S. Jersey Boys: Long ball powers Eustace to 14-0 win

Jim Yezzo tied the Bishop Eustace single-season record with his 15th home run, Greg Brodzinski drove in seven runs on a pair of blasts, and Scott Carcaise also left the yard, as the second-seeded Crusaders battered No. 3 seed Red Bank Catholic, 14-0, on Friday in a South Jersey Non-Public A baseball semifinal.

Yezzo, a senior shortstop, tied the school home run record established by Chris Branigan in 2009.

Brodzinski, a senior catcher, went 4 for 4, scored three times and his second homer - a grand slam in the fourth inning - ended any suspense.

The barrage provided more than enough support for Kenny Fetchko, who handcuffed the Caseys on three singles.

Bishop Eustace (22-7) is scheduled to play top-seeded St. Joseph-Metuchen - an 18-5 winner over Notre Dame - for the sectional title on Tuesday.

South Jersey Non-Public B. Junior lefthander Cody Brown raised his pitching record to 7-1 and also starred at the plate, leading third-seeded Gloucester Catholic to a 15-2 semifinal romp at No. 2 seed Sacred Heart.

Brown singled, homered, knocked in three runs, and scored twice.

Sophomore designated hitter Bret Tenuto laced a pair of two-run doubles for the Rams (22-7), who will play in their first sectional final since 2007, when they host fourth-seeded St. Rose on Tuesday.

Defending sectional champion St. Rose pushed across the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning to slip past top-seeded Holy Cross, 2-1, in the other semifinal.

South Jersey Group 3. Third-seeded Ocean City toppled top-seeded Highland, 9-2, for the program's first sectional championship since 1946.

Kolya Stephenson doubled twice in going 3 for 4 with two RBIs and one run scored, and Robbie Zauck added two hits and two RBIs to back the pitching of Connor Ortolf, who had six strikeouts while scattering seven hits and six walks.

Second baseman Brian Luongo added a pair of singles and turned in a defensive gem late in the game for the Red Raiders (19-8), who advance to Tuesday's state semifinal at the College of New Jersey.

South Jersey Group 2. The Flacco brothers, John and Brian, combined for two runs and two RBIs, and Wade Gies turned in a solid pitching performance to guide third-seeded Audubon past No. 4 seed Buena, 4-3, in the title game.

It was the first sectional championship since 2002 for the Green Wave (20-5), which will head to Rutgers University for Tuesday's state semifinal.

South Jersey Group 1. Steve Schuler struck out six over four shutout innings and Dan McAteer's three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth ended the championship game early, as No. 3 seed Pitman pounded fourth-seeded New Egypt, 12-0.

Leadoff batter Nick Capelli set the tone for the Panthers, going 3 for 3 with a stolen base and four runs scored.

McAteer scored three times and finished with four RBIs, while Johny Dunn batted 2 for 2 with two RBIs and a pair of runs.

Pitman's previous Group 1 title came in 2000.

Next up is a state semifinal on Tuesday at Monmouth University against Central Jersey champion Robbinsville.

In a battle between the top two seeds, a few points proved the difference as defending state champion Southern Regional turned back second-seeded Cherry Hill East, 2-1, for the South sectional championship.

Eric Zaun recorded 19 kills while Rishi Sarkar dished out 35 assists for the Cougars, who rebounded from a 25-16 loss in the opener to pull even with a 25-23 victory.

Southern pulled out the final game, 25-23.

2010: Pitman

2009: Gateway

2008: Maple Shade

2007: Pennsville

2006: Pennsville

2005: Pennsville

2004: Pennsville

2003: Pennsville

2002: Pennsville

2001: Florence

2000: Pitman

1999: Riverside

1998: Pitman

1997: Riverside

1996: Riverside

1995: Audubon