Tuna reels in the record/fullcoverage of Keith Weinkofsky's record-setting day
By TONY GRAHAM
STAFF WRITER
Keith Weinkofsky had already tied the Shore Conference career home run record when he led off the bottom of the sixth inning Wednesday.
With the count 3-and-0, the Ocean Township senior catcher glanced down the third-base line at coach Del Dal Pra.
""Del gave me the green light, that if it was there crank it,'' said Weinkofsky. ""If not, take the walk.
""It was there.''
And then it was gone.
Weinkofsky lined the next pitch, a fastball, over the left-field fence capping his record-setting day and highlighting a 12-4 victory by the No.‚4 seeded Spartans (20-4) over No. 5 Nottingham (13-10) in an NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III quarterfinal game at Robert Olshan Memorial Field.
Weinkofsky's 28 career home runs surpass the previous record of 27 set in 1994 by Jackson's Marc Fink.
Weinkofsky went 3-for-4 with five RBI on Wednesday, and started his day with a two-run shot to left field in the bottom of the first inning.
""It was a change up,'' Weinkofsky said. ""I didn't take that good of a swing. I got enough of the pitch and it went out.''
In his next two at-bats, Weinkofsky hit a two-run single and lined to third base.
Of his nine home runs this season, eight have come in four two-home run games, including Wednesday.
Fink, an assistant coach at Jackson Memorial, owns the Shore Conference single season record of 14 hit in 1994.
""I congratulate Keith because there's been a lot of pressure on him,'' said Fink. ""It's probably been very frustrating for him. He's been pitched around a lot.
""The thing is when he gets a pitch to hit he can't miss it because he doesn't get many.''
Weinkofsky said he was as relieved and also excited to break the career record.
""I'm glad to get it off my back,'' said Weinkofsky. ""It's a great accomplishment. Now I can keep doing I've been doing, enjoy playing and winning games and help our team go on and win championships.''
Weinkofsky said at the beginning of the season he was over anxious about the record.
""I was swinging for the fences,'' he said. ""(Assistant) coach (Gerry) Malanga sat me down, said for me to do what I was capable of doing and to go the other way.''
In the sixth inning, Jamie Rosenkranz followed Weinkofsky with his third home run of the season as part of Ocean's 16-hit attack.
""I'm very happy for Keith and his family,'' said Dal Pra. Keith's father, Chuck, hit a then school-record seven home runs in 1974.
Mike Chiarella broke that mark when he hit 10 in 2005. Keith Weinkofsky tagged 11 last season.
""He (Keith) put it back in the family,'' said Dal Pra.
Senior Kyle Norman improved to 7-0 with the victory.
With the win Ocean, the defending sectional champion, advances to the CJ III semifinals to face the winner of Friday's game between West Windsor North and Moorestown.
Ocean is next in action 3:30 p.m. Friday in a Monmouth County Tournament quarterfinal game vs. St. Rose at the Shore Christian Academy in Wall Township.
STAFF WRITER
Keith Weinkofsky had already tied the Shore Conference career home run record when he led off the bottom of the sixth inning Wednesday.
With the count 3-and-0, the Ocean Township senior catcher glanced down the third-base line at coach Del Dal Pra.
""Del gave me the green light, that if it was there crank it,'' said Weinkofsky. ""If not, take the walk.
""It was there.''
And then it was gone.
Weinkofsky lined the next pitch, a fastball, over the left-field fence capping his record-setting day and highlighting a 12-4 victory by the No.‚4 seeded Spartans (20-4) over No. 5 Nottingham (13-10) in an NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III quarterfinal game at Robert Olshan Memorial Field.
Weinkofsky's 28 career home runs surpass the previous record of 27 set in 1994 by Jackson's Marc Fink.
Weinkofsky went 3-for-4 with five RBI on Wednesday, and started his day with a two-run shot to left field in the bottom of the first inning.
""It was a change up,'' Weinkofsky said. ""I didn't take that good of a swing. I got enough of the pitch and it went out.''
In his next two at-bats, Weinkofsky hit a two-run single and lined to third base.
Of his nine home runs this season, eight have come in four two-home run games, including Wednesday.
Fink, an assistant coach at Jackson Memorial, owns the Shore Conference single season record of 14 hit in 1994.
""I congratulate Keith because there's been a lot of pressure on him,'' said Fink. ""It's probably been very frustrating for him. He's been pitched around a lot.
""The thing is when he gets a pitch to hit he can't miss it because he doesn't get many.''
Weinkofsky said he was as relieved and also excited to break the career record.
""I'm glad to get it off my back,'' said Weinkofsky. ""It's a great accomplishment. Now I can keep doing I've been doing, enjoy playing and winning games and help our team go on and win championships.''
Weinkofsky said at the beginning of the season he was over anxious about the record.
""I was swinging for the fences,'' he said. ""(Assistant) coach (Gerry) Malanga sat me down, said for me to do what I was capable of doing and to go the other way.''
In the sixth inning, Jamie Rosenkranz followed Weinkofsky with his third home run of the season as part of Ocean's 16-hit attack.
""I'm very happy for Keith and his family,'' said Dal Pra. Keith's father, Chuck, hit a then school-record seven home runs in 1974.
Mike Chiarella broke that mark when he hit 10 in 2005. Keith Weinkofsky tagged 11 last season.
""He (Keith) put it back in the family,'' said Dal Pra.
Senior Kyle Norman improved to 7-0 with the victory.
With the win Ocean, the defending sectional champion, advances to the CJ III semifinals to face the winner of Friday's game between West Windsor North and Moorestown.
Ocean is next in action 3:30 p.m. Friday in a Monmouth County Tournament quarterfinal game vs. St. Rose at the Shore Christian Academy in Wall Township.
posted by Tony Graham at 7:18 PM
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