Banner Season for N. Burlington Baseball

Banner Season for Northern Burlington Baseball

Northern Burlington has completed the most successful three-year run in its baseball history, and even though the Greyhounds lost their final game, there were plenty of other wins and championships during a banner season.

NBC finished 27-5 and won four different titles. The Greyhounds captured the Burlington County Scholastic League tournament. They were winners of the Washington Township Tournament. NBC also won the Burlington County Liberty Division for a third year in a row. And the Greyhounds captured their second Central Jersey Group 3 title in the last three years.

This season, they advanced to the state final for the first time in school history after a 6-4 state Group 3 semifinal win over defending state champion Mainland.

And, finally, the season ended with an 8-4 loss to South Plainfield in the state Group 3 final at Toms River North.

That was a talented South Plainfield team, which finished 24-8. Then again, teams don’t get to the state title game without talent and character. Northern Burlington had both.

“We are so proud at what we have accomplished,” coach Rick Doppler said.

This year’s undisputed leader was senior Ryan Shinn (pictured), who finished 9-1, with the only blemish coming against South Plainfield. He batted .489 with 13 doubles, one triple, one home run and 29 RBIs. In the state final he went 2 for 3 with a double, triple and RBI.

Shinn has earned a scholarship to Florida Gulf Coast. He said the Division I school has recruited him to be a relief pitcher and an outfielder.

Junior outfielder Zack Wright led the Greyhounds with 47 hits. He batted .443 with a team-high 38 runs scored.

Down the list, the offensive players were impressive.

Senior catcher-first baseman Adam Rapp batted .427 with three home runs and a team-high 37 RBI. He is a University of Delaware recruit.

Senior catcher Brett Parlante batted .358 with two home rusn and 31 RBI. He crushed a two-run homer in the state final.

Senior third baseman Tyler O’Dell batted .366 with 31 runs scored from the leadoff spot.

Senior Eric Stinglen was 7-0 with a 2.29 ERA. Junior Mike Cottrell, who pitched the final two innings in the state final, was 5-1 with a 2.21 ERA. O’Dell was 5-0 with a 2.06 ERA.

And there were other contributors as well, but this senior class certainly left its mark at Northern Burlington.

The Greyhounds opened the tournament with an 8-0 win over Red Bank Regional and then were tested in the second round before securing a 2-1 victory over Ocean Township.

In that gam, Shinn earned the complete game win while Rapp’s two-run single in the first inning was all the offense the Greyhounds would need.

NBC then beat Middletown South, 5-1 and won the Central Jersey title with a 7-4 win over Somerville.

In the state semifinal, Stinglen earned the win while Shinn picked up the save in 2 2/3 innings of relief.

While there is still a solid nucleus for next season, the Greyhounds will miss their seniors, who contributed greatly to the best era of baseball the school has seen.

Photo (Marc Narducci): Northern Burlington pitcher Ryan Shinn

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Author: Marc Narducci; photo by Marc Narducci