Red Raiders fall in home opener

Baseball

By: Mike Molaro
   If anybody needs proof of the adage "No matter how bad things are, they could always be worse," just check with coach Jerry Russo and The Pennington School’s baseball squad.
   With Mother Nature showing us who’s boss last week, the Red Raiders had their three-game slate postponed by rain and snow. Pennington did manage to get in its season opener on April 1, but the Red Raiders dropped a 7-2 home decision to the Big Red.
   Russo can teach his guys the fundamentals of the game, but he has no control over the weather.
   Last Friday’s game at Saddle River was rescheduled for April 26, but no makeup dates have been set for last Saturday’s home washout against Solebury or Monday’s game at Hun that was postponed because of snow.
   Now comes the challenge of trying to reschedule these games. And through it all, a bit of a rainbow may be shining.
   "You try to find open dates that work for both teams," Russo said. "We’re hoping to make up both the Solebury and Hun games. You deal with it. Everybody’s in the same boat and dealing with it.
   "This was supposed to be our busiest week of the season. Maybe this will work out in our favor. Now the games will be spread out. Our first priority is making up the Patriot Conference games."
   The Red Raiders are keeping busy in the gym, but Russo knows there’s nothing that replaces live competition.
   "The guys are champing at the bit," he added. "You hit inside and give the pitchers some throws. But you reach a point of diminishing return.
   "You try to keep the guys focused. It won’t be the same until we get back outside. All we need is a couple of days outside to get back into the routine."
   With senior right-hander Jamal Mahmud and sophomore righty Terry Wells penciled in as his No. 1 and 2 starters, respectively, Russo is looking for the depth on his pitching staff to play a key role this season.
   "Time will tell how these postponements will affect the pitching," Russo said. "Our third, fourth and fifth pitchers will get innings. This will get them some work. They will be put to the test."
   Despite the slew of make-ups coming up, Russo sees the proverbial silver lining.
   "All of our pitchers’ arms are all pretty well-rested," he said. "We shouldn’t have sore arms for an excuse. After this upcoming week, we have a couple of days off for Easter break, so that will give our pitchers some time off.
   "I’m looking at late April-early May as to when the schedule will be packed. We’ll have to be up to the challenge."
   Sophomore catcher Vin DeFazio belted a homer in the loss to Lawrenceville, as Pennington cut a 3-0 deficit to 3-2 before the Big Red took control.
   "Lawrenceville is a real good team," Russo said. "We knew they would hit. We hung in for a little while."
   NOTES: Weather permitting, the Red Raiders host The George School on Wednesday and Montgomery on Friday. They compete in the "Diamond Classic" at Rutgers Prep on Saturday with a first-round game against Prep B rival Newark Academy. They visit Prep B foe Wardlaw-Hartridge next Tuesday and host Prep B foe Rutgers Prep next Tuesday.