Citta School of Toms River with Friday's National Anthem

By Tony Graham
@tonygsports

LAKEWOOD - As he prepared to leave the clubhouse following Wednesday's matinee, BlueClaws rightfielder Brian Pointer packed some items into a small, red over-the-shoulder bag.
"Hopefully there are some more RBIs in there,'' he said.
After collecting just eight in his first 29 games and two from April 25 to May 9, the 21-year old has picked up the pace.
He knocked in two more in Wednesday's 4-3 victory over Delmarva in front of 4,113 at FirstEnergy Park.
Pointer poked an oppposite field RBI double to left field in a the fifth that gave Lakewood a 3-2 lead.
He yanked a run-scoring single to right in the eighth plating what proved to be a vital insurance run that enabled the BlueClaws (15-23) to hold off the Baltimore affiliate (17-20).
By winning the rubber game of the three game set Lakewood won its first series at home and second series in a row for the first time this season.
"It's just all about hitting where they aren't playing,'' said Pointer, the 2010, 28th round Philadelphia draft pick from Reno, Nev.
Since May 9 the six-foot, 190 pound left-handed hitter has boosted his batting average from .198 to 230.
"I've hit a lot of balls right at somebody, that's just the way the game is,'' he said. "I don't know how many times I've done that in key situations or just in regular at bats trying to get a hit.
""Basically the big key to what I try to do is hit the ball hard and find those holes.
"We're trying to get him to use the whole field,'' Lakewood manager Mickey Morandini said. "He has a tendency to get in a pull mode and we want him to use the whole field.
"He had the big double yesterday (Tuesday) to the leftcenter field gap to drive in three runs so it's a process. It's coming along and he's getting there. He works hard at it.
"He's got some tools,'' Morandini said. "He throws the ball real well. He's got some speed. If we can get him using the whole field that's only going to help him with the batting average.''
"We're starting to find ways to hit to get runners in,'' Pointer said. "Especially in key situations. We're starting to warmup just like the weather.''
After overcoming a four-run deficit to force extra innings in Tuesday's loss, Lakewood climbed out of an early 2-0 hole Wednesday.
The BlueClaws are now 2-18 when surrendering the first run of the game, also posting a win last weekend at Greensboro, NC after being down 1-0.
Since being shutout in three of four games May 3-6, Lakewood has outscored it's opposition 43-26 to win six of eight games.
""We've been doing a better job of coming back,'' Morandini said. "We haven't had too many come from behind wins until the last few days.
After three rough outings in which have gave up 13 earned runs in his last 10 innings 19-year old right-hander Shane Watson(2-3, 5.35 ERA) left Wednesday with the lead. He allowed two runs, none earned, and the bullpen delivered the victory.
Jordan Guth worked three scoreless frames and Steve Inch an adventurous ninth for his fourth save. With one out, one run home, and the bases loaded, Gregory Lorenzo hit a smash at first baseman Art Charles who started a 3-2-3 double play.
"'Watson did a good job, kept us in the game,'' Morandini said. "Guth was real good today.
"'Some bad luck there in the ninth, a couple of infield hits. But I thought the pitching did a good job.''
Despite its more recently productive offense Lakewood squandered opportunities to open more late-inning breathing room by finishing 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position.
"I was a little disappointed in our situational hitting today,'' Morandini said. "We had two chances there to break the game open with guys on second and third and one out and couldn't get it done.
"'Pointer came up with that hit in the eighth which turned out to be a big one.''
tonygsports@aol.com

