BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer
Kyle Goldwater Kyle Goldwater is right at home with the Atlantic City Surf.“It’s nice to come back and know your teammates and the die-hard fans,” he said.
Goldwater, the former Freehold Township High School star, is in his fifth year of professional baseball, and for the first time, is playing with the same team, in the same town.
“It’s a nice feeling knowing the players,” he said. “You can relax. It’s not like coming to a new team and not knowing anyone.
“Everyone here just loves the game,” he added. “It’s great being part of a team and playing with a group of guys you like. You like the idea of going to the park, hanging out with your teammates and getting to talk to the fans.”
What has Goldwater looking forward to the 2005 Atlantic League season is not just playing in Atlantic City with familiar teammates, but the fact that the Surf are contenders. Last year, the Surf, who play their home games at The Sandcastle field, won the first-half league championship. Goldwater has been on the other side of the fence, and prefers winning.
“It’s not fun if you’re not going to win,” he said. “I was in Kalamazoo [