BASEBALL

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

Andy Mendlowitz
Courier News and Home News Tribune
Montgomery vs. Watchung Hills baseball inthe Somerset County Tournament final at TD Bank Park. Montgomery celebrates their win Monday May 16, 2016 photo by Ed Pagliarini

EDITOR’S NOTE: Additional teams may be added to the divisional preview. Please consider refreshing this page. Thank you for your interest.

FRANKLIN

Coach: Nick Zucchero                                                    

Last year: 6-15

Key losses: Garrett Callaghan (3B/P), Brain DiNicola (SS), Ken Millman (C), Sohil Patel (P/OF)

Key hitters: AJ Gordon (Jr., OF), Josh Kuroda-Grauer (Fr., SS), Danish Nadeem (So., OF), Gabe Perez (So., 3B/SS/2B), Ryan Hanna (So., C), Nick Rosikiewicz (So., C/OF)

Pitchers: AJ Gordon (Jr., RH), Jeff Perez (Sr., RH), Danish Nadeem (So., RH), Nadell Booker (So., RH)

Outlook: Franklin has a young, talented team with a big sophomore class. Head coach Nick Zucchero hopes the team can reach the postseason and compete in the tough conference. The Warriors graduated first-team all-division picks in DiNicola and second-teamers Millman and Patel.                                                      

MONTGOMERY

Coach: Peter Mueller                             

Last year: 20-11

Key losses: Jesse Gerdes (C), Michael Patrizio (SS), Matt Ryan (DH/P), Andrew Case (P), Cory Carmon (P)

Key hitters: Ryan McKenna (Jr., CF), Kyle Kuminski (Sr., LF), Tommy Denlinger (Jr., SS), Sam Noles (Jr., RF), Nick Pascale (Sr., 2B), Palmer Smith (Sr.,1B), Nate Ryan (So., DH), Steven McKechnie (Jr., DH), Nick DiIorio (Jr.,1B), Matt Youngberg (Jr., C), Dylan Gerdes (Jr., C)

Pitchers: Lance DeSantis (Jr., RH), Joe Leonardis (Jr., RH), Matt Machado (Jr., RH), Andrew Youngberg (Jr., RH), Ryan McKenna (Jr., LH), Danny Carver (Sr., LH), Jack Tonra (Jr., RH), Palmer Smith (Sr., RH), Mike McKenna (Jr., RH), Nick Iati (Jr., RH)

Top reserves: Noah Cheskis (Jr., OF)

Outlook: The Cougars have just four seniors, but are talented. McKenna returns as a first-team all-division pick. Peter Mueller expects his squad to do the intangibles as they gain varsity experience. He said, “Pitching will be our biggest question mark, but we have solid defenders and a good offense. I expect us to be scrappy. We will compete.”

NORTH HUNTERDON

Coach: Mike Kane 

Last year: 17-10

Key losses: John Macce (C and #4 batter), Matt Roskoski (2B), Billy Russo (3B), Pete Kane (DH), Andrew Berger (1B)

Key hitters: Matt Busher (Sr., RF/P), Justin Johnson (Sr., SS), Matt Wagner (So.,1B,/P), Grant Sible (Sr., CF), Mike Pierce (Jr., DH/1B/P)

Pitchers: Matt Busher (Sr.), Justin Holderbaum (Jr.), Ryan Ruscansky (Sr., P/2B), Jonathan Borque (Jr.), Matt Wagner (So.), Mike Pierce (Jr.)

Top reserves: Brandon Kuo (2B), Chris Markovich (3B), Cole Salemo (OF), Dean Severini (IF), Connor Woods (C)

Outlook: The Lions are primed for a big season after returning their top three pitchers, several relief pitchers and most of the big bats from last season’s 17-win season. Busher (Old Dominion commit) and Holderbaum are back to lead the staff after tossing gems last season. The pitching is bolstered with the addition of Ruacansky, Borque, Wagner and Pierce. Kane noted that, “Defensively, we are stronger at every position especially with the addition of Chris Markovich at 3B.” He added that, “The blend of players have gelled tremendously in this rough month of March and are chomping at the bit to get the season rolling. The team is loose and having a lot of fun so it has the makings to be a great season. The one negative was losing our potential starting C/DH Trey Primatic to a broken ankle just prior to the season.”

RIDGE

Coach: Tom Blackwell 

Last year: 10-14

Key losses: Tim Huxen, Matt Rusiniak, Jack Peacock, Kevin Walker, Griffin Goode

Key hitters: Ryan Gogerty (Sr., OF), Brandon Radice (Sr., OF), Brandon Hylton (Sr., 1B), Andrew Lusardi (Sr., OF), Devin Stieglitz (Sr., SS), Anthony Roti (Sr., 2B), Patrick Heffernan (Sr., DH), Sean Spina (Sr., C), Greg Bozzo (So., C/OF), Chris Seebode (Sr., SS)

Pitchers: James Crowley (Sr., RH), Cooper Bobowicz (Jr., LH), Justin Pavlik (Sr., RH), Anthony Roti (Sr., RH), Devin Stieglitz (Sr., RH), Joe Covello (Sr., RH), Joe Riggiero (Sr., RH), Jack Love (Jr., RH)

Top reserves: Chris Parker (So., IF/P), Chris Love (Jr., OF/P), Louis Lafakis (Sr., 3B)

Outlook: The veteran team features 14 seniors who are hungry and eager to breakthrough with a county and postseason run. The Red Devils return first-team All-Raritan Division picks in James Crowley (P) and Anthony Roti (2B/P). Watchung Hills transfer Hylton (Stetson commit, .372 BA, 7 HR) only helps them. Blackwell notes that, “This group of guys have been outstanding. There is definitely a sense of urgency around our practices.”