Vikings start hot but play it cool

Danik warns it’s too early for players to get overly excited

By: James McKeever
   Yes, it’s very early in the season and the South Brunswick High School baseball team isn’t getting carried away with the results of just two games.
   It must be pointed out, however, that the Vikings’ performance in those two games has looked pretty good.
   Two games, two victories and South Brunswick has outscored its opposition 15-0 and outhit the other teams 16-4. Oh yeah, both games were Greater Middlesex Conference Red Division games as well.
   "It’s way early. We have to stay humbled and stay focused," Vikings coach Leo Danik said. "(Senior catcher) Tim Barnshaw said to the players after the first game, ‘Stay humbled.’ Because we know what the other side of the fence is like."
   Danik was referring to the team’s 0-7 start last season.
   But this season started with an impressive victory: 4-0 over Edison at home last Friday. Travis Smart pitched a gem, the defense was flawless and Tyler Chromey provided a big hit.
   On Tuesday the Vikings improved to 2-0 with an 11-0 victory over Perth Amboy that ended after five innings due to the mercy rule. Kyle Breese turned in the great pitching that day and everybody hit the ball.
   Danik’s team is scheduled to host East Brunswick (2-0) today (Thursday) at 4 p.m. and play North Brunswick on Saturday at 11 a.m., also a home game. Next week the Vikings visit St. Joseph’s of Metuchen on Monday at 4, then are home on Thursday afternoon against Old Bridge.
   If the Vikings keep getting quality pitching they’ll be a handful for anybody on their schedule.
   Smart opened the season with a one-hitter against Edison. The senior right-hander started the game by setting down 13 Eagles batters in a row. Nathan Fabretti then singled with one out in the fifth for Edison’s first baserunner. It was also their last baserunner.
   Smart didn’t issue a walk and struck out three as he faced only 22 batters, retiring 21.
   "Travis was very sharp. He had all three of his pitches going and his changeup was excellent," Danik said. "You knew in the first inning he was on his game because his curveball was real sharp. He always has his fastball and change but when he was his curve also he’s tough to beat. He uses his curve to keep them off the plate."
   Smart, 2-5 last season, pitched a no-hitter against J.P. Stevens.
   Edison’s Nik Reider carried a shutout into the fifth inning but wildness hurt him. The Vikings scored two runs in the fifth on two bases-loaded walks, then iced the game in the sixth on a two-run single by Chromey, who had two of his team’s four hits.
   Breese was just as stingy on Tuesday, limiting Perth Amboy to three hits in five innings. The junior lefty struck out seven, hit one batter and didn’t issue a walk. He also provided punch at the plate, blasting a three-run home run (fifth inning) and a two-run triple (first) to highlight a five-RBI game.
   "Kyle had all of his pitches working but he was able to spot his fastball better than any other pitch," said Danik. "He was busting the hitters in and then came back hitting corners. Every once in a while he would mix in a deuce and kept them off balance with a change."
   Breese had plenty of run support from his teammates. Rob Kohutanycz went 2-for-4 with a triple and a double and one RBI, Matt Forthun was 2-for-3 with a double, Brad Barksdale was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI and Russ Grimes stroked a two-run single in South Brunswick’s 12-hit attack.
   "Right now we’ve played very well," Danik said. "But it’s only two games and there’s a long way to go."