H.S. baseball gets under way on Friday

Although it was definitely still winter earlier this week, athletes across the state were thinking ahead to Friday, when they begin spring practice.

For the Brick Memorial High School baseball team, that includes a trip next month to Fort Pierce, Fla., for three games April 13- 17 against John Carroll High School of Fort Pierce, Mary Rhykim of Maryland and Highland Regional in Blackwood, New Jersey.

Toms River South and Toms River East also will be playing games there during that time.

"We went there three years ago when I was an assistant coach and we really enjoyed it. It was a great experience. The town is all baseball," said Brick Memorial coach Rich Bishop.

It will be the third time in four years that the Mustangs venture to the Sunshine State. Last year, the team traveled to Orlando and won all three games against teams from Medina, Ohio, Colorado and Pittsburgh. The Mustangs went on to a 13-14 season but reached the Ocean County championship, only to lose to Toms River South, 2-0.

"Fundraising for the trip has gone very good," said Bishop, who was named the Ocean County and Shore Coaches Association Coach of the Year. Along with players bagging groceries and selling calendars, there also was a comedy Club Night Benefit in January. Carl Gordon, president of the Diamond Club, organized the fundraising.

Both Bishop and Brick Township coach Jason Groschel report that they are pleased with the players' off-season commitments.

"They've been doing winter workouts on Sundays and (popular pitching guru) Tom Baxter works out with the pitchers on Sunday while Carl Gordon, who played in the (Chicago) Cubs organization worked out with the hitters," Bishop said. "We're working on one philosophy: hitting."

Sporadic hitting proved costly for both teams in the fiercely competitive Shore ConferenceASouth last season.

"Their attitude is excellent," Bishop said. "This is the greatest group I've had. They're all into it. They want to do well."

"We had 40 to 50 boys after school in the weight room," Groschel said. "It was going good all winter. Since January, the kids are working out, with some fathers volunteering their time to get the boys together and in shape with some work in the batting cages."

Groschel said it has been better this year since he has been moved into the high school from the elementary program to teach physical education.

Both coaches also said many players participated in fall ball, with Brick Township's team losing in the finals to Holmdel in a fall league. Many also played in a wooden bat league sponsored by Brick National. Both high school teams also played in the American Legion, with Brick Township grooming many young players and Brick Memorial finishing in third place at 14-4. "We're definitely in full mode now," Groschel said. Along with a large group of experienced staff on his nine-man staff, Bishop said he also can add an experienced transfer to the corps in Steve Zrowka, who helped the basketball team win A South for the third time in five years.

He'll be a middle reliever, designated hitter and outfielder, said Bishop. Tim Spaulding, who went from reliever to starter and was a tough luck loser to Toms River South in the county finals, is back along with seniors Brendan Melody, Anthony Gearity, Lou Raccuglia and junior Phil Sigona as well as a "surprise" addition in the bullpen in Jose Ramos, part of an experienced infield at first base. Third baseman Andrew Nelson, a junior, looms as the closer.

Senior Brian Staub, who quarterbacked the football team to the NJSIAA Group IV Central title, is back at shortstop and Justin Gordon returns to second base, although Bishop said nothing is guaranteed once practice begins with young prospects up from the junior varsity like Mike Rytelewski leading the hopefuls.

Catcher is the one question mark with the graduation of Tom Murray, with junior Jason Promisel and senior Ken Curran fighting it out.

Melody started last season in center field and Spaulding played most of the season in left, but junior Jon DeValle did a creditable job playing that spot in the county championship game in his first start. Brian Duckworth, a junior, has ample experience in right and Zrowka also is vying for a start there.

Senior Joe Murray, junior Kevin Krotulis and sophomore Tom Tressito also are top candidates in the outfield.

As for Brick Township, it has some good arms returning from a frustrating 6-18 season, including seniors Sean Salsano, Dan Boyle and Karl Rex and junior Matt Coughlin. But there are many starters who graduated, including Pedro Serrano, Chris Sorice, Mike Winters, Tim Reddan, Ray Johnson, Jared Page, Travis Escalante, Ryan Ross and Kurt Loftus who shared the catching spot with Dan Wroblewski, a senior who is uncertain whether he'll be back because of a lingering knee problem from soccer season as the varsity goalie.

"Our record is no indication. We did not play up to our potential," said Groschel who said an impressive 80 players reported to a pre-season meeting.

"What we have to do is to keep other teams from big innings. We need to improve our defense overall."

John Applegate, who played on the left side of the infield, is one returnee but the rest is wide open, with infielder Mike DeAngelo, outfielder/second baseman Matt Dornacker, outfielder Brandon Cruz, versatile player Joe Goble and Mike Neigel at second base all in the mix. Dormacker plays on the hockey team, which played its state tournament opener on Monday this week.

With the school district cutting staff back by one coach, assistant coach Chris Hughes will coach the junior varsity this season at Brick Township. Mike Berardinelli is back with the freshmen. Evan Rizitello is the Brick Memorial assistant.