By tim morris
Staff Writer
Brookdale Community College’s baseball team may not have the star power of last year’s Region XIX champions, yet the Jersey Blues could be a better club than last season’s NJCAA World Series participants.
"I have special feeling about these guys," said head coach Johnny Johnson. "This is a very close-knit group. We have more depth than last year."
All-American pitcher Alex Perez, Jon Forte, Stephen Echevarri and Mike Pierre, last season’s catalysts, have graduated, but in their place, Johnson has built a team that is far deeper in talent, starting with its pitching.
"Alex Perez was phenomenal, but this year we have a deeper staff," noted Johnson. "I have more confidence in every kid on our staff, one to 13."
Right-handed starter Brian Rabbit from Brick is the ace of the 2003 Blues. The hard-throwing sophomore mixes a 88-90 mph fastball that moves into right-handed hitters and away from lefties with a hard slider. He was 3-1 last year and threw a no-hitter in the Super Region, sending BCC to the junior college World Series.
The top lefty on the staff is returner Kyle Bortula, from Point Pleasant Beach, a Tom Glavine-type pitcher who throws strikes and is always around the plate. His slider is his top pitch.
Mark Leanza, a sophomore right-hander from Eatontown, was 6-1 last year.He has a very good curve ball.
Dave Backunas, of Morristown, a transfer, rounds out the corps of the starting rotation. He’s a hard-throwing right-hander.
Lefty Joe Catenacci of Spotswood and right-hander Casey Hoalcroft of Oceanport will likely share the closer’s role. Both are sophomores. Catenacci provides flexibility to the staff with his ability to start, if needed, or to pitch long relief.
Freshman Joe Behan of Hazlet is another flame-throwing righty who adds to the team’s depth.
Along with pitching, infield defense is another strength of the Jersey Blues, led by shortstop Joe Kokotulo, a sophomore from Hamilton, and freshman second baseman Ray Hastings, an all-state player for Haddon Heights. On the corners, Jason Powell, Queens, N.Y., returns at first and Antonio Miranda, a returner from Brooklyn, N.Y., mans the hot corner at third.
Patrick Rogers of Middletown has been the biggest plus of the season on defense. The Blues had expected to have Brian Flynn starting behind the plate, but a shoulder injury will limit the Middletown freshman to designated hitting duty.
The loss of Flynn had Johnson on a catching search and infielder Rogers, who had never played the position before, stepped in.
"Pat is doing a phenomenal job," said Johnson. "We’re force-feeding him now. He knows his baseball well."
Returner Marc Savard from Colts Neck will start in left field for the Blues with Alex Vidal, a sophomore from Hazlet in center and Ahmade Mendez, a sophomore from the Bronx, N.Y., in right. Rob Troy, a freshman from Middletown, is the team’s utility player who can start in the outfield or play first base.
Last season, Brookdale was an offensive juggernaut, scoring runs at will. The team had a combination of power and speed. The Blues don’t have the fence-clearing power of 2002, but are an overall better hitting team than last year.
"We’re a better hitting team one through nine than last year," Johnson explained. "We don’t have the power we had last year. We’re more of a doubles-hitting team that will play hit-and-run. We’ll still steal bases."
Savard (.363 five home runs), Powell (.353), Kokotulo (.335), Miranda (.345) are the top returning hitters from 2002.
Rounding out the 2003 Jersey Blues are: pitcher Jason Soltren, Matawan; pitcher Regen Savard, Belmar; infielder Matthew Tolentino, Colts Neck; infielder Perry Medina, Matawan; outfielder Nick Aldiero, Howell; outfielder Rob Katley, Carteret; outfielder Fed Hodge, Freehold; outfielder Joe Walsh, Staten Island, N.Y.; infielder Neimiah Eschravarria, Bronx; pitcher Rob Flynn, Middletown; and pitcher Chris Zarobinski, Old Bridge.
Like last season, Johnson had his team begin its season down south playing against four-year college and other Division III powerhouses.
"We want to prepare the guys for down the road by playing quality teams," said Johnson.
BCC got off to an encouraging 5-3 start. Last year’s club played the same challenging schedule early and struggled, but was rewarded for it down the road by winning the GSAC and Region XIX titles as well as the Super Region that sent them to the World Series in Millington, Tenn. Brookdale was 35-15.