Makowski helps fuel Vikes baseball team

By: James McKeever
   He stands 6-foot-3, anchors the middle of his team’s batting order and holds the infield together from his spot at first base.
   Yes, the South Brunswick High School baseball team is happy to have Justin Makowski in its dugout.
   "Jay Mac, as they call him, is having a really good year," said Vikings coach Leo Danik. "You can’t measure what this guy does in terms of senior leadership. We’re lucky we can count on a guy like him.
   "He’s a quiet leader. He’s not afraid to say anything and sometimes he’ll get on people if he needs to. But he’d rather lead by his actions."
   Makowski, a senior clean-up hitter, is comfortable playing the role of leader, and will use his voice if necessary.
   "As far as leadership goes I try to lead by example, especially with the younger kids," said Makowski. "I want them to see me bust it in pre-game and during games and imitate that. I’m vocal, too. We have a core of four kids who bring it every day to the highest level. I’m just one of those guys."
   Makowski was referring to himself, Bryan Sock and Nick and Joe Clemente.
   As a freshman Makowski mostly sat the varsity bench and got to pitch a few innings. As a sophomore he worked his way into the lineup and last season established himself as the starter.
   First base has always been Makowski’s position. His height and the fact that his brother Matt (1996 South Brunswick graduate) played there had a lot to do with it.
   Last season he batted .329 with two doubles and 13RBI in the Vikings’ 16-7-1 season that culminated with the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament championship.
   Perhaps the most memorable moment of Makowski’s season came in the bottom of the seventh inning in the GMCT final against Piscataway. With the potential winning run on second base, right fielder Kyle Cleffi scooped up a base hit, fired the ball into cut-off man Makowski, who threw a strike to catcher Fred Brown to cut down the runner.
   South Brunswick went on to win in nine innings,4-2.
   "He makes some terrific plays. I think he’s as solid a first baseman as any in the GMC," said Danik. "He’s got a great stretch.
   "Last year he banged up his knee and basically gimped through the last part of the season. But he gutted it out. He had knee surgery over the winter, rehabbed and really worked hard. Now he’s close to good as new."
   Prior to Wednesday’s game (yesterday) against St. Joseph’s, Makowski was tied with Nick Clemente for the team lead in hitting at .375. He was 18-for-48 in 15 games (10-4-1 team record) with 10 runs, four doubles and nine RBI.
   "First base is where I feel most comfortable," Makowski said. "You’re involved in most plays. As far as my season this year, it’s been on and off. I’ve been hitting well, but not as well as I would like."
   South Brunswick’s next game will be in the GMC Tournament, most likely on Monday at home (the seeds were announced last night and the Vikings were expecting to get a bye into the round of 16).
   As the defending champ, the Vikings have a bull’s-eye on their backs. "Other teams will be gunning for us," said Makowski. "They’ve been gunning for us all season. But we have a lot of experience from playing in the final last year and we have a core of seven kids who have been playing together since we were eight years old."