Colts Neck Uses Small Ball, Sasso’s Arm to Blank Rival Middletown North
COLTS NECK – Fresh off a trip to Florida for preseason scrimmages, No. 4 Colts Neck wasted no time getting back into form. The Cougars rode a three-run fifth inning and a dominant complete-game shutout from senior pitcher Angela Sasso to take down American Division rival Middletown North, 3-0.
Colts Neck was one of the last two last teams in the Shore Conference to start playing games this season. The Cougars took a few innings to get their bats going in their first game, but once they became comfortable, they showed why they are one of the highest ranked teams in the Shore Conference. A combination of timely hitting, great defense, and strong pitching is a strong recipe for winning and the Cougars had all of the ingredients on opening day.
“They looked refreshed and ready to go,” Colts Neck head coach Anthony Iachello said. “I think the energy, the excitement, and the execution was really good and where we wanted it to be.”
The Cougars did not see their first base runner until the bottom of the 4th inning when senior shortstop Gabriella Bryce drew a walk. Middletown North junior pitcher Grace English retired the first nine hitters she faced and kept the Colts Neck hitters off balance early on.
Colts Neck threatened in the bottom of the 4th after Bryce walked and proceeded to steal second base. Middletown North intentionally walked Sasso with one out but were able to get out of the inning when senior shortstop Julie Frontera dropped a low pop-up and managed to turn it into a double play. Taking the bat out of Sasso’s hands paid off for the Lions.
“It’s a compliment,” said Sasso about the intentional walk. “Obviously I wanted to hit and I knew what she was throwing me. I had in my mind what I wanted to do.”
The Cougars finally broke through against English in the fifth inning, sending seven batters to the plate. Senior 3B Julia Watkins started the rally with a double to shallow right field and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. Colts Neck then played small ball to perfection, laying down three consecutive bunts, beginning with senior 1B Gabriella Saveriano, who dropped one down on the very next pitch.
Freshman LF Autumn Helms reached on an error, the only mistake Middletown North made in the field in the game, when the throw by the third baseman was not caught by the first baseman and allowed Watkins to score the game’s first run.
Helms advanced to second base on freshman 2B Reagan Quigley’s sacrifice bunt and later scored on junior catcher Katherine Rizzo’s double to left-center field to make it 2-0. Rizzo would score on Bryce’s double to left-center field on the very next pitch.
Katherine Rizzo had a RBI double in the 5th inning for Colts Neck. 4/4/26 Photo by Samantha Mayer
“I like that we started strong, especially against a division opponent,” Sasso said. “Middletown North has always been our rival and we always want to beat them. It was a fun competitive game and I am glad we started the season off strong and that we got our small ball going.”
Rizzo also played an important role on the field catching Sasso. Sasso and her were in a rhythm all day. Rizzo’s quick throw attempts to first base almost caught two Middletown North runners in the game.
Katherine Rizzo had a RBI double for Colts Neck against Middletown North. 4/4/26 Photo by Samantha Mayer
“She [Rizzo] starts my energy on the mound,” Sasso said. “She has been really great so far this season and in preseason too. She has a rocket of an arm and her frames are great. It helps me get a lot of calls, but she is also one of my best friends so it is a really great battery to have.”
Even when Middletown North threatened with base runners, Sasso never seemed to be in danger. She finished with eight strikeouts and only walked three batters with one being intentional.
Angela Sasso finished with 8 strikeouts against Middletown North. 4/4/26 Photo by Samantha Mayer
“She’s [Sasso] a bulldog,” Iachello said. “She wants the ball and she does not like to put people on intentionally. She’s a prime-time player and she is our leader.”
Sasso also had help from her defense behind her throughout the game. Sophomore CF Adrianna Bryce made a diving catch in the 4th inning and tracked down two others in the game. Her older sister Gabriella looked smooth at shortstop and ran down a fly ball on the third baseline in the 6th inning.
“With those two [Adrianna and Gabby Bryce] up the middle along with Ange [Sasso] and Rizzo behind the plate we feel like that gives us the best chance to win,” Iachello said . “Adrianna for some reason makes catches diving. She is very rarely on her feet as a result of a play.”
Gabby Bryce made several plays in the field for Colts Neck in their 3-0 win over Middletown North. 4/4/26 Photo by Samantha Mayer
Colts Neck has high expectations this season after reaching the Shore Conference Tournament final last season. Bryce and Sasso both were on All-Shore teams last year and brought their games to another level come the postseason. Playing in the American Division, where five teams are ranked in top ten to start the season, will get them ready for a highly-competitive Shore Conference Tournament and Central Jersey Group 3 field.
Colts Neck has no breaks this week as they host Red Bank Catholic on Tuesday and travel to top-ranked St. John Vianney on Wednesday. The Cougars end the week hosting No. 5 Marlboro on Thursday and play the No. 1 team in New Jersey, Mount St. Dominic, on Saturday.
Middletown North travels to top-ranked St. John Vianney on Tuesday, hosts rival Middletown South on Wednesday, and travels to Freehold Boro on Thursday.
