2025 Shore Conference Baseball Preview: Coastal

The move to Class B Central was a relief for both Long Branch and Lakewood after the two programs took their share of beatings playing in divisions with more powerful programs – especially Long Branch in dealing with Class A North schedules. Even in moving into the Shore Conference’s small-school division, however, Long Branch, Lakewood and most of their new division rivals still had two standout programs to deal with in Point Pleasant Beach and St. Rose.

Point Beach and St. Rose have now moved out of the division, and Class B Central is simply the Coastal division of the Shore Conference. Last year was Long Branch’s second season in Class B Central and even with four of its games coming against Point Beach and St. Rose, the Green Wave have gone 15-13 in divisional play over the past two years. With the two perennial favorites now gone, the Green Wave have a chance at a division championship thanks to a roster that brings back seven starters in the batting order and the three innings leaders on the mound from 2024: Carlos Torres, Kellen Campbell and Justin Cuevas.

The third-place finishers of the past few years figures to be the big winner of the new divisional alignment and that distinction goes to Henry Hudson. The Admirals are coming off a second straight third-place finish in B Central, but will have to deal with the graduation of four core seniors in Hayden Kurdes, Aiden Winters, Chris Parmigiani and  Nick Dowd. On the plus side, Henry Hudson successfully broke in a number of underclass players in important roles last season and should reap the benefits with junior David Ortore, classmate Jeter Woods and sophomores Marshall Colangelo, Nico Kurdes and Jack Burton all coming into their own after starting a season ago.

The Keyport-Keansburg rivalry will play out in a battle for the top spot in the division with both Long Branch and Henry Hudson. Keansburg got the better of the rivalry last year by finishing tied with Long Branch for fourth place. Despite losing a key contributor in two-way starter P.J. Sears, the Titans bring back most of their production from a year ago. That starts with Mike Burke, Mikey Clayton and James Valle, who are the top three returning hitters as well as the top three in the pitching rotation.

Keyport has a similar roster to Keansburg in that the Red Raiders will be hoping to overcome the graduation of a key two-way player in Erik Schmidt by leaning on a young and promising core. Ryan Byrne, Jacob Pinto, Danny Metrick and Tristan Knoblauch all had solid 2024 seasons at the plate, and Paxton Douglass was impressive on the mound as a freshman a season ago.

Lakewood and Asbury Park split their early-season series with one another in 2024, which resulted in a tie for the bottom spot in the B Central standings last year. Both teams are sure to be improved this year thanks to both returning most of their 2024 rosters, with Lakewood also playing under first-year coach John Bernaski following the retirement of 20-year head coach Gene Drumright.

 

In predicted order of finish

1. Long Branch

Head Coach: Ben Woolley, sixth season
2024 Record: 8-15 (7-7, tied fourth in Class B Central)
Key Losses: Nick Miller (C), Romeo Martinez (OF), Jose Cuevas-Vives (3B)

Around the Diamond (with 2024 stats)

Returning Starters in Bold

Catcher: Qua’Dir Brown, So.

First Base: Noah Hoogmoed, Sr. (.282/.462/.282, 11 R, 5 RBI, 14 SB)

Second Base: Havier Gonzalez, Sr. (.231/.459/.308, 1 3B, 10 R, 7 RBI, 14 SB)

Shortstop: David Jules, So. (.240/.397/.360, 4 2B, 1 3B, 9 R, 11 RBI, 11 SB)

Third Base: Alexander Lucas, Fr.

Leftfield: Korey Castillo, Sr.; Max Glantzberg, So.

Centerfield: Christopher Moses, Sr.

Rightfield: Kellen Campbell, Jr. (.143/.354/.265, 2 2B, 2 3B, 8 R, 5 RBI, 14 SB)

DH: Carlos Torres, Sr. (.316/.422/.316, 5 R, 8 RBI, 2 SB); Jaylen Brooks, Sr., .311/.475/.311, 11 R, 8 RBI, 15 SB); Justin Cuevas, Jr. (.276/.400/.276, 7 R, 6 RBI)

 

Pitching Staff

Carlos Torres, Sr., RHP (2-4, 24 IP, 25 H, 23 BB, 41 SO, 6.12 ERA)

Kellen Campbell, Jr., LHP (4-3, 27.2 IP, 31 H, 36 BB, 43 SO, 8.85 ERA)

Justin Cuevas, Jr., RHP (1-1, 24.1 IP, 30 H, 16 BB, 26 SO, 4.31 ERA)

David Jules, So., RHP (0-2, 6.2 IP, 19 H, 25 ER, 13 BB, 13 SO)

Noah Hoogmoed, Sr., RHP (1-2, 12.1 IP, 18 H, 20 BB, 9 SO, 12.49 ERA)

Alexander Lucas, Fr., RHP

Gary Ribiero, Jr., RHP (0-1, 8 IP, 11 H, 19 BB, 7 SO, 15.75 ERA)

 

 

2. Henry Hudson

Head Coach: Mike Herrmann, fourth season
2024 Record: 12-8 (8-6, third in Class B Central)
Key Losses: Hayden Kurdes (CF/RHP), Aiden Winters (SS/RHP), Chris Parmigiani (LHP/1B), Nick Dowd (3B/RHP)

Around the Diamond (with 2024 stats)

Returning Starters in Bold

Catcher: Marshall Colangelo, So. (.273/.333/.318, 2 2B, 6 R, 5 RBI, 12 SB)

First Base: Jack Burton, So. (.226/.429/.258, 1 2B, 9 R, 4 RBI, 3 SB)

Second Base: Jeter Woods, Jr.; Erick Rodriguez, So.

Shortstop: Teddy Fariello, Sr. (.176/.288/.196, 1 2B, 10 R, 8 RBI, 15 SB); Jeter Woods, Jr.

Third Base: David Ortore, Jr. (.309/.365/.345, 1 3B, 16 R, 23 RBI, 16 SB); Erick Rodriguez, So.

Leftfield: Nate Boms, Jr.

Centerfield: Zach Margolick, So.

Rightfield: Nico Kurdes, So. (.267/.353/.267, 8 R, 4 RBI, 6 SB)

 

Pitching Staff

Teddy Fariello, Sr., RHP (1-1, 14.1 IP, 24 H, 6 BB, 15 SO, 3.91 ERA)

David Ortore, Jr., RHP (0-1, 6 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 6 SO)

Zach Margolick, So., LHP

Jack Burton, So., LHP (1-0, 3 IP, 2 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 8 SO)

Jeter Woods, Jr., RHP

 

 

3. Keansburg

Head Coach: Uriel Morfin, fourth season
2024 Record: 7-9 (7-7, tied fourth in Class B Central)
Key Losses: Phil Sears (RHP/DH), John Gilliland (3B)

Around the Diamond (with 2024 stats)

Returning Starters in Bold

Catcher: Manny Ramirez, Sr. (.344/.553/.344, 2 R, 14 RBI)

First Base: Shawn Retta, Jr. (.250/.471/.278, 1 2B, 11 R, 9 RBI, 7 SB)

Second Base: Bryan Gilliland, Jr.; Jaiden Arenas, Jr.

Shortstop: Mike Burke, Jr. (.444/.525/.600, 7 2B, 14 R, 12 RBI, 5 SB); Mikey Clayton, So.

Third Base: Mikey Clayton, So. (.462/.517/.558, 5 2B, 22 R, 22 RBI, 13 SB); Kevin Perez, Sr.

Leftfield: Gavin Blozen, Sr.

Centerfield: James Valle, Sr. (.370/.473/.391, 1 2B, 14 R, 14 RBI, 5 SB); Kevin Perez, Sr.

Rightfield: Isaiah Massey, Sr. (3-for-15, 5 R, 2 RBI); Rynell Hunley, Sr.

 

Pitching Staff

Mikey Clayton, So., RHP (1-5, 32 IP, 49 H, 17 BB, 29 SO, 6.56 ERA)

Mike Burke, Jr., RHP (2.1 IP, 8 H, 13 ER, 8 BB, 3 SO)

James Valle, Sr., RHP (2-1, 11.2 IP, 15 H, 6 BB, 19 SO, 6.60 ERA)

Kevin Perez, Sr., RHP

 

 

4. Keyport

Head Coach: Kyle Keelen, 13th season
2024 Record: 7-13 (6-8, sixth in Class B Central)
Key Losses: Erik Schmidt (LHP/DH); Carter Williams (RHP/OF), Andrew Staeger (OF/LHP)

Around the Diamond (with 2024 stats)

Returning Starters in Bold

Catcher: Evin Johnson, Jr. (5-for-21, 3 R, 5 RBI)

First Base: Casey McCarthy, Jr.

Second Base: Jacob Pinto, Jr. (.426/.534/.489, 3 2B, 14 R, 10 RBI, 7 SB)

Shortstop: Ryan Byrne, Jr. (.383/.525/.574, 5 2B, 2 3B, 17 R, 11 RBI, 16 SB); Paxton Douglass, So. (.316/.400/.368, 3 2B, 12 R, 13 RBI, 18 SB)

Third Base: Danny Metrick, Jr. (.333/.510/.389, 2 2B, 14 R, 14 RBI, 10 SB)

Leftfield: Tristan Knoblauch, Jr. (.291/.444/.327, 2 2B, 16 R, 11 RBI, 17 SB)

Centerfield: Justin Visaggio, Jr.

Rightfield: Derek Ferm, Sr.

DH: Liam Killian (Sr., 1B) (.220/.418/.268, 2 2B, 8 R, 10 RBI, 7 SB)

Other Hitters

Gabriel Carbone, So., INF/OF

Darius Finley, Fr., INF/OF

Robert Greenberg, Fr., INF/OF

Matt Halvorsen, Fr., INF/OF

Aidan Nagy, Fr., INF/OF

 

Pitching Staff

Paxton Douglass, So., RHP (4-2, 28.2 IP, 26 H, 15 BB, 33 SO, 4.39 ERA)

Jacob Pinto, Jr., RHP (7.1 IP, 16 H, 3 BB, 3 SO, 11.45 ERA)

Ryan Byrne, Jr., RHP (8.1 IP, 4 H, 6 H, 10 BB, 12 SO, 5.04 ERA)

Danny Metrick, Jr., RHP (5.1 IP, 12 H, 12 ER, 10 BB, 4 SO)

Tristan Knoblauch, Jr., RHP

Justin Visaggio, Jr., RHP

 

 

5. Lakewood

Head Coach: John Bernaski, first season
2024 Record: 1-14 (1-13, tied seventh in Class B Central)

Around the Diamond

Returning Starters in Bold

Catcher: Fernando Gomez, Jr.; Leandro Garista, Sr.

First Base: Isaiah Shade, So.

Second Base: Adolfo Abarca, Sr.; Jason Gonzalez, So.

Shortstop: Abel Martinez, Fr.

Third Base: Jasson Gonzalez, So.; Christopher Herrera, Jr.

Leftfield: Alejandro Cornejal, Sr.

Centerfield: Chris Rosario, Jr.; Christopher Ramos, Sr.

Rightfield: Santiago Carvajal, So.; Avani Crudup, Fr.

 

Pitching Staff

Cris Rosario, Jr., RHP

Abel Martinez, Fr., RHP

Isaiah Shade, So., RHP

Jason Gonzalez, Sr., RHP

 

 

6. Asbury Park

Head Coach: Caleb Correa, second season
2024 Record: 1-13 (1-13, tied seventh in Class B Central)

Around the Diamond (with 2024 stats)

Returning Starters in Bold

Catcher: Oscar Benevidez, Sr.

First Base: Israel Villegas-Diaz, So.

Second Base: Cayne Castillo, So.

Shortstop: Nick Chathuant, Jr. (.292/.541/.333, 1 2B, 4 R, 3 RBI, 5 SB); Tyree Nelson, Jr.

Third Base: Jader Castillo, Jr. (.222/.382/.296, 2 2B, 4 R, 5 RBI, 3 SB)

Leftfield: Ever Villanueva, So.

Centerfield: Nestor Castillo Jr., Sr. (.226/.333/.258, 1 2B, 9 R, 5 RBI, 9 SB); Prince Gue, Jr.

Rightfield: Prince Gue, Jr. (2-for-26); Zion Cannon, Fr.

DH: Greivin Velasquez-Torres, Sr. (.269/.457/.269, 7 R, 4 RBI, 10 SB); Quamel Whitaker, Sr.

Other Hitters

Elder Barreda, So.

Ameyaltzin Velasquez, Fr.

 

Pitching Staff

Nestor Castillo Jr., Sr. (1-3, 21.1 IP, 46 H, 6 BB, 31 SO, 10.17 ERA)

Nick Chathuant, Jr.

Greivin Velasquez-Torres, Sr.

Eduardo Macias, Sr.

Cayne Castillo, So.

Israel Villegas-Diaz, So.

Quamel Whitaker, Sr.

 

Division Lineup

Marshall Colangelo, Catcher, Henry Hudson

Jacob Pinto, Second Base, Keyport

Mikey Clayton, SS/3B, Keansburg

Ryan Byrne, Shortstop, Keyport

Mike Burke, Shortstop, Keansburg

David Ortore, Third Base, Henry Hudson

Tristan Knoblauch, Outfield, Keyport

Cris Rosario, OF/UTIL, Lakewood

 

Division Rotation

Carlos Torres, RHP, Long Branch

Paxton Douglass, RHP, Keyport

Kellen Campbell, LHP, Long Branch

Teddy Fariello, RHP, Henry Hudson

James Valle, RHP, Keansburg