Top returning Shore Conference players for 2024 Baseball Season

RED BANK – Spring has sprung, and the beginning of the Shore Conference baseball season is rapidly approaching. Regular season games get underway this Monday, April 1 with a full slate of games on the schedule.

Although most of last season's hitting and pitching standouts have moved on to resume their careers at the next level, many returning players are coming off stellar seasons and ready to fill the void.

Returning All-State Players

SECOND TEAM: Sean Griggs, Red Bank Catholic, Sr., 3B, Alabama commit

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound left-handed hitter led the Caseys to a 24-6 record, a Class A Central title, the Shore Conference Tournament championship, and a trip to the NJSIAA Non-Public A final. Griggs hit for power (.621 slugging percentage) and averaged .396 at the plate with a .551 on-base percentage. He scored 26 runs and added a home run, three triples, and 14 RBI.

SECOND TEAM: Chris Levonas, CBA, Sr., RHP, Wake Forest commit

The hard-throwing righty went 5-1 with a sterling 1.14 ERA and 0.75 WHIP. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Levonas struck out 10 or more batters five times and had nine in another appearance. He finished fifth in the Shore Conference with 73 strikeouts and allowed just 20 hits and 12 walks in 42.2 innings pitched.

THIRD TEAM: Brandon Falco, Matawan, Sr., RHP, NJIT commit

Falco’s 5-5 record isn’t a true indication of his dominance over Shore Conference hitters last season. He finished second in the Shore with 83 strikeouts in 58.2 innings pitched, while walking just 21 batters. His 1.25 ERA was seventh in the Shore, and he added a paltry 1.07 WHIP. He had strikeout games of 15, 13 and 11, dominating with his upper 80s fastball and vanishing sinker.

Returning All-Group 1 Players

THIRD TEAM: E.J. Stefanelli, Shore Regional, Sr., C, Skidmore College commit

Stefanelli led the Blue Devils in almost every hitting category and was the team's heart and soul behind the plate. He hit for power and average, slugging five home runs while boasting a .643 slugging percentage and a .371 batting average. Stefanelli also scored 24 runs, had 26 hits in 70 at-bats and was a second-team All-Shore selection.

Returning All-Group 2 Players

FIRST TEAM: Jake Howlett, Wall, Sr., C, Monmouth University commit

Howlett had a monster year for the Crimson Knights. The rising backstop led all Shore Conference catchers in batting average (.427,) hits (38,) home runs (eight,) extra-base hits (17) and slugging percentage (.809.) He also finished second in RBIs (31) and third in doubles (eight.) His eight homers were third in the Shore and he was one of six Shore Conference players with a slugging percentage of .800 or higher. Howlett is undoubtedly one, if not the, best returning player entering the 2024 season. First-team All-Shore selection.

SECOND TEAM: Bryson Kirby, Point Pleasant Boro, Sr., CF/RHP, Monmouth University commit

Kirby excelled at the plate and on the mound in a breakout season for the Panthers. He went 4-2 with a 2.74 ERA, but it was his strikeout rate of 13.52 K’s per seven innings that was most impressive. His 72 strikeouts in 38.1 innings pitched was sixth in the Shore, and he will be one of the elite strikeout pitchers this upcoming season. Kirby was valuable with the stick as well. He averaged .397 at the plate with three home runs and 16 RBIs.

Returning All-Group 3 Players

SECOND TEAM: Nicco Maribo, Brick Memorial, Sr., CF, uncommitted

Maribo, a standout football player, helped the Mustangs to a share of their first division crown since 1995. He finished sixth in the Shore Conference in hits (37) and 13th in both runs scored (29) and stolen bases (17,) while hitting a smoking .425 with 11 doubles and .500 on base percentage.

Returning All-Non Public Players

SECOND TEAM: Jake Marciano, Donovan Catholic, Sr., LHP, Virginia Tech commit

Marciano’s 2023 numbers won’t blow you away, but his fastball (90-plus miles per hour) definitely will. He struck out 62 batters in 35.1 innings pitched with only 11 walks. Marciano went 3-2 with a 3.57 ERA, but his 1.05 WHIP was in the top 15 of the Shore Conference. In the Ocean County Tournament championship game, Marciano struck out 16 and allowed just four hits in leading the Griffins to their first-ever OCT title.

Returning All-Shore Players

FIRST TEAM: Brady Lesiak, Southern Regional, Sr., RHP/3B, Binghamton University commit

PITCHING: (6-0), 1.93 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 62 K’s, 50.2 IP, 18 BB, 35 H

HITTING: .407 BA, .485 OBP, .580 SLUG, 3 HR, 26 RBI, 16 R, 5 2B, 7BB

SECOND TEAM: Dylan Briggs, Middletown North, Sr., CF, Montclair State commit

.461 BA, 1 HR, 17 RBI, .511 OBP, .615 SLUG, 21 R, 7 2B, 1 3B, 36 H, 11 SB

SECOND TEAM: Dylan Passo, RBC, Jr., LF/RF, University of Notre Dame commit

.329 BA, 3 HR, 21 RBI, .476 OBP, .537 SLUG, 6 2B, 1 3B, 21 R, 20 BB, 5 SB

THIRD TEAM: Cristian Soto, Central Regional, Sr., C, Lafayette commit

.368 BA, 1 HR, 15 RBI, .500 OBP, .526 SLUG, 1 3B, 4 2B, 21 H, 9 R, 12 BB, 2 SB

THIRD TEAM: Mike McCormack, SJV, Jr., 3B/1B, uncommitted

.375 BA, 5 HR, 31 RBI, .432 OBP, .703 SLUG, 2 3B, 4 2B, 18 R, 24 H, 5 BB, 6 SB

THIRD TEAM: Nicco Maribo, Brick Memorial, Sr., CF, uncommitted

.425 BA, 37 H, 29 R, 17 SB, .500 OBP, .575 SLUG, 11 2B, 1 3B, 11 RBI

THIRD TEAM: Zach Hampton, Middletown North, Jr., 3B/RHP, UMBC commit

HITTING: .413, 1 HR, 19 RBI, .510 OBP, .507 SLUG, 4 2B, 10 BB, 31 H, 23 R

PITCHING: (5-3), 3.58 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 21 K’s, 45 IP, 15 BB, 49 H

THIRD TEAM: Declan Leary, RBC, Sr., RHP, Naval Academy commit

(6-0), 1.04 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 26 K’s, 33.2 IP, 17 BB, 20 H, 5 ER

THIRD TEAM: Steve Svenson, RBC, Sr., RHP, Seton Hall commit

(5-4), 2.87 ERA, 110 WHIP, 43 K’s, 46.1 IP, 12 BB, 39 H, 19 ER

UPDATE: The Caseys pitching staff took a huge hit when Svenson recently underwent season-ending knee surgery and is lost for the season. In Svenson’s absence, last season’s super sophomore Ryan Prior, a junior right-hander, will be asked to carry the load along with Leary.

Ryan Prior - 2023 stats: (3-0), 0.61 ERA, 24 K’s, 23 IP, 18 BB, 17 H

Shore Conference Returning All-Division Players

A NORTH

Mason Christopher, Middletown North, Sr., P

Danny Tsimbinos, CBA, Jr., C

Tommy Diffley, Colts Neck, Sr., 1B

Mike Avino, Freehold Township, Sr., INF

Gabe Ahlemeyer, Middletown North, Jr., LHP/1B/OF

Braden Walsh, Howell, Sr., C

A CENTRAL

Phil Kramer, Raritan, Sr., LHP

Jake Riva, RFH, Sr., LF

Matt Brunner, RBC, Sr., OF

Evan Booth, Monmouth, Sr., OF

A SOUTH

Nick Garbooshian, Brick Memorial, Sr., P

Roger Dreher, Southern, Sr., P

Niko Diamantopoulos, Southern, Sr. 1B

Matt Ferrara, Toms River East, Jr., INF

Ray Mulhern, Southern, Sr., OF

Chris Quick, Brick, Jr. DH

Gabe Tomei, Southern, Sr., P

B NORTH

Nate Ruth, Red Bank Regional, Jr., P

Ryan Costello, Ranney, Sr., P

Ben Robinson, Ocean Twp., Jr., INF

Curtis Chropuvka, Ranney, Jr., OF

Sean Hart, Matawan, Sr., LF

Jack Tinik, Neptune, Sr., P/INF

B CENTRAL

James Brophy, St. Rose, Sr., P

Aiden Winters, Henry Hudson, Sr., P

Erik Schmidt, Keyport, Sr., P

Nate Clayton, Point Pleasant Beach, Sr., C

Bryan Matuschat, Point Pleasant Beach, Sr., INF

Jack Tiernan, St. Rose, Sr., INF

Cole Reinhard, Point Pleasant Beach, Sr., INF

Peter Nolan, St. Rose, So. INF

Tommy Conroy, Point Pleasant Beach, So., OF

Anthony Crudo, St. Rose, Sr., OF

Brennan Sherman, St. Rose, Sr., OF

Hayden Kurdes, Henry Hudson, Sr., OF

Tristan Knoblach, Keyport, So., OF

B SOUTH

Joe Maier, Donovan Catholic, Sr., INF

Michael Kisseberth, Jackson Liberty, Jr., INF

Nick Bruno, Barnegat, So., INF

Tyler Levine, Donovan Catholic, Jr., DH

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