Three hits for Roman Quinn

By Tony Graham
@tonygsports
LAKEWOOD - It wasn't the first time.
When Zach Taylor of the BlueClaws walked with the bases loaded to force home the winning run in the ninth inning Monday night it was almost an instant replay of a game last summer when the Phillies 12th round pick in the draft was playing at short season affiliate in Williamsport, Pa.
"It was two outs and a 3-1 count and I took ball four,'' recalled Taylor of the 11th inning walk-off walk. "That was a pretty exciting time, too,'' Taylor said of the 2012 experience.
Tuesday night's experience for the BlueClaws was almost as exciting. But not quite.
After erasing an early four-run deficit and a one-run deficit in the ninth it fell 7-6 in 12 innings to Delmarva before the remnants 4,727 at FirstEnergy Park.
A two-out RBI single by shortstop Adrian Mora in the 12th off Delvi Francisco (1-2, 2.29 ERA), Lakewood's fifth pitcher, snapped a 6-6 tie and ended the four-game winning streak of the BlueClaws (14-23).
Lakewood had tied the score with three hits in the ninth, the last two with two away. A A Taylor single chased Carlos Tocci (single) to third base where he scored on a two-strike hit to left by Roman Quinn, his third hit of the night.
In the sixth second baseman Tucker Nathans of the Baltimore affiliate (17-19), a 2013 non-drafted free agent, greeted Lakewood reliever Jeb Stefan with his second home run of the game breaking a 5-5 deadlock.
A three-run double by Brian Pointer keyed a four-run Lakewood third inning that had pulled it even at 5.
While one probably doesn't usually associate a walk-off base on balls with excitement it's still a thrill if you're the player taking the victory stride to first base.
"It's all the same, you win the game,'' Taylor said. "It feels all the same.''
With Larry Greene Jr. (back spasms) out at least until Thursday according to manager Mickey Morandini of Lakewood, Taylor Tuesday started again in left field.
He went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run scored Tuesday leaving his batting average at. 303.
Taylor has started five straight games making the most of the opportunity. In the four games before Tuesday he was 8-for-14 with two home runs, five RBI, and three doubles.
The Phillies selected Taylor after his final year at Division II Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Ga.
They used the 398th overall selection in the draft to take the 2012 Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year as well as a first-team Division II All-American outfielder by both the ABCA and the NCBWAA.
But last summer between rookie ball in the Gulf Coast League and Williamsport, Taylor batted just .170 with two home runs and nine RBI while striking out 33 times in 33 games.
"It was a little struggle, my first year in pro ball, my first time really swinging a wood bat consistently,'' Taylor said.
"The biggest thing is, just simplify it a lot. Just try to see more pitches and attack fastballs.
Taylor said a few teams showed him interest before the 2012 draft. "But I got a chance to work out in Philadelphia at the stadium,'' he said. "I knew there was a chance and as it got closer to the round I was chosen in I knew it was going to be the Phillies.''
In his final college season the Statesboro, Ga., native hit .373 with 15 home runs and 71 RBI leading the Peach Belt in both categories and stole 21-of-25 bases.
Taylor is the 25th player to be drafted from Armstrong since Warren Bachman (1982) was the first Pirate to be selected in the MLB First-Year Player Draft.
Overall Armstrong has sent 73 players to professional baseball in the last 30 years.
Taylor joins a Phillies organization that also includes former Armstrong pitcher Jeremy Horst, a 2007, 21st-round draftee.
tonygsports@aol.com

