For coach Buddy Hausmann, the glittering statistics that Shane Panzini puts up for the Red Bank Catholic baseball team are only part of the story. So, too, is the fact that the senior is being projected as a second-round draft pick when the MLB draft begins July 11.
What Hausmann really loves is the fact that Panzini is not adversely affected by his great accomplishments, which might send other players’ egos sky-rocketing.
“He’s such a good kid,” the Caseys’ veteran skipper said. He’s just very well-liked. You root for those kind of those kids.
Much of that has to do with his solid upbringing and being strongly rooted in his Catholic faith. Panzini is an active member of St. James Parish and is an altar server there as well as for Masses celebrated in school.
Education is also very important to the Panzini family. Panzini’s father, Jim, played football at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and his mom, Colleen, swam at Brown University, Providence, R.I. Both are attorneys. Their oldest son, Jimmy, played basketball at St. Anselm College, Manchester, N.H., and is now in law school, while former Casey standout Blaise is currently pitching for Seton Hall University, South Orange, and is attending its business school.
Panzini is currently ranked No 46 in FanGraphs Top 100 Draft prospect list and is at 133 on MLB.com’s Top 200 chart. It has been Hausmann’s job to email scouts and let them know each time Panzini is pitching, and every start has had an electric atmosphere with the MLB personnel on hand. Lately, higher-level team reps have shown interest, including Ted Lilly, the special assistant to the Cubs president, and the Orioles general manager.
Panzini has done nothing to hurt his stock this season. After pitching RBC to a 7-0 win over Middletown South in the Shore Conference Tournament title game May 31, the right-hander is 6-1 with a 0.89 earned run average and 85 strikeouts in 47 innings. He has allowed just 16 walks and 21 hits thanks to a fastball that reaches 96 miles per hour along with a slider, curveball and change-up
“He’s tough,” Hausmann said. “He’s mentally tough, and he throws a lot of strikes, which for high school kids is not always easy.
SIDEBAR
Batting averages impressive around the Diocese
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While Shane Panzini is the big headline-grabber this spring, several other players are also enjoying big seasons.
Red Bank Catholic, which carries a 17-3 record into the SCT final, is led offensively by senior centerfielder Anthony Borriello, who is hitting .368 with 21 RBIs and 20 runs scored. Other big batters include sophomores Frank Scrivanic (.357) and Alex Stanyek (.369, 18 RBIs) and junior Matt Scrivanic (.333, 17 RBIs). Senior pitcher Dylan Wanagiel is 4-1 with a 2.38 ERA and sophomore Dominic Mallamaci is 5-0 with a 3.00 ERA.
With a 14-6 record, Donovan Catholic, Toms River, is getting nice seasons from Anthony Mursko (.352, 18 RBIs), Gavin Degnan (.383, 16 RBIs) and Sam Gates (.346). Pitcher Matt Colucci is 5-0 with a 1.65 ERA while Bob Nosti has a1.98 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 17-2-3 innings and Shaun O’Keefe has a 1.24 ERA and 22 Ks in 17 frames.
St. Rose High School, Belmar, is getting big power numbers from Tom Turnbach, who is hitting .315 with three home runs, three doubles, a triple and 15 RBIs. Freshman Jack Tiernan has looked strong on the mound with a 2.41 ERA
The Hernandez Trio has led Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton, to a 10-5 record. Seton Hall-bound Jedier Hernandez is batting .643 with six doubles, three triples, three home runs, 31 RB1s, 18 walks and 10 stolen bases. Jedier’s freshman brother Josh Hernandez is hitting .500 with 17 runs scored and Adrian Hernandez (no relation) is batting .385 with 12 RBIs. Pitcher Jonathan Paskewicz has fashioned a 1.83 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 15-1-2 innings.
Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, has been paced by its 1-2 punch at the top of the lineup as Dylan Palmer is hitting .444 with nine stolen bases and 22 runs scored and Jackson Wargo is batting .500 with 16 runs scored. Pitcher Jack Marchese has an 0.98 ERA in 14-1-3 innings.