By: Rich Fisher
David Velez likes to set his goals high, which is exactly what he’s doing with the Cranbury-Plainsboro Little League 10-year-old All-Star team.
"I’m hoping we’re going to go all the way," said Velez, whose team will begin the District 12 tournament on July 7. "I’m trying to plant that focus in the kids, and the kids look like they’re really serious about playing. They have that mindset.
"I figure, let’s shoot for the top and work our way down. Let’s look at the World Series and take one game at a time on the way."
As 9-year-olds, C-P went 3-2 in the HTRBA tournament and 1-3 in the Washington Township tournament. But Velez feels it looks much improved this season.
The roster consists of Corey Bauman (OF), Andrew Benerofe (1B/OF), Sam Boyles (CF/P), Jake Donohue (P/SS), Ethan Harel (3B/P), Marcus Henderson (P/2B), Steve Katz (P/SS), Greg Kishyk (OF), Patrick McDonald (P/Utility), Matt Redmond (C), Jonathan Redmond (P/1B), Dennis Velez (2B/P) and Greg Weisbecker (1B). Kishyk, who is returning after being involved in a tragic auto accident last fall, and McDonald are from Cranbury.
C-P will be playing in Pool B of the district tournament. It opens July 7 against host West End at 6 p.m.; hosts Florence at 6 p.m. July 9; plays 6-11 at Florence, 8:30 p.m., July 10, and plays HTRBA at 6-11, 8:30, July 12.
"This year the team looks very good," Velez said. "I’m very happy with it.
"I have a lot of kids this year who are hitting good, and pitching-wise we’re very good. Marcus Henderson pitched well in the Major American this year, and Steven Katz, Jake Donohue and Dennis Velez are all tough pitchers. We’ve got a lot of pitching."
Velez also likes his catcher, Matt Redmond, who he says "is like a crab, he doesn’t let anything get by him."
Unlike last year, when an A and B team were picked as 9-year-olds, the 10’s went with one team this year.
"We had 25 kids come out and we kept 13, and it’s a heart-breaker to have to cut some of them," Velez said. "But I’m comfortable with who we picked. It looks good from what I’ve seen so far."
11-YEAR-OLDS
The 11’s have some new faces who did not play on last year’s district team, and coach Joe Donohue feels they may help out.
"We weren’t very successful last year, we had a rough time," Donohue said. "We didn’t get out of our pool in the districts and we didn’t place in the Lawrenceville Tournament.
"But we have some new dynamics this year and hopefully that will help make a difference."
This year’s team opens play in the HTRBA tournament on July 5.
The roster consists of Todd Petrone (1B/C), Ralph Aurora (2B/P), Zack Donohue (SS/P), Lenny Bellezza (3B/OF), Phil Trachtenberg (SS/P), Sujith Murali (OF/1B), Dennis Cannon (C/1B), Ryan Brazel (IF/OF), Tim McDonnell (OF), Russ Mawn (OF), Steve Jacobi (OF/C/IF), Michael Skapyak (P/CF).
Of that group, Mawn, Jacobi and McDonnell are from Cranbury. That trio, along with Bellezza and Murali, are the newcomers to this year’s team.
"We seem to have a pretty good hitting team," Donohue said. "I’m expecting them to hit the ball and we’re still trying to get together on the fielding, get these guys playing together as a team. The rain has made it tough."
As for the pitching, Donohue said "We’ve got four or five pretty strong pitchers if they pitch to their capabilities. On any given day, it can be an adventure."
C-P will also play in the Washington Township tournament in late July.
9-YEAR-OLDS
The 9’s begin play Tuesday in Pool C of the East Windsor PAL Tournament, which features the hosts along with tough programs in Nottingham, HTRBA and West Windsor.
Last year’s squad went 1-3 as 8-year-olds but, like the 11’s, have a fairly new team this year. The roster consists of Nico Mercuro (P/IF), Alex Mitko (P/IF), Ian Persons (SS/P), Tim Hui (P/OF), Mark DeLaRosa (IF/OF), Travis DeLaRosa (IF/OF), Dan Druckman (OF), Eric Yehl (C), Ryan Dontas (P/OF), Ryan Shoemaker (P/OF), Alex Rifkin (IF), Cliff Mawn (IF), Jeremy Tyson (C/OF).
Mitko, Mercuro, Yehl, Rifkin, Persons and Mawn are from Cranbury.
"This isn’t the same team from last year," coach Carlos DeLaRosa said. "I think we’ve got a pretty good, solid team. We’ve got a lot of pitching, a lot of good gloves. The hitting is holding up.
"We’re trying to get as much figured out as we can. With all this rain it’s been tough to get a field and find a place to hit. If we can get our bats working and with our pitching, we should be all right."
The 9’s will also play in the Lawrence tournament, which begins July 19.

