Strong summer season
on horizon for Edison 9s
BY SHAWN LAYTON
Staff Writer
EDISON — This year’s Edison Boys Baseball League’s 9-year-old All Stars look to build off the success of last year’s showing.
Last year, the boys finished the summer 11-9 with a second-place finish in the Carteret Tournament and a semifinal loss in the EBBL Tournament. Considering that every player from last year’s team is returning to the lineup, the opportunity for success is prevalent.
"The boys are a year older and they gained valuable experience playing against 10-year-olds in their recreation minor league level," EBBL’s 9-year-old All Stars head coach Rick Pychewicz said. "This summer, we hope to play more competitively and we hope to build on last summer’s record."
This summer’s team is scheduled to compete in the Bridgewater Tournament, its own EBBL Tournament from July 10-19, and the Clark Tournament from July 22-28. Also, as the host league for this year’s 9-year-old Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth Regional Tournament, the 9-year-old All Stars are awarded an automatic bid for the prestigious tournament. The team will still battle for a district championship at South Plainfield beginning July 14.
"Although we have the automatic bid for the regional tournament as the host team, we still want to be competitive," Pychewicz said. "It would be nice to head into our own regional tournament as the district champs."
Pychewicz and his assistants, Charles Barrall, Mike Lombardo and Mike Manfre look to instill baseball fundamentals and, at the same time, mold the team into a force to be reckoned with in the regional tournament.
"At this level, the biggest thing is fundamentals and mechanics," Pychewicz said. "Everything is geared toward this in practice, and this year is a building block as we try and lay the foundation for them to progress along the way."
Expected to see action from the mound this summer are pitchers Chad Barrall, Ben Vietze, Matt Woody and Kevin Kirsch. Vietze will also play some shortstop while Woody will be used in the outfield and first base, and Kirsch will occupy the hot corner when needed. Barrall is one of the team’s most versatile players, and will see plenty of action in center field and at shortstop.
Slated to comprise the other half of the battery is catcher Justin Duran, and joining Woody in the outfield will be Ian Naccarella, Tory Manfre, Anthony Jones and Dylan Shine. Shine will also see action from the infield, as well as first baseman James Lombardo and second baseman Rick Pychewicz."Looking at the team at this stage, it is evident that the team will hit the ball," Pychewicz said. "We have a number of kids that can throw the ball, and if we throw strikes we should do well. It is too early to tell how we should do as far as pitching is concerned, but we do have several players that can hit the ball."
In his first year managing the team, Pychewicz looks to give his players the skills and technique needed to succeed in a league that has grown accustomed to success.