Ocean wins 12th in a row behind Rosenkranz, Weinkofsky an RBI double

By JOE ADELIZZI
STAFF WRITER


OCEAN TOWNSHIP - Jamie Rosenkranz and his Ocean Township baseball teammates know the official chase is on as teammate Keith Weinkofsky goes after the Shore Conference home run title.
""We joke about it all the time,'' said Rosenkranz after he tossed a complete game, helping the Spartans to their 12th straight victory, 5-2 against Class B North opponent Matawan. ""We even have a pool on what day the record falls.''
Weinkofsky remained at 25, two behind the home run record held by Marc Fink, mostly because he hardly saw a fastball anywhere near home plate from junior Sean Thompson, who was making his first start for the Huskies (4-11, 4-7).
""I told him to challenge him with breaking balls, but not to give him a fastball in the zone,'' said Matawan coach John Kaye.
But even under those difficult circumstances, Weinkofsky played a major part in the game's outcome.
He walked twice, one leading to a run scored by pinch-runner Willy Rodriquez, and had an RBI single off a change-up curve in which his bat was way ahead. The ball hit off the top of the barrel and still made its way to center field.
""I know I'm not going to see a lot of fastballs,'' said Weinkofsky.""That started last year. But I don't mind. They can walk me. I'll put the game in the hands of my teammates. They can all hit.''
Weinkofsky has been on a roll the last week, twice hitting two home runs in games. His teammates have seen him like this before.
""He gets going and you just don't stop him,'' said Rosenkranz.
It is a lot like the Ocean team. The Spartans lost three of their first five games before catching fire. These days, with Rosenkranz and and Eric Hinkle hitting the ball, opponents are paying for pitching around Weinkofsky.
""We were laughing about the poor start the other day,'' said Weinkofsky.""I don't know why it happens. I wasn't hitting home runs. Then, suddenly, each pitch looks like a beach ball coming to home plate.''
Even Friday things didn't come easy, and Thompson perhaps deserved a better fate.
Ocean scored three runs without a hit in the third inning when Matawan made three errors and Thompson made three of his seven wild pitches in the game.
Weinkofsky had a two-out single in the fourth for another run, and Kyle Norman had a sac fly for the last run in the sixth.
Rosenkranz was rolling along on the mound, allowing no runs and five hits through six innings. In the final inning he ran into control problems, surrendering his first two walks of the game. Nick Chomko followed with an infield hit to load the bases with two outs when Bruce Monro ripped a single to center. Two runs scored, but Monro tried to go to second on the throw home. Weinkofsky moved up to take the throw, and fired to second where Monro was tagged out to end the game.
""Coach was saying hold the ball, but I saw him going. I figured why not,'' said Weinkofsky.
It meant another victory and another move toward the team's real goal.
""We set winning the Group III championship as our goal this year,'' said coach Del Dal Pra. ""We made it to the final game last year for a taste. I think these kids want the whole thing this year.''