Sports
Point Pleasant Beach Falters To Shore Regional In Opener
Winning pitcher Matt Dwyer proves too much in season-opening game
The Point Pleasant Beach High School baseball team opened its season on the wrong foot, losing to Shore Regional, 5 to 3, in West Long Branch on Saturday afternoon.
The Gulls were bedeviled by Shore Regional High School starter Matt Dwyer, who was dominant, allowing one unearned run over five innings.
“He was tremendous for us today,” said Shore head coach Jeff Karpell. “He was able to mix all of his pitches and did a good job of keeping Point Beach off balance.”
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The Gulls were able to score the game's first run aided by a two-base error by Shore’s right fielder Alex Cameron.
However, the Devils countered in the bottom half of the second inning after Evan Ruane belted a triple and scored on a Matt Cosantino sacrifice fly.
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Dwyer was locked in a pitchers' duel with Point Beach starter Joe Scerbo until the bottom of the fourth inning.
Dwyer helped his own cause with a two-out, run-scoring single scoring Ruane for a 2-1 advantage.
“It’s always nice to help yourself out, especially when it’s a tight low scoring game,” Dwyer said. “I just looked to shorten up and put the ball in play.”
The Devils were able to build upon their one-run lead in the bottom half of the fifth inning. Point Beach removed Scerbo for reliever Matt Percheski, who was clocked for three runs in the inning capped off by a two-run single by RJ Bohnert. The big inning led to Karpell pulling Dwyer after just 71 pitches through five innings.
“I was debating whether I was going to let Matty start the sixth,” Karpell said. “Once we were able to plate a few, I decided enough was enough, especially considering he hasn’t gone more than three innings so far in the preseason.”
The Gulls were able to mount a late rally in the top half of the seventh inning against Ruane.
Point Beach scored two runs and sent right fielder Nick Fiore to the plate as the tying run.
Fiore proceeded to harmlessly pop-up to third base sealing the opener for the Devils.
“Point Beach definitely gave us a scare in the seventh,” Karpell said. “That’s the type of team they are. They’re going to have a good season.”
