Washington Twp. delivers a baseball title

Several years from now, Washington Township baseball coach Bill Alvaro Jr. will have an interesting story to tell his son, Joseph, about the day he was born.

At 8:30 a.m. yesterday, Alvaro's wife, Danielle, gave birth to their first child, Joseph.

Four hours later, Alvaro left the hospital, drove to Toms River, put on his baseball uniform at the field, and directed his team to a stunning 15-1 victory over top-seeded Toms River North (24-6) in the NJSIAA South Jersey Group 4 championship game.

Despite being seeded 14th of the 15 teams in the tournament, the Minutemen (18-11) claimed their first sectional crown since 1994 and will play Steinert in the state semifinals on Tuesday at Rider University.

Designated hitter Joe Favatella slugged a grand slam in an eight-run second inning and belted a two-run homer in the fifth. Toms River North ace Chad Geran (7-1) suffered his first loss and did not get out of the second inning.

"Mike Schatzman really got us started," Alvaro said. "He went 2 for 4 and hit a three-run double before the grand slam in the second."

Bill Rice continued his impressive playoff pitching, allowing only a first-inning single, striking out four, and throwing just 60 pitches. Rice, who will attend Maryland this fall, had pitched three straight shutouts (2-0, 7-0, 11-0) in the tournament before the streak ended with an unearned run in the last inning yesterday.

"He's not overpowering, but he continued to hit his spots," Alvaro said.

Alvaro's father, Bill Sr., the coach at Overbrook, welcomed his sixth grandchild in the morning before watching his son's team win handily in the afternoon.

"They're feeding off Bill Rice's pitching," Bill Sr. said. "They've got so much confidence since they're not giving up many runs, and they're swinging the bats good up and down the lineup. Everything's contagious."

South Jersey Non-Public B. Mike Eliasen of Gloucester Catholic struck out a career-best 12 and walked none, outdueling St. Rose (19-5) ace Anthony Ranaudo, 5-1, in a sectional semifinal.

Ranaudo, who is headed to Louisiana State, lasted four innings and suffered his second loss of the season as the Rams (22-5) jumped out to a 3-0 first-inning lead.

Dan Mayo walked, Eliasen singled and D.J. Robinson reached on a fielder's choice to set the stage for Matt Umba's RBI single and Bill Donovan's two-out, two-run single in the first.

Eliasen singled in George Spingler in the second, and Andrew Anusky singled in Robinson with the final run in the seventh.

Sacred Heart reliever Sean Kennedy pitched out of a jam in the seventh inning, preserving the Lions' 5-3 semifinal win over visiting Bishop Eustace (21-7) for pitcher J.T. Triantos.

Leadoff hitter Josh Moren ignited the Sacred Heart (28-4) attack, reaching base in three at-bats with two hits, a walk, two runs scored and three stolen bases. Moren scored on Tom Milligan's sacrifice fly in the first inning.

The Lions' lead grew to 4-0 in the second when team captain Paul Janetta scored on a passed ball, Moren doubled in a run, and freshman Isaac Gonzalez singled in another run with one of his three hits.

Eustace pushed across two runs in the top of the seventh on an error and Mike Plakis' single, and loaded the bases with one out. Kennedy got a strikeout for the second out and a hard ground ball to third base ended the game.

South Jersey Non-Public A. Jordan Fisher had two of Camden Catholic's five hits and drove in the lone run for the Irish (20-9) as host Christian Brothers (23-4) captured a 5-1 semifinal win.

Kyle Slate (11-0) earned the victory with 10 strikeouts in the five-inning game.

St. Joseph's of Metuchen eliminated host Holy Cross, 12-2, in the other semifinal.