By: Rich Fisher
Spring is here, and with it, another busy schedule in the Cranbury School athletic department. Here’s a look at how the Viking spring teams shape up.
SOFTBALL
To say the first two seasons of Viking softball were uneventful would be an understatement, but the third time could be a charm.
With a core of 8th-graders that has been together for three years, combined with an influx of young talent, coach Leigh Zink is displaying some true optimism entering the campaign.
"I think we should be much improved," Zink said. "The eighth-graders have been up against this kind of pitching for two years now, so they’re getting used to it. And with the addition of some good sixth-graders, we look a lot stronger. The girls that we’ve added are pretty decent hitters.
"We have not had a lot of practice so far, but I think they’re hitting better than last year."
Cranbury won just one game last year and three in its first two, and was blown out by more experienced teams in several of its losses.
"I really think we have a good chance at some of these teams," Zink said. "We should have a shot at beating some teams we played close games with, and we should be able to stay closer to the teams we’ve had real difficulty with."
Leading the way will be Zink’s daughter, Dylan, who is back for her third year as starting pitcher. The 8th-grader averaged over 10 strikeouts per game last season and, under the tutelage of a new pitching coach, has changed her wind-up.
"I think it’s helped her," Leigh Zink said. "Her motion is more compact, she’s not all over the place, and her accuracy is a lot better. She drives harder off her foot now."
Other returning 8th-graders, with positions in parenthesis, include Erin Hoerner (1B/3B/C), Amy Jacobi (C/1B), Katie Lindberg (2B/OF), Meghan Palagyi (2B/OF), Amanda Santa Maria (SS/OF), Ellie van der Veken (3B/2B) and Kelly Wright (2B/OF).
The speedy Santa Maria, who did not play the sport until last year, returns after hitting over .500. Jacobi also swung a hot bat, batting over .300 in 2002.
Outfielder Laura Mawn is the lone 7th-grader on the roster. The 6th-graders include Jessica Charwin (OF), Lisa Faraci (SS/1B), Chelsea Persons (OF) and Kim Wright (OF).
"Things are looking pretty good," Zink said. "We’ve got several of these girls who have been playing together for a couple of years now. They’ve come back with stronger arms, and they look sharper.
"Amanda learned how to bunt the ball and use her speed to get on base. And boy, am I excited about getting Faraci in here."
The one drawback is that, like the baseball team, the softballers must play every game on the road this year. Due to the construction of the new gym, a construction fence runs by the softball field.
"We can use it for practice, but we can’t use it for games," Zink said. "It’s a shame. You think it might be a big deal at this level, but there truly is a home field advantage."
The Road Warriorettes open the season with two straight games at Metuchen on Monday and Wednesday. They got into the year with several goals.
"I asked them all to state their individual goals and their team goals," Zink said. "The most significant team goals are to be aggressive at bat, and keep a positive attitude."
TENNIS
Coach Lynn Totten is optimistic as she returns 10 players from last year’s varsity, including eight 8th-graders.
"And," Totten added, "I have a really strong group of sixth-graders that came in with strong backgrounds and will contribute a lot. Three of them will probably see some varsity time and the rest will make up a strong JV team."
Leading the returnees are last year’s top two singles players, Rohit Gawande and Miheer Mhatre, both 8th-graders.
Other 8th-graders on the varsity Greg Bredariol, Christabelle Chen, Rahool Padhye, Sandeep Tummala, Arjun Vikuntam, Ram Yamarthy and newcomer Kyle Barron. Seventh-graders on the roster are Andrew Paterson and Shabeg Singh, while 6th-graders who could make an impact include Pat Chen, Mike Mayes and Will Rogers.
"Rohit and Miheer are both established at singles, but I haven’t figured out the other singles positions yet," Totten said. "We have a lot of returning doubles players back. "It should be a strong squad. They’re a good group to work with, they’re all very dedicated and serious about their tennis and about improving. I think we’ll be seeing some of them playing high school tennis."
Totten said the goals for the season "would be for everyone to give their best individual performance and improve each match."
The varsity opened its season Thursday against Princeton Day School.
The JV team will consist of 7th-graders Mike Conover, Garrett Riley and Desiree Young, and 6th-graders Chris Allunario, Rachael Amico, Tucker Anderson, Derek Del Core, Drew Holland, Aiden Milner, Jason Trenkle and Ajay Vithala. The JV opened against Hun on Wednesday.
BASEBALL
As is the case with every baseball team in the history of the world, the fate of the Vikings nine rests with one thing.
"It depends on our pitching," coach Frank Silva said. "If our pitching is good, we should do fine."
The mound corps consists of 8th-graders Ryan Gordy, who will also play outfield, and Tyler Distasio (IF/OF), and 7th-graders Mark Madden (C/3B) and Clint O’Brien (SS).
"They haven’t had that much work throwing the ball," Silva said. "But I think they can give me a good solid four innings a game. That’s what I’m looking for."
Rounding out the roster are 8th-gradrs John Ryan (C) and John Mitko (CF), 7th-graders Joe Deramo (3B), Matt Johnson (2B), Chris Fiorentini (C/OF), David Kirkner (OF) and Michael Douglas (LF), and 6th-graders Sam Grubb (1B), David Petrucelli (OF), Tommy Hines (OF) and Gene Buckley (2B).
"I think we have seven or eight guys who can hit on this team," said Silva, referring to Madden, Ryan, O’Brien, Distasio, Douglas, Fiorentini, Gordy and Deramo. "We have some speed but no power. Our plan is to chip away and run.
"We look a little better than last year. Defensively, my starting nine can field pretty well, but we have to get better defense from our back-ups."
The Vikings will again play every game on the road, staring with Monday’s game against Pond Road at the Sharon School.
TRACK & FIELD
What could be the last resort for many Cranbury School athletes, is actually their first choice.
Although the track and field team does not cut anyone, and serves as a lifeline for players who get cut from other teams, many of the athletes initially came out for track over every other sport.
"These kids like track, they’re just really into track," coach Jay Gilligan said. "We had more kids trying out for track than anything else, and we’re supposed to be the team that everyone else comes to after they’re cut.
"I think I have some of the best athletes in 6th and 8th grade. They’re outstanding."
The Vikings are coming off a season in which the girls won the Middlesex County B Division meet, while the boys took third place.
Gilligan said that some of the key members of this year’s squad include 8th-graders Susanne Hanson (distance), Adam Lawrence (shot/discus), Stephanie Grubb (shot/discus), Kate Battista (shot/discus), DaQuan Hester (sprints), Marcus French (sprints), Matt Chester (middle distance) and Albert Lam (distance), 7th-graders Zara Stasi (all running events), Kyle DeBlois (all running events) and Olivia Johnston (distance), and 6th-grader Kelli White (distance).
As usual, Gilligan is putting performance over results, seeking improvement on a daily basis.
"It’s always a great extra to win," the coach said. "But if they work hard every day, all the other stuff falls in line. I just want them to go out there and work hard every day."
Other members of the squad include 8th-graders Zeke Abuhoff, Steve Barbano, Katie Burke, Sarah Casey, Jacob Irving, Emily Kotowski, Ross McDonald, Mike Manning, Mike Mikula, Danica Presepe and Chelsea Wittman; 7th-graders Shaye Bechina, Luke Brunskill, Erin Hawes, Tom Hellstern, Erin Holswade, Sam Hurt, Nick Liu, Patrick Long, Abby Miller, Vivian Sun, Bob Venanzi, Sam Venanzi and Kyle Walsh; and 6th-graders Brigitt Boschitsch, Maggie Bleach, Ria Brij, Katie Carreno, Adrienne Casimir, Nayir Chowdhury, Alexandra Coumbis, Chris Dunnett, Reva Geier, Joseph Giacalone, Patrick Hoerner, Nicholas Hughes, Rachel Hyman, Sam Kotowski, Corey Marsh, Elizabeth O’Grady, Maddy O’Meara, Keith Pelcher, Dario Presepe, Dana Sahli and Anna Shea.
The Vikings open on Wednesday at New Egypt.
