MIDDLETOWN — Powered by a huge offensive outburst, the Middletown High School North baseball team cruised past St. Rose, 15-6, on Saturday to advance to the second round of the Monmouth County Tournament.
Despite falling behind early, the Lions (5-7) stormed back with a dominant third inning, scoring six runs to take control of the game. After trailing 5-0 through two innings, Middletown North responded with an offensive surge that would see them score 15 unanswered runs over the next four innings.
St. Rose (1-9) jumped out to a quick lead, scoring one run in the first inning and four more in the second. But Middletown North’s bats came alive in the third, fueled by timely hits, aggressive baserunning, and patient plate appearances.
Leading the offensive charge was Zachary Hampton, who had a monster day at the plate, going 3-for-5 with six RBIs, including a two-run double that helped open the floodgates in the third inning. Jack Jensen also chipped in two hits, a run scored, and an RBI, while Gabe Ahlemeyer added a key RBI single as part of a strong 1-for-4 effort.
While the Lions were patient at the plate, drawing eight walks, they were also aggressive on the bases, swiping nine bags overall. Ryan Clark led the running attack with three stolen bases.
Here’s a look at the Lions’ top performers:
| Player | AB | R | H | RBI | 1B | 2B | 3B | HR | BB | HBP | SB | AVG | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danny Sigler | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | .000 | .000 |
| Gabe Ahlemeyer | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | .250 | .250 |
| Zachary Hampton | 5 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .600 | .800 |
| Michael Hallard | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | .500 | .500 |
| Aldo Casale | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .333 |
| Jack Jensen | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .500 | .500 |
| Ryan Clark | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | .333 | .333 |
Totals: 23 AB | 12 R | 9 H | 9 RBI | 8 1B | 1 2B | 0 3B | 0 HR | 8 BB | 0 HBP | 9 SB | .391 AVG | .435 SLG
Middletown North was flawless defensively as well, committing no errors, while holding St. Rose scoreless over the final five innings.
Game Summary:
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Rose (1-9) | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Middletown North (5-7) | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
The Lions now look ahead to their next tournament matchup, brimming with confidence after one of their most complete performances of the season.
