The Manalapan Flamethrowers U11 travel baseball team had an impressive showing this weekend in the Marlboro Memorial Day tournament. The Flamethrowers, who won two of three games to earn a playoff berth, were two outs away from reaching the championship game before allowing a walk-off grand slam to the Holmdel Hornets in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Pitcher Thomas Malik, who suffered the loss, went the entire way, throwing 5 1/3 shutout innings to that point. He allowed only four hits, including the home run, striking out 10 batters, including striking out three consecutive hitters in the third inning with the bases loaded. Malik yielded the walk-off blast to the Hornets catcher, Nick Bruno.

To earn the playoff berth, the Flamethrowers routed the Holmdel Stampede 11-2 on Saturday, and defeated the Colts Neck Stampede, 9-3 on Sunday. Zach Koenig was the winning pitcher in both of the Flamethrowers' victories, allowing 11 hits,10 strike-outs, walking six, and giving up seven runs in seven innings. Christian DeVito pitched six scoreless innings in relief also in the tournament.

Offensively, the Flamethrowers were led by Jake Kupfer (seven for 10, four runs scored), Jordan Gonzalez (five for 11), Kyle Glickson (seven for 11, 1 home run, four stolen bases, three runs scored), Kevin Tress (four for 11, including two doubles and a triple, two runs scored),William Meany (five for 10, two runs scored) and Steven Knable (four for 14, one run scored).