Ryan Costello has become a different hitter this season.
“In the past few years, I’ve never really been a pull side hitter,’’ Costello, the senior first baseman for the baseball team at Ranney School, Tinton Falls, and a Louisiana State University recruit, said. “Pitches in (inside), I’ve struggled with the past few years. We’ve been working a lot on the middle-in pitch and taking it and pulling it. That’s been a big factor in the success this season.”
The left-handed Costello, who credits his hitting coach Dan Valerio of Prep Baseball NJ for his success, is on the verge of having one of the immortal seasons in both Shore Conference and state history.
He has slugged 14 home runs in the Panthers’ first 19 games and is two away from setting the Shore Conference single-season record of 15 set by Joe Stanzione of Middletown South in 2022.
Stanzione, who was enrolled at Brookdale Community College during the 2022 season and was eligible to play for Middletown South as a bridge-year player due to COVID wiping out the 2020 season, broke the record of 14 that former Jackson Memorial star Marc Fink had held since 1994.
The state single-season record of 18 – set by current Los Angeles Angels’ star Mike Trout in 2009 and equaled by Ashton Bardzell of Ramsey in 2014 – is also within range of Costello should Ranney advance far enough in the post-season tournaments.
Costello, who entered the season with six homers for his career spanning the 2022 season at Freehold Township and last season at Ranney, said he has not thought much about setting the records.
“Everyone has told me about it.’’ Costello said. “I just get up there and do my thing and try to hit ball.’’
Stanzione is rooting for Costello
Costello said he has talked with Stanzione, now a sophomore at Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, about the record.
“He saw one of the stories on Instagram after I think the 12th or 13th home run, and he (Stanzione) said, ‘if I want anyone to break the record, I want it to be you,’ ‘’ Costello said. “We played on the same travel team when he was a junior and senior year in high school. We’re pretty good friends.’’
Trying to remain patient at the plate
But, since he is on the verge of tying the record, the chances of Costello, who is hitting .563 with 34 RBI, of seeing good pitches to hit are not great.
In Ranney’s 5-0 win over Point Pleasant Borough Saturday in a Shore Conference Tournament first round game, Costello walked in his first at-bat on five pitches, was hit by a pitch in four pitches in his second at-bat. He then struck out and popped up in his final two at-bats.
“I’m just looking middle, middle-in, fast balls and taking everything else,’’ Costello said. “I’m just trying to hit the pitches in the zone and even on the black. I’ve always gotten up there with the mentality to just hit the ball and not try and do too much. I’m going to keep the same mentality.’’
Is Costello helped by Ranney’s homer friendly field?
There are some who will say Costello’s attempt at the record has been helped by Ranney’s cozy home run friendly ballpark and its short dimensions.
Nine of Costello’s homers have come at Ranney.
However, last Wednesday, Costello did hit two homers to right at Matawan’s not so cozy ballpark.
“It’s (the dimensions at Ranney) shorter than others,’’ Costello said. “But, I would say I’ve only had one or two home runs that wouldn’t get out of any other field. Most of mine are pull side at Ranney and they’re pretty far to the fence and would get out of most fields.
“Left field at our field is like the shortest park and right field is still 310. It’s only maybe 10-15 feet in from every other team’s right field.’’
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