Baseball
By: Mike Molaro
When it’s all said and done, Hopewell Valley Central High School baseball coach Jim Reed believes the success of his team this season will come down to pitching.
The Bulldogs (11-11 overall, 8-8 in the Colonial Valley Conference last season) have the numbers. What they need is for someone to step up into the No. 1 slot.
"Pitching is going to be the key for us," said Reed, who is beginning his second year as Hopewell coach. "It’s still early, but we are looking for someone to be our ace.
"I like the makeup of our team. It’s going to come to how well our pitching holds up."
Losing Matt Barrett, Don Giovacchini and captains Chris Borkowski and Chuck Sista to graduation, the Bulldogs are looking to seniors Gus Davidson (pitcher), Rob Salyga (outfield/infield) and first baseman Rob Serratelli for leadership and key contributions.
Returning juniors are Andrew DiMatteo (outfield), Brett Hansen (infield/pitcher), Dan Hogan (pitcher), Brian Kirby (pitcher), Mark Yuhas (infield/pitcher), Chris Zsenak (third base/pitcher), Angelo Pagano (catcher), Brandon Rocktoss (pitcher), Kevin DeStefano (infield) and Greg Amato (infield). Outfielder R.J. Ofner is the lone returning sophomore.
Juniors Kevin Walsh (pitcher/outfield) and John Welsh (pitcher) and sophomore Tim Parker (pitcher) should also see key playing time. The Bulldogs are also "taking a long look" at freshman outfielder Steve Giovacchini.
Borkowski and Sista provided the leadership last year. That’s an area HoVal doesn’t quite have covered yet this season.
"We’re on the young side and looking for leadership," Reed said. "That hasn’t surfaced yet. Some of the younger guys are emerging as leaders. It will be interesting to see what happens there."
The Bulldogs fell to Carteret 2-1 in last year’s NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II quarterfinals. Moving up to Group III this season means a much more difficult path to earning a state tournament berth.
"We have our work cut out for us," Reed said. "One of our goals is to make the states. That’s a big challenge for us given our tough schedule now that we are in Group III.
"It’s going to be a tough road. We’ll see how the guys respond."
HoVal showed a lot of grit and determination in Monday’s 6-6 scrimmage against Group IV opponent South Brunswick. Down 5-0 after one inning, the Bulldogs scored once in the second and five runs in the third, with Ofner’s bases-loaded triple being the big hit in that inning. Amato and Zsenak each drove in a run.
"I liked what I saw from our team," Reed said. "We proved in this game against a Group IV team that we can come back. I am confident that this season we will never be down and out of a game.
"Our defense should be solid. We have a pretty good infield coming back. It will come down to our pitching."
According to Reed, HoVal needs to fill four holes: catcher, first base, center field and an ace starting pitcher. The Bulldogs have the potential. They need to turn that potential into positive results.
"We have capable players," Reed said. "It depends on how things shake out. We have guys competing for spots. We didn’t have that last year. Guys are pushing each other for starting roles. We had increased participation in our offseason program."
To prepare for their April 1 season opener at home against Allentown, the Bulldogs have scrimmages next week against South Hunterdon, Morristown, Bordentown, Voorhees and Immaculata before concluding their preseason on March 29 against Hunterdon Central.
"We are looking forward to the season," Reed said. "We have some question marks but we also have a nice group of guys that is working hard and has that positive attitude.
"The pitching will tell the story."
NOTES: HoVal faces Trenton on April 2 and Montgomery on April 3.
"The big challenge at this time of the year is the weather," Reed said.