By Steven M. Glassman
Director of Sports Information
April 7, 2018
EDISON, NJ—Ocean County College (13-7 Overall, 5-5 NJCAA Region XIX Division III) sophomore starting pitcher Matt Malatesta (4-0) threw a no-hitter, striking out 10 as the Vikings shutout the Manor College Blue Jays (1-6, 1-5), 8-0 in game two of a doubleheader.
Freshman center fielder Abdur-Rauf Mujahid (Philadelphia, PA/Boys Latin) led off the game, reaching on a Malatesta fielding error. He advanced to second on a balk and went to third on a freshman shortstop Jose Romero (Philadelphia, PA/Frankford) ground out to second. Freshman third baseman Sauriel Baez (Philadelphia, PA/Esperanza Charter) walked and stole second. However, Malatesta retired the next two hitters to end the inning.
Ocean County started the scoring in the bottom of the first, sending eight hitters to the plate, and scoring four runs. Sophomore designated hitter Dhillon Barbetti led off with a hit by pitch and scored on freshman third baseman Kyle Lauria's one-out double to left. Lauria scored on sophomore Ron Velardi's two-out double to right. Freshman right fielder Mike O'Halloran followed with another two-out double to left, scoring Velardi. Freshman shortstop Sean Bernado closed out the scoring for the inning on the Vikings' third straight double, which scored O'Halloran.
The Vikings scored two in the bottom of the second. Sophomore second baseman James Papamakariou walked with two out. Freshman pinch-runner Mike Valerio advanced to second on a wild pitch. Lauria reached on a Manor error which scored Valerio. Sophomore first baseman Nick Moglia's single to center scored Lauria.
Ocean County scored a run in bottom of the fourth. Lauria walked with one out, stole second, and advanced to third on Moglia's single to left. Velardi's two-out sacrifice fly to center scored Lauria.
Freshman catcher Abimael Mercado (Philadelphia, PA/Juan Ponce De Leon [PR]) walked with one out in the top of the fifth and advanced to second when Mujahid was hit by a pitch. Mercado advanced to third on a Romero fly out to center. Mujahid stole second with two out. However, Malatesta retired the next hitter and ended another Manor's scoring threat.
The Vikings closed out its scoring in the fifth. Freshman catcher Sebi Bellone singled to left with one out and scored on Slinger's double to center.
After freshman designated hitter Hector Morales (Philadelphia, PA/Esperanza Charter) led off the top of the sixth with a walk, freshman shortstop Nicholas Herrera (Philadelphia, PA/Frankford) reached on a fielder's choice ground out to Lauria with one out. He went to second on Malatesta's second balk of the game. However, Malatesta got the next two hitters to end the inning.
Batting Leaders: Manor's streak of four consecutive games with double-digit hits ended.
Moglia had two hits and a RBI for Ocean County. Slinger contributed two hits, including a double. Lauria scored three times and stole a base. Velardi knocked in two runs. Eight of the nine Ocean County starters had at least one hit.
Pitching Leaders: Freshman starting pitcher Samuel Pena (Philadelphia, PA/Liceo Vespertino Pedro MIR [DR]) (0-1), pitched five innings in the loss.
Next Game: Manor play the NJCAA Region XIX Division III Union County College Owls (4-13, 0-6 Region XIX Division III) on Wednesday, April 11 in Cranford, New Jersey at 3:30 p.m.