Joe Stanzione of Middletown South baseball sets Shore Conference season home run record

MIDDLETOWN - Joe Stanzione can now set his sights on a state record after he broke the Shore Conference single-season home run record Wednesday afternoon.

A first baseman for Middletown High School South, Stanzione hit his 15th homer of the season in the bottom of the third inning in the defending NJSIAA Group 4 champion Eagles' 8-1 win over Princeton in a Central Group 4 first-round game against Princeton at Walter Woods Field.

“It feels great,'' said Stanzione, when asked about breaking the record. "I’m not really thinking about it. I'm just trying to go up there every time, help my team out the best I can. I was able to barrel-up the baseball and the rest handled itself.”

Marc Fink, a 1994 Jackson Memorial graduate, held the previous Shore record of 14 set in 1994. Stanzione, a bridge-year player who is enrolled at Brookdale Community College, had tied the record last Saturday in the Eagles' game against Steinert.

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Stanzione said the pitch for the record-breaker was in a good spot to hit.

"It was a slider belt-high,'' Stanzione said.

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Middletown South ace junior right-hander Ben Schild, who struck out 14 and pitched a complete-game two-hitter, said it has been a thrill to watch Stanzione exploits this season.

"We literally saw history on our team, and it's amazing,'' Schild said. "He's one of my best friends so every time, he goes out on the field, we expect it from him. He delivers every time.''

Stanzione is now three away from tying the state record of 18 set by by current Los Angeles Angels' star Mike Trout of Millville in 2009 and equaled by Ashton Bardzell of Ramsey in 2014.

The record-breaker was two-run shot to left and came in his second at-bat after he flew out to deep left in the first inning. It gave Middletown South (21-9) a 3-0 lead.

It was also the 100th hit of Stanzione's career. He now has 42 hits, 41 RBI on the season and 21 homers for his career. Stanzione hit six homers last season, when he had some key hits during Middletown South's run to the Group 4 title.

Schild remained unbeaten for his career. After giving up a hit to open the game, Schild retired the next 14 batters.

“When we have Ben on the mound we pretty much go into very game like we’re the best team,'' Stanzione said. "He did his job today and we were able to put some runs behind him.''

Schild also had three RBI, including a two-run single in the fifth when Middletown South  broke the game open with four runs.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Shore Conference home run record set by Joe Stanzione of Brookdale CC