BASEBALL

Baseball: Skyland Conference Mountain Division 2018 team-by-team preview

Andy Mendlowitz
Courier News and Home News Tribune
Baseball

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BOUND BROOK

Coach: Dave LePoidevin Jr.                  

Last year: 4-13

Key losses: Jake Bruder, Michael Clancy, Bryan Camelo, Vinny Capalbo, Eric Dubecky, David Mendoza, Austin Pemberton, Joseph Solis

Key hitters: Jason Cuba (Sr., SS), Derek Jimenez (Sr., CF), Sam Witt (Jr., 3B), James Killeen (Sr., 1B), Anthony Molina (Jr., P/1B), Brandon Quinones (Soph., 2B), Justin Miller (F., C), David LePoidevin, III (Jr., LF), Joseph LePoidevin (Sr., RF), Richard Frazier (Jr., CF), Lou Hector (Sr., DH)

Pitchers: Sam Witt (Jr., RH), Gabe Garza (Jr., RH), Jason Cuba (Sr., RH), James Killeen (Sr., RH), David LePoidevin, III (Jr., RH), Anthony Molina (Jr., LH), Axel Quesada (Sr., RH), Joedyth Bautista (F., RH), Nicholas Mandato (Jr., RH), Dylan Dabrowski (F., RH), Thomas Kyles (Jr., RH)

Top reserves: Jace Coddington (Soph., OF), Ryan Cooper (F., IF), Freddy Diaz (Sr., IF), Andres Escobar (F., C), Andrew Hasson (Jr., IF), Brad Kaner (Soph., OF), Jaisuan Martinez (F., OF), James Martinez (Sr., OF), Emerson Velasco (Soph., OF), Andrew Villalobos (So., OF) 

Outlook: There is a lot of excitement under first-year head coach Dave LePoidevin Jr. The team finished with around a dozen players last season, but the program now has nearly 30 players and will field full varsity and JV teams. The coach hopes the players’ athleticism will lead to wins. LePoidevin Jr. notes that 99 percent of the players also compete in other sports and all are maintaining a B average or better in the classroom. LePoidevin Jr. has been Bound Brook’s offensive coordinator the past two seasons as the Crusaders reached the state sectional semifinal each year. He previously coached football for 10 seasons at Immaculata. He played baseball and football in high school and at Fairleigh Dickinson University.                   

GILL ST. BERNARD’S

Coach: Dave Pasquale

Last year: 14-10

Key losses: Cameron Miller (P/1B), Jack McMahon (CF), Cameron Gateman (P/LF)

Key hitters: Ryan Morash (Sr., SS), AJ Donofrio (Jr., C), Michael Taylor (So., IF), Scott Begane (Sr., OF), Mike Giammarino (Jr., DH/1B), Joe Johnson (Sr., 2B)

Pitchers: Jack Petraitis (So., RH), Mike Giammarino (Jr., LH), Scott Begane (Sr., RH), Michael Taylor (So., RH), Chris Boney (So., RH)

Top reserves: Andy Lutz (So., OF), Eddie McCarthy (So., C/OF)

Outlook: The tradition-rich Knights should again be in the divisional and postseason hunt. As coach Dave Pasquale said, “The Gill St. Bernard's baseball team captured their third consecutive Mountain Division championship in 2017 and will likely be in the hunt for their fourth straight title in 2018. Four-year starter Cameron Miller will be hard to replace at the plate and on the mound, but Hofstra commit Ryan Morash (.451, 37 hits, 29 runs, 25 stolen bases) will lead the way offensively. AJ Donofrio (.342, 25 hits, 30 RBI), Michael Taylor (.359, 23 hits, 17 RBI, 3 HR), and Jack Petraitis (7-1, 3.14, 38 K) are also receiving interest from college programs and give the Knights a solid core. Several talented freshmen are in the mix to provide key contributions and if they stay healthy, Gill could make a deep run in the Prep B and Non-Public B tournaments.”

MANVILLE

Coach: Rob Snyder

Last year: 1-19

Key losses: Troy Oset (1B/P)

Key hitters: Michael Tyle (Sr., 1B/DH), Blair Sauerhoefer (Sr., C), Hunter Norz (Sr., P/1B/DH), John Sharbaugh (So., SS/P), Gabe Van Buren (Jr., CF/P)

Pitchers: Jake Bentz (Sr., RH), Hunter Norz (Sr., RH), Jake Sanders (So., RH), John Sharbaugh (So., RH), Gabe Van Buren (Jr.) (RH)

Top reserves: Kyle Budd (Jr., C), Connor Budd (Jr., 2B), William Darden (Sr., OF)

Outlook: The Mustangs have high hopes after bringing back the majority of last season’s team that gained valuable experience. Snyder said his team will rely heavily on the pitching staff, which has shown the ability to pound the strike zone. Sharbaugh (SS) and freshman Pedro Saladin (2B) will provide solid defense up the middle for years to come. Offensively, the Mustangs will rely on first-team all-division Tyle, second-team all-division Sauerhoefer, and Norz to produce runs. The Mustangs can challenge for double-digit wins if they play as good as they did in March. The rest of the projected lineup includes senior Dylan Whitenight (LF) and sophomore Nick Mattei (RF).

NORTH PLAINFIELD

Coach: Chris Eshleman    

Last year: 12-8

Key losses: Nick Cherasaro (C), Steve Merrill (1B), Terrance Jones (OF)

Key hitters: Bruce Weyand (Sr., P/SS), Gianmarco Acevedo (So., 2B), Nick Pellegrino (So., 3B), Antwan Barbour (Sr., P/SS), Jordy Monegro (Jr., C/OF), Jayden Chimimie (Jr., C/3B) Chris Monrroy (Jr., OF),  Daniel Spontak (Sr., 1B)

Pitchers: Bruce Weyand (Sr., RH), Antwan Barbour (Sr., RH), Nick Draben (So., RH), Jayden Chimimie (Jr., RH), Carlos Brito (Jr., RH)

Top reserves: Ben Joback (Sr.,1B), Abraham Monrroy (Jr., OF), Brandon Murillo (Jr., OF), Nacier Mosley (Fr., OF), Troy Henderson (So., 1B)

Outlook: Last season, North Plainfield fell one game short of a division title and should again contend. The Canucks return one of the area’s best players in Bruce Weyand. The Courier News first-team All-Area selection went 6-2 with a .87 ERA and had 85 strikeouts in 56 innings. He also hit .410 with 11 doubles, 18 RBI and 14 stolen bases. Barbour, also a key bat, and Draben will round out the pitching staff. Also expected to drive in runs are Pellegrino, Acevedo, Monegro, Chimimie and Monrroy.

PINGRY

Coach: Jake Ross

Last year: 15-10

Key losses: Joe Possumato, (OF, P), Jack Laurent (P/SS/3B), Zach Keller (P/1B), Spencer Spellman (1B), Miles LeAndre (OF), Clyde Leef (C) (injury)

Key hitters: Nate Hefner (Jr,. OF), Matt Lee (So., SS), Max Scherzer (Sr., 3B/P), Graham Matthews, (Sr., OF), Ryan Smith (So., C)

Pitchers: Michael Weber (Sr., RH), Jeremy Lister (Sr., LP), Max Scherzer (Sr. RH), Tyler McLaughlin (So. RH)

Outlook: Jake Ross is excited to return to his alma mater to lead the tradition-rich Big Blue’s baseball program. Hefner returns as second-team all-division. While Pingry graduated a lot of experience from last spring’s division co-championship team, the talented newcomers hope to keep that legacy going. Ross pitched and played shortstop for Pingry and continued his career at Lafayette College. He is also an assistant ice hockey coach for Pingry.