Toms River South) blasted a two run home run in the first inning, easily clearing the right field fence to jump start the Blues. Ryan Drew (Howell) had doubled in Post before Egeland’s big hit for the game’s first run.

Joe Post went four for four, with an RBI, and three runs scored.

It was another very successful year for Head Coach Johnny Johnson’s team, one that he can build on for another run at championship next year.

LINCROFT – Brookdale (49-6, 18-2) lost two, one-run games to the 2011 NJCAA DIII National Champion, Gloucester this weekend, ending the hopes and dreams of their own National Championship.

Gloucester (40-9, 19-1), and currently ranked number one nationally in DIII play, defeated the Blues 4-3 on Saturday and 2-1 Sunday to advance to the NJCAA DIII National Tournament.

Brookdale began the weekend defeating Northampton, 13-0 in the opening game. Carly Gleason (Brick) tossed a two hit shut-out and Emma Erbig (Brick) smacked a two-run home run in the first, her team leading sixth on the year.

That set up the first game versus Gloucester. Brookdale held a 3-0 lead into to the sixth inning, when some untimely sloppy play resulted in three unearned runs in the four run Gloucester inning, to give them a 4-3 lead.

But the Blues attempt at a comeback came up empty, as Tournament MVP Kristina Morgan shut them down the rest of the way, resulting in the 4-3 loss. Deanna Daluise (Manalapan) was the hard luck loser for the Blues.

In Sunday’s opening game, Brookdale defeated Middlesex 8-2 to advance to the second showdown of the weekend with Gloucester. Gleason won her second game of the Tournament and twenty second on the year, placing her third nationally in NJCAA DIII softball. 

In the second Gloucester game, the Roadrunners jumped out to 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first, and then increased their lead to 2-0 in the fourth on a Brookdale error and another unearned run.

The Blues closed the gap to one run in the top of the sixth, on Holly Klodin’s (Eatontown) solo shot, her third on the year.

But that was as close as the Blues would get, as Morgan once again shut them down to end the game, and Brookdale’s season. Daluise pitched brilliantly, giving up only one earned run to keep the Blues in the game the whole way.

Brookdale’s forty-nine wins set a school record for wins in a season, a tremendous accomplishment for this very talented team. A great accomplishment, yes, but just a little short of the one this team had in mind.

LINCROFT – In a tie game suspended after 19 innings Saturday at MacLaughlin Field because of darkness, it only took Brookdale one inning Sunday to score the winning run and advance to the NJCAA Region XIX Playoffs second round.

In Saturday’s second game, five hour marathon, Brookdale pitchers didn’t allow an earned run during the entire 19 innings.

Starter Rich Gabriel (Toms River South) went 8 2/3 innings giving up two runs (0 earned) on six hits, three walks and struck out six.

Pat Jensen (Lacy) relieved Gabriel with runners on first and second and promptly got Ocean catcher Rich Zonin on a bouncer back to the mound to end the inning. Jensen shut out Ocean for 5 1/3 innings on three hits, walking one and striking out six.

Cory Brown (Ocean Township) entered the pitching duel in the fifteenth inning and was just as unhittable as his two teammates. Brown threw five innings of scoreless ball, permitting only one hit and one walk, while striking out four.

Dave Egeland’s (Toms River South) two run single up the middle in the third inning accounted for Brookdale’s only runs in the suspended game.

On Sunday, as play resumed in the top of the twentieth, Ryan Sulluvan (Livingston) took the ball for the Blues and retired the side, not giving up a run, hit or walk to get the win.

It didn’t take Brookdale long to end it in the bottom of the inning, as number two hitter Chris Baird (Manalapan) lined a single to left .Dan Nieves then got the game winner, drilling a single to center, that was bobbled by the centerfielder, allowing Baird to score and hand the Blues an extremely long, hard fought  3-2 victory.

All but forgotten was Brookdale’s 6-1 victory in the first game Saturday that allowed Brookdale to sweep Ocean and avoid playing a third game to advance to the second round.

In a game that seemed like it was played last Saturday, Will Siegfried (Middletown South) started the trend of excellent pitching on the day by hurling 6 2/3 innings of one run (0ER), six hit ball. He issued two walks and struck out seven to gain the win.

Paul Palandino (Allentown) entered for Siegfried with two out in the seventh with runners on the corners. Working the count full, he got Devon Snead to ground to first baseman Dave Egeland for an unassisted out to end the inning.

Palandino worked 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for the save. He gave up only one hit, walked none and struck out two.

If you combine the two games, Brookdale’s pitching staff did not give up an earned run in twenty nine innings of work.

Dan Nieves had a RBI double in the eighth for the Blues, who were stifled all afternoon by some terrific shut-down pitching from the Ocean CC pitching staff.

Brookdale (35-13, 22-4) will travel to Gloucester for the NJCAA DIII REG XIX Double Elimination Tournament for a chance to move on to the National Tournament. Their first game opponent will be Camden County College (37-9, 23-3), which defeated Cumberland two games to one over the weekend to advance.

The Blues will play two games Friday, 5-11-12, times TBA.

LINCROFT – Deanna Daluise (Manalapan) picked up her twenty first win on the season and Carly Gleason (Brick) notched her twentieth win, in leading Brookdale (47-5, 18-2) to a doubleheader sweep of the Titans in the final regular season games, Tuesday at Brookdale.

Daluise tossed seven shutout innings in the first game, 5-0 victory, allowing only four hits and two walks, while striking out six. Her total dominance over the Morris hitters was overwhelming, as she set down the Titan line up in order over the final three innings.

Taylor McDonough (Manchester) went two for three with an RBI and run scored and Emma Erbig (Brick) had two hits, including a double, RBI and two runs scored.

In the second game, Carly Gleason went the distance allowing one earned run, scattering seven hits, walked one and struck out three in the 6-2 win.

In posting her twentieth win on the season it marks only the second time in Brookdale’s storied softball history that two players have posted twenty win seasons in the same year.

Molly Carroll (Union Beach) had a RBI double and Emma Erbig an RBI single in the first inning, as the Blues jumped out to a 3-0 lead.

Morris put up two runs on the board in the third inning to make it a one run game, but Gleason shut them down the rest of the way.

Taylor McDonough gave the Blues some breathing room in the top of the fourth, drilling a two run RBI double, handing the Blues a three run cushion. Those two RBI gave her 60 on the year, ranking her seventh nationally. Chelsea Alston (Matawan) contributed three hits and scored twice.

Erbig’s second RBI on the day in the sixth gave the Blues their final margin of victory.

The landmark forty seventh win was an all-time high for the Blues, an unbelievable accomplishment for the team that plays in a program as successful as Brookdale’s has been in past years. This is a true testament to the dedication of each and every player and especially to their longtime head coach, Bo Scannapieco.

The Jersey Blues will compete in the NJCAA REG.XIX post season tournament this weekend at Northampton. It’s a four team double elimination playoff system, with the winner heading to the National Tournament.

Brookdale is slated for a Saturday, 12:00 p.m. game against Northampton (24-11, 16-4).

LINCROFT – Down by one run in the bottom of the eighth, Brookdale scored two runs in dramatic fashion to win five to four in extra innings, taking both ends of the doubleheader Sunday, at MacLaughlin Field.

Dave Egeland (Toms River South) started things off in the bottom of the eighth with a double to left center and Joamy Domguez (Bronx, NY) promptly drove him in with a sharp single to right to tie the score at four. Domguez advanced to third on the throw to the plate.

The stage was set, as Joe Henderson (Spring Lake N.C.) stepped to the plate with two outs and Domguez standing at second. Henderson delivered a line single over the head of the second baseman to drive in Domguez and hand the Blues a thrilling victory and two game sweep of the Spartans.

Freshman Will Siegfried (Middletown South) pitched brilliantly, going seven strong innings to keep the game close and give the Blues the chance to win it in extra innings. Siegfried allowed one earned run on four hits, while walking only two batters.

Paul Pallandino (Allentown) relieved Siegfried in the eighth and was credited with the win.

Joe Post (Bishop Arh.) ripped a RBI triple and Juedy Ventura (Union City) brought Post home with a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning to tie the score at three to set up the extra inning heroics.

In the first game, won by Brookdale 12-8, Pat Jensen (Lacy) came on in relief of Charlie Weinkosfky (Ocean) with two outs and two on in the sixth and the tying run at third. Jensen worked the count full and struck out Kyle Dauscher swinging to end the inning and preserve Brookdale’s one run lead.

Holding on to the precarious one run lead in the bottom of the sixth, Juedy Ventura doubled to deep center field and Ryan Drew (Howell) singled to put runners at the corners.

Dave Egeland, who had doubled in two runs in the fourth inning, then blasted a three run home run over the right field fence in the bottom of the inning for a four run cushion and a five RBI day.

Jensen came on to pitch a scoreless seventh inning with Dan Nieves making a fine running catch in centerfield to end the game. Starting pitcher Rich Gabrial was credited with the win.

Joe Henderson smacked a home run over the right center field fence in the fourth inning to ignite a four run inning for the Blues.

Brookdale ((33-13,22-4), closes out its regular season Tuesday, May 1st on the road at Mercer CC, then will host a REGION XIX playoff game Saturday,May 5th at an opponent yet to be determined.  First pitch is slated for 12 noon.

LINCROFT – Deanna Daluise won her twentieth game on the season Thursday, at Sussex CC, pacing Brookdale to an 11-1, 16-2 doubleheader drubbing of the Skylanders.

Daluise, tossed seven innings of two hit ball, striking out seven, and walking just one batter in her milestone win.

The Blues scored five runs in the top of the seventh to put the game out of reach with Taylor McDonough (Manchester)  supplying the big hit with a two run double.

Molly Carroll went three for three, with two RBI, while Holly Klodin (Eatontown) was three for four,driving in two. Kathleen Sharp (Toms River East) and Taylor McDonough each contributed two RBI.

In the second game, Carly Gleason (Brick) gave up one earned run and scattered five hits, earning her nineteenth win on the season in the five inning, 16-2, ‘mercy rule’ win. Gleason stuck out four and walked three.

Kathleen Sharp continued her torrid hitting, going four for five with two doubles and three RBI, while Taylor McDonough had three hits and two RBI.

Emma Erbig (Brick) blasted her team leading fifth home run on the year and Holly Klodin went two for two with an RBI.

The Jersey Blues (45-5, 18-2) return home Tuesday, May 1st, for their final regular season games, in a 2:30 p.m. doubleheader against Morris C.C.

LINCROFT – The much anticipated battle between the NJCAA DIII number one and two ranked teams ended in a draw as the two teams split a doubleheader Saturday at Brookdale.

Brookdale (41-5, 16-2) won the first game, nine-two, behind the pitching of their ace, Deanna Deluise (Manalapan). Deluise gave up one earned run, three hits, three walks, while striking out six batters for her eighteenth win on the season.

The Lady Blues scored first, when Emma Erbig (Brick) drilled a first inning pitch over the center field fence driving in Kathleen Sharp (Toms River East), who had singled, to give the Blues an early two-zip lead. The homer was Erbig’s fourth on the year.

In the third, the Blues struck again as Taylor McDonough (Manchester) doubled home two runs. The two RBI were Mc Donough’s fifty first and second on the year. With her second game RBI, McDonough is fourth in NJCAA DIII softball.

Two batters later, Molly Carroll (Union Beach) blasted one over the center field fence to hand Brookdale a third inning seven-two lead. It was Carroll’s first dinger on the year.

The Blues tacked on two more runs in the sixth on Erbig’s two run single to center, giving her four RBI on the day and a nine- two lead, which held up for the final score.

In the second game, Brookdale jumped out to three-two lead on the bottom of the third on Kathleen Sharp’s two run single and McDonough’s sac fly. But the Blues couldn’t hold the lead and Gloucester went on to record an eight-four win and a split.

The Blues remain a game behind Gloucester in the Region XIX standings with four games to play before the playoffs.

Brookdale will host Mercer CC for a Tuesday, April 24th doubleheader. First pitch scheduled for 3:00 P.M.

LINCROFT – In the Jersey Blues 28-3 first game blow-out of Atlantic Cape Thursday, at Brookdale, it was never a matter of if they would win, but more of a matter of how many runs would they score.

Brookdale produced an eleven run fourth inning and a nine run fifth inning during the onslaught, banging out 29 hits on the day, a season high.

Every player in the starting lineup had at least one hit and altogether twelve players hit safely.

Brandon Coluccio (Freehold) led the way for the Blues going four for four with a double, four RBI and four runs scored. Joe Post (Bishop Arh) went three for four with two doubles, four RBI and three runs scored.

Willy Taverz (Union City) and Dan Nieves both contributed three RBI, while Dean Wilson (Hadden Hts.), Joe Henderson (Spring Lake,NC) and Eligah Plant each drove in two runs.

Freshman Cory Brown (Ocean Twp.) picked up the win in impressive fashion, hurling four shutout innings on three hits, while striking one, without issuing a walk.

The second game was a five inning, weather shortened, four-zero Brookdale victory.

Ryan Sullivan (Livingston) was untouchable for the Blues, tossing five innings of one hit shut-out ball, striking out six, while walking only one batter.

Criss Sullivan (Wallington) singled home Joe Post in the first inning for the winning run, then in the bottom of the fourth, Willy Taverez had a RBI single and Joe Post drove in two for the final margin of victory.

The Jersey Blues (31-13, 20-4) host Northampton CC, Sunday, April 29, in a home doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at MacLaughlin Field. The outcome of both games has major implications on playoff positioning.

LINCROFT – The Jersey Blues men’s lacrosse team (10-3, 3-0) ended their regular season on a high note, defeating Briarcliff College of Long Island 12 – 9, Saturday at Brookdale.

Broodale’s leading scorer (42 goals), Marc Scoran (Old Bridge) scored the Blues first goal, two minutes into the game with an assist from Shane Raymond (Old Bridge) to knot the contest at one.

The Blues then produced the games next eight five goals to take a six-one lead with six and a half minutes remaining in the first quarter. Raymond (2), Leonard Bellezza (West Windsor) (2), and Harlen Bernardo (Rumson) accounted for the scores. Raymonds goals were his twenty sixth and seventh goals on the year.

Briarcliffe came back with two goals before Brookdale closed out the first period scoring, when midfielder Thomas Dougherty (Toms River) took it to the net for a goal with thirty three seconds remaining in the quarter and a seven-three lead.

The second quarter turned defensive as Dougherty scored the only goal of the period with two minutes remaining, for eight-three half time lead.

Brookdale scored the first two, and their only two goals of third quarter to take a commanding ten-three lead on goals by Scoran and Andrew Lalli (West Windsor). But Briarcliffe caught fire, scoring four straight goals, to close out the third quarter with the momentum clearly on their side.

Zander Maslow (Westfield) gave the Blues a little breathing room scoring seven and a half minutes into the fourth period on an unassisted goal, but Briacliffe came right back to score two, the second with a minute twenty remaining to make the score eleven-nine.

Scoran ended any doubt with his third goal of the game with fourteen seconds remaining to put the icing on the cake and a twelve-nine win against a very talented Long Island team.

Josef Kaczor (Oakhurst) and Bellezza had two assists, PJ Maher (Rumson), Charlie Schoch (Freehold), Raymond and Scoran each contributed an assist. Bellezza and Scoran both had four points in the game.

The Blues are the number one seed in this weekend’s NJCAA REGION XIX Playoffs, being held at Morris CC.

LINCROFT – Down by five runs in the bottom of seventh, the Jersey Blues (27-13,16-4) scored four runs but came up short in the five-four loss to the Cougars (28-8, 19-3) in the second game, Saturday at MacLaughlin Field.

Dan Nieves doubled in the Blues first run, and then Criss Sullivan (Wallington) singled in two to cut the deficit to five-three with only one out. Willy Taverz (Union City) stepped up next and delivered a RBI single scoring Sulluvan who had advanced to third on the overthrow.

That made it a one run game with only one out and Taverz at first base, but the overly aggressive Taverz was picked off first for the second out of the inning.

 But the Blues weren’t done, as Joe Post (Bishop Arh) lined a single to center bringing up slugger Juedy Ventura (Union City). Ventura  got the pitch he was looking for and drilled what at first looked like the game winning  home run to center field, only to come up just short as the catch was made at the fence in the deepest part of the field.

In the first game the Blues were down five-three entering the bottom of the seventh inning. Leadoff batter Joe Post lined a single to right and stole second. Juedy Ventura then singled to right and he promptly stole second to place runners at first and second with no outs.

Ryan Drew (Howell) bounced out to the pitcher and clean-up hitter Dave Egeland (Toms River South) then grounded to first, scoring Post to make the score five-four with Ventura at third. That’s as close as the Blues would get as Dan Nieves bounced out pitcher to first to end the game.

Cory Brown (Ocean Twp.) took the loss in relief of Rich Gabriel (Toms River South).

Brookdale’s next home game is a Sunday, April 29 doubleheader vs. Northampton. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at MacLaughlin Field.