August is over and the final full month of the summer was a noteworthy one for Shore Conference baseball players committing to Division I programs, including three prominent ones this week.

Christian Brothers Academy Class of 2018 two-way player and Shore Sports Network First Team All-Shore outfielder Nick Hohenstein announced his verbal commitment to LaSalle on Wednesday, while Pinelands Class of 2019 duo Joey Ventresca and Noah Dean each announced verbal commitments to Division I programs.

Pinelands junior left-hander Noah Dean. (Photo by Matt Manley)

Ventresca committed to Monmouth University earlier in the week on the heels of an All-Shore season as a sophomore. The right-hander pitched 42 innings with 47 strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA on the mound, while hitting .338 with two doubles and a triple as a shortstop.

Dean chose Xavier following a sophomore campaign in which he earned a Class B South All-Division selection by the coaches in the division. The left-hander posted a 1.66 ERA and struck out 62 in 46 1/3 innings, including a no-hitter in his first start of the season against Lakewood.

Hohenstein, meanwhile, put up big numbers on the mound and at the plate for CBA. He hit .369 with 13 doubles, a triple and four home runs at the plate, and went 5-4 with a 1.78 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 55 innings. Hohenstein also earned second-team All-Shore honors as a sophomore.

Toms River North junior Craig Larsen. (Photo by Paula Lopez)

Prior to this week's flurry of commitments, Toms River North two-way standout and first-team All-Shore selection Craig Larsen committed to the University of Pennsylvania. Larsen enjoyed a breakout season as a junior for the Mariners, hitting .396 with 14 doubles and a triple at the plate while going 6-2 with a 2.32 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 48 1/3 innings.

READ MORE: Early-August Baseball Commitments

Like Pinelands, St. Rose also had a pair of classmates commit to Division I programs, with Class of 2018 infielders Will Gannon and Riley Maypother choosing Bucknell and East Tennessee State, respectively. Gannon .380 with seven doubles and 33 runs scored while playing primarily second base.

St. Rose senior Riley Maypother. (Photo by Paula Lopez)

Maypother was a first-feam All-Shore third baseman in 2017 after hitting .520 with 12 doubles, four triples and five homers for the Purple Roses, and also struck out 18 in 15 2/3 innings while not allowing an earned run.

READ MORE: July Baseball Commitments

Jackson Memorial incoming junior Alex Iadisernia announced his commitment to Elon in mid-August. As a sophomore, Iadisernia was a SSN Second Team All-Shore outfielder after hitting .380 with six doubles and two home runs for the Jaguars.

August also included commitments from Central senior catcher Tommy Ruscitti (Fairleigh Dickinson), CBA teammates Blaise Venancio (St. Joseph's) and Tommy DiTullio (Bryant), Middletown North senior pitcher Garrett French (Rutgers), Colts Neck junior outfielder Reece Hornek (Rutgers), Jackson Memorial right-handed senior Mike Dimino (Monmouth), Toms River East right-hander Brad Brush (Delaware), Marlboro senior infielder Justin Levito (Sacred Heart) and Jackson Liberty catcher Billy Hart (NJIT).

*This story was updated to include Mike Dimino of Jackson Memorial, Justin Levito of Marlboro, Brad Brush of Toms River East and Alex Iadisernia of Jackson Memorial.



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