BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer
With pitching depth and loads of experience returning, Brookdale Community College’s baseball team is poised to have a big year.
Head coach Johnny Johnson’s Jersey Blues get their season started this week with their annual trek to Florida, where they will play 14 games in seven days, before heading back to Lincroft to start their home schedule on March 22 against Morris.
Johnson is looking forward to the 2005 campaign which has the potential of getting BCC back to the Junior College World Series.
“Our starters are all sophomores and our backups are quality guys,” said Johnson. “I’m excited about the season. They’re good kids, academically and athletically.”
Catcher John Romano (Staten Island) and second baseman Dave Lorber (Freehold Township), both sophomores, are coming off outstanding freshman seasons in which they earned All-Region XIX honors. Both are superb with the glove, and big-time hitters. Romano batted .410 last spring with five home runs and 38 RBIs. Lorber, who hits second in the lineup, batted .395 with 12 doubles.
All of the other field players on the team are sophomores and most were starters. Ryan Brand (Marlboro) moves to first base this spring (he shared the catching duties with Romano), with last year’s starter John Marzella (Morristown) moving to his natural position, third base. An arm injury forced Johnson to play Marzella at first last year, but the sophomore recovered from it and is back at the hot corner. He was All-Region as well.
Robbie Hine (Brick) is back with his gold glove at shortstop.
In the outfield, Eric Levee (Marlboro), who saw action last year as a backup, played his way into the starting lineup, where he will be flanked by Adam Taha (Central Regional) in right and Doug Ford (Neptune), a transfer who was All-Region last year, in left.
The BCC outfielders all have one thing in common — speed, led by Levee.
“All three of our outfielders can run,” said Johnson, who added that he can see all three of them stealing at least 20 bases each this spring.
BCC’s speed isn’t confined to the outfield.
“Everyone on the team has speed,” said Johnson. “We’re going to run. I like to put pressure on guys. We may break the record of the 2002 team that stole more than 200 bases.”
While many a hitter will see would-be extra-base hits fall into the gloves of Brookdale’s outfielders, many a sure-base hit will be swallowed up by the infield.
“This is the best defensive team I’ve had,” said Johnson. “All around, it’s the best.”
Because the defense is so good, Johnson encourages his pitchers to use it.
“We have guys who can strike people out, but our defense is so good I tell our pitchers just throw strikes and let the defense make plays,” said Johnson.
Pitching is the area where the Blues are young, but they are very talented.
The starting rotation goes five deep, led by freshman Adam Ortiz (Lakewood). Ortiz is a 6-foot-4 righty who throws in the 90s and is being scouted by the major leagues.
Freshmen Ken Rickert (Toms River North) and Ryan Beard (Pt. Pleasant Boro) also throw hard.
The sleeper of the rotation, Johnson pointed out, could be Florida transfer Billy Lawson. He’s a very polished freshman who could emerge as the team’s No. 1.
Matt Coulson (Freehold Borough), a sophomore, provides balance to the rotation as the only lefty.
Along with Coulson, closer Julio Guaty (Miami, Fla.) is also back. Guaty gives BCC an added weapon, a closer. Last year, he had 10 saves before breaking his thumb making a play in the field.
“He has no fear,” Johnson said of Guaty. “It takes a special type of kid to be a closer.”
The Blues are very deep in arms with 13 pitchers.
Brookdale will get its depth from its freshmen this year. Center fielder Damian Walcott (Freehold Borough) is like all the other BCC outfielders, fast. Look for him to be stealing bases like his fellow outfielders. Joe Schiettino (Lakewood) will back up Hine at shortstop, and Chris Coulson (Freehold Borough), the brother of Matt, will be the team’s utility player, capable of playing the infield and outfield. Righty Justin Esposito (Middletown) adds to BCC’s starting pitching depth.
When it comes playoff time in May, Brookdale will have the home field advantage in the Region this spring. The Blues are hosting the tournament May 6-8.
The Region XIX winner will play the Region 21 champion in a District playoff round May 14-15. The winner of the best two-of-three series will advance to the World Series at the USA Baseball Complex in Millington, Tenn.