BASEBALL: The team of 16-, 17- and 18-year-olds returns only two players on a small roster of 12 from last year’s squad.
By: Neil Hay
Despite a less than sparkling debut last week, manager Dave Dino is expecting big things this season from his East Windsor PAL squad in the Mercer County Senior Babe Ruth League.
Dino will be carrying a lean squad of only 12 players, some of whom are still not yet in prime playing shape. But when everyone settles in and gets to know one another and their role in the grand scheme of things, this team will again compete for the top spot.
There are only two players back from last year’s squad which finished in second place (behind Hamilton Lou Gehrig) in the regular season and playoffs. They are 18-year olds D.J. Dino, who is a frontline pitcher and also plays the infield, and David Rodriguez, who plays outfield and may see some innings behind the plate.
The rest of the roster is new and includes 18-, 17-, and 16-year olds. The 18-year olds are third baseman/outfielder Mike Yellen, infielder/pitcher Dennis Gray and Jason Danley, who plays infield and pitches.
Chris Sutton, a 17-year old, will be counted on along with Dino to pitch most of the innings this season. Sutton also plays infield when not on the mound. Other 17-year olds are center fielder Jeff Sutterlin, and third baseman/outfielder Zack Starks.
The 16-year olds group is comprised of catcher/outfielder Tristin Torres; catcher James Hedlund; first baseman Tom Convery; and Erik Franzo, who may play infield and pitch some.
Dino, back for another stint as PAL manager, is comfortable with his roster and confident that, when everything is in place, this team will be among the league’s best.
"We are going to do very well this year. We started slow. It’s a brand new team and will take a while until everyone gets to know each other and they see where they play.
"I think we’ll be stronger than last year. The pitching will be better. Sutton and Dino will do very nicely as starters, with the others available to spot in relief. It will take a while for Dino and Sutton to be at one hundred percent. They are not in top shape yet. They need to strengthen their arms."
Dino expects his offense will support his pitchers with solid run production.
"We have several good sticks in the lineup," said Dino, referring to Rodriguez, Sutterlin, Covery and Dino. "They’ll generate a fair amount of runs. With good hitting and starting pitching we’ll win some games."
East Windsor got off to a shaky start on June 6 losing the season opener, 11-3, to visiting Lawrence. Sutton started and took the loss, going six and one-third innings. In that span he allowed seven runs on seven hits with five walks and seven strikeouts. Danley went the last two-thirds innings, giving up four runs on one hit with no walks and no strikeouts.
PAL scored single runs in the first and second innings as Danley and Rodriguez each drove in a run for a 2-0 lead. For the most part, however, East Windsor bats were stilled most of the night by Lawrence’s Kyle Anderson, who rang up 16 strikeouts. He also helped himself with a three-run home run.
"Anderson pitched a wonderful game," said Dino, who was without two key players.
The locals seemed to get their act together with an 11-3 win over visiting Hamilton. Sutton took the baseball and showed a lively arm and good control as he fashioned a six-hit complete game for the win. Along the way Sutton, who located a very good fastball mixed in with a curve, struck out five batters and did not allow a base on balls.
"He had very good stuff, very good control," said Dino.
This time Sutton was backed by a steady defense and a productive offense that banged out 12 hits. Rodriguez was the hitting star with two home runs and four runs batted in. Yellen had two doubles and three RBI, and Gray and Dino (two runs, two RBI) added two hits each.
Dino can only hope that there are more games like the one against Hamilton and no more like the 18-1 setback to Lou Gehrig.
"Can we forget about this one?," asked Dino.
Dino can only forget the first two games, and look for more of what he saw the third time. around.