By doug mckenzie
Staff Writer
Don’t be fooled by the Senior American Legion Post No. 325 Falcons’ 3-7-1 record this summer.
Head coach Dan Diarchangal’s squad is better than that mark indicates. Their problem — they’re just slow starters.
"We’ve struggled a bit this summer, and have lost a bunch of one-run games," the coach said. "[On Monday] we lost to Middletown South (Post No. 338), 11-4, and we lost to Ocean Township (VFW No. 2226) earlier by a big margin, but every other loss has been a one-run loss."
And Diarchangal attributes his team’s knack for losing close games to its inability to get going early.
"We just can’t seem to get out of the gate," he said. "There’s just no fire early on. We’re always playing catch-up, and we just run out of time. Like [Monday night], for example. We fell behind 8-0 before we ever got going, and by then it was too late."
But Diarchangal does see a positive in his team’s penchant for slow starts.
"There’s no quit in our boys, that’s for sure," he said, "They never give up, and I’m proud of their effort."
The Falcons, who are made up of players from the Monmouth Regional High School baseball program, have a solid core of young players, all of whom should make an impact on the varsity club over the next two years.
The pitching staff is headed by one of the prizes of the program in Keith Cantwell, who will be a junior in the fall.
"Keith is the top guy on the hill for us," Diarchangal said. "He’s won every big game for us. And against Ocean, he pitched 10 innings and struck out 13 guys in a 2-2 tie.
"He’s got a very bright future," he added. "He’s a big kid, about 6-5, 220 pounds, and he throws in the mid-80s consistently. I think you’re going to see a lot of his name over the next couple of years."
The rest of the pitching staff consists of Pat Boyle, Mo Williams, Dan Diarchangal (the coach’s son), Nick DeFilippis and Keith’s brother Craig, a graduated senior.
Offensively, Williams in the big threat in the Falcon lineup, and will represent his team at tomorrow’s Senior American Legion All-Star game at Monmouth University. The talented shortstop will also be a junior this fall.
"Mo is our big stick, and is leading the team in average, home runs and RBIs. At one point this summer he went five-for-five and four-for-four in back-to-back games, and already has four home runs. He’s an outstanding offensive player."
The coach’s son, Dan, has also hit well this summer, putting together a seven-game hitting streak while playing second base in the field.
Another junior-to-be, DeFilippis, who plays third, has been consistent at the plate as well this summer, according to his coach, but has really shined in the field.
"Nick is one of the better gloves I’ve seen at third base in a long time," he said."
Center fielder Claude Jones has also played well this summer, as has the Falcons’ lead-off hitter, catcher Casey Whalen.
"Claude has been solid in the No. 2 hole, and is a threat on the base paths," the coach said. "He covers as much ground in the outfield as anyone. And Casey has been very steady as well from the lead-off spot, hitting with power and showing good speed."
The other outfielders are Jeromy Costa and Eric Rutan, while Craig Cantwell plays at first base when not pitching.
Off the bench, Diarchangal has catcher Dan Palladino, outfielders Diego Rosado and Chris Clark, first baseman Andrew Roth, and catcher/third baseman Pat Moynihan, who is coming off a four-hit game against RBC on Saturday. Incidentally, the Falcons lost that game by (you guessed it) one run, 7-6.