Caseys go 16-8 in Hooker’s final campaign

After seven successful seasons at the helm of the Red Bank Catholic baseball program, Paul Hooker is stepping down to allow more time to watch his son Andrew play ball for Middletown South. The Caseys’ mentor went out on a solid note, guiding the club to a 16-8 record and a C South Championship. That brought Hooker’s career mark to 94-75, with three conference titles and a state championship on his résumé.

This year’s club produced some outstanding players, including senior Doug Grant, a star pitcher and RBC’s leading hitter with a .474 average.

"He would have had an outstanding season for us on the mound, but he suffered an inflamed tendon in a victory over Middletown South, and I took him out of the rotation," Hooker said of Grant, who was 3-1 at the time of his injury. The layoff did not dissuade St. Peter’s College, Jersey City, from giving Grant a full scholarship.

"He throws four pitches and has command of all of them," Hooker said. "He has a two-seam fastball, a four-seamer, a curve and a changeup. And Doug throws in the middle 80s."

The other ace was Chris Noonan, a senior who went 8-2 on the hill and won a full scholarship to Seton Hall. Both he and Grant were considered among the best pitchers in the Shore Conference.

As for other key contributors, third baseman Chris Rogers banged out a .452 average, while T.J. Moriarty and John Paviluk also had stellar campaigns.

Moriarty, a junior right fielder, posted a .413 average and led the team in runs batted in with 21. Paviluk, a catcher, batted .397.

While the loss of Grant and Noonan is significant, the cupboard is not bare of pitchers for next year’s RBC contingent. Junior Jeff Sues compiled a 4-3 record and contributed on offense as well, hitting .333.

Looking back at his final campaign, Hooker has high praise for his assistants.

"Eric McMahon, our hitting instructor, is retiring with me," the coach noted. " And I was also fortunate to have Rich Pekmezian as the junior varsity coach and Will Mayer with the freshman."

— Richard Jerome