By Tony Graham
@tonygsports

LAKEWOOD -  Zach Taylor of the BlueClaws watched the ninth-inning, full count pitch with the bases loaded from Delmarva reliever  Matt Price sail wide for ball four.
Taylor flipped his bat away and  Mitch Walding  trotted home from third base Monday night with the run that gave Lakewood a 4-3 victory.
But the most captivating part of the evening in front of 3,503 nearly chilled to the bone fans as Lakewood (14-22) increased its winning streak to a season high four games was the latest gem of a performance on the mound by right-hander Nicholas Hanson.
The converted  reliever, the Phillies 16th round pick in the 2012 draft,  retired the first 16 batters in a row.
When he finally gave up a  run in the seventh before departing with  3-1 lead Hanson (2.93 ERA) had run his scoreless innings streak as a starter to 17.1 innings over three games.
Prior to his first start on May 2 Hanson  had allowed 10 earned runs in 15.2 innings out of the bullpen.
But  Monday the 6-foot-7, 210 pound right-hander yielded only two hits, struck out four, and walked one over seven innings though his fastest time on the scoreboard radar gun read 90 mph.
"I'm starting to throw a sinker,'' Hanson said. "It's working for me, I'm sticking with it. I'm confident in it. I'm confident in all my pitches honestly.
"I'm not going to overpower guys but I'll put guys away, pitch to contact, get ground balls, get on top of the ball. It's working.''
Lakewood manager Mickey Morandini said Hanson's movement on his ball is a key to his success.
"He keeps everything down, good angle on his fastball, everything is down around the knees,'' Morandini said. "He doesn't pitch up much. He's got the ability to mix in some sliders and changeups and really keeps them off balance.
"But just the movement on his fastball really makes him effective and the fact that he pounds the strike zone. He doesn't walk people.''
Delmarva, a  Baltimore affiliate (16-19),  began the night the No. 2 hitting team (.267) in the South Atlantic League.
But part of that had been courtesy of  Christian Walker (.353, 3 HR, 20 RBI), the No. 12 Oriole prospect per Baseball America,  who has since been promoted.
It was shortstop Adrian Marin whose double to deep leftfield with one down in the sixth inning broke Hanson's no-hit spell.
"I looked at the scoreboard around the fourth inning,'' Hanson said. "I knew I hadn't walked anyone or given up a hit yet.
"I was upset I gave up a hit but as far as perfect games and no hitters go I just want to win the ball game.''
He lost his shutout and scoreless inning streak in the seventh when Tucker Nathans tripled and came home on  an infield out.
Lakewood caught a  huge break in the eighth. With a run in  that made it 3-2 what would have been a game-tying extra-base hit by Tucker Nathans off reliever Geoff Broussard lodged in the fence in deep right center.
The  ground rule double forced baserunner Greg Lorenzo, who would have scored easily with the tying run, to stop at third.
Delmarva tied the game in the top of the  ninth on an RBI single by Lucas Herbst off Steven Inch (1-1, 1.50 ERA) who gave up his first run in eight appearances.
In the bottom half Mitch Walding singled with one away and took third when Carlos Tocci doubled down the left field line. Delmarva then intentionally walked  Angelo Mora (.198) to load the bases.
Lakewood tallied twice in the first inning on back-to-back doubles by Brian Pointer and Chace Numata  and added an unearned run in the third.
Numata (.323),  the switch hitting catcher recently elevated from No. 9 to No. 2 in the batting order, had two hits and has reached base safely 17 games in a row.
NOTES...Monday's win was the 851st win in Lakewood  franchise history (against 840 losses). The BlueClaws have 113 games left in the 2013 season to get to 900 this year.
Lakewood will play six more games on this homestand against Delmarva (three) and Greensboro (four). It is in the midst of a stretch in which it will play 14 out of 18 games in Lakewood (7-5), where they have a 3.75 team ERA, compared to 5.54 away from home.
This week marks the first series of the year between the BlueClaws and Delmarva who will  meet 23 more times this season, including eight more times in the next 17 days.
The BlueClaws went 13-8 against Delmarva last year, 18-7 against Delmarva in 2011,  and 14-9 against Delmarva in 2010 (three-year record of 45-24).
Lakewood's four game winning streak is its  longest since a five-gamer July 11-15 last year vs Hickory and Savannah.
Delmarva is 6-14 after starting the season 10-5.
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If you are aware of anyone I may have missed or an updates status not listed please  e-mail me: tonygsports@aol.com

Statistics through May 11, 2013
? - unable to locate or unsure of status
FA - free agent per milb.com
R - Released - per milb.com

Locals in the majors (2013)
Through May 11

Brad Brach (Freehold Township, Monmouth U., Padres (1-0, 5.65 ERA);  David DeJesus (Manalapan, Rutgers, Cubs, .270, 4 HR, 11 RBI);  Todd Frazier (Toms River South, Rutgers, Reds, .244, 6 HR, 25 RBI)
Locals in the minors
Pitchers: Jason Bergmann (Manalapan, Rutgers) FA; Brett Brach (Freehold Township, Monmouth U., Indians, HiA, 0-1, 4.45 ERA)? ; Ryan Buch (Monmouth U., White Sox, AA, 0-0, 4.91 ERA); Anthony DeSclafani (Colts Neck, Toronto, Hi, 4-1, 0.87 ERA); Ryan Harvey (Manalapan, Seton Hall, Texas, HI, 3-0, 1.53 ERA); Pat Light (CBA, Monmouth U., Red Sox, LoA, 1-2, 5.09 ERA); Anthony Ranaudo (St. Rose, Red Sox, AA, 4-1, 1.64 ERA); Joe Testa (Brick, Nationals) - released by Nationals.

Position players: Ryan Cuneo (Freehold, Cubs)  released;  Jeff Frazier (TR South, Rutgers Cubs), FA , Jayson Hernandez (St. Rose, Rutgers, Red Sox, Lo, .327, 0 HR, 5 RBI;  Ryan Kalish (RB Catholic, Red Sox, AAA) 60 Day DL;   Kevin Mager (Midd. North, Red Sox) Temporary inactive list; Val Majewski (Freehold Township, Rutgers( FA.

Locals in independent ball (2012)
Unsure of 2013 status
Keith Cantwell (Monmouth Regional, Seton Hall U., New Jersey);  Brian Dudzinski (Middletown South, Las Cruces, N.M.) Carlos Guzman (Brookdale CC, New Jersey), Ray Navarrete (Marlboro, Seton Hall U., Long Island), Paddy Matera (Toms River North, Brookdale CC, Camden).
tonygsports@aol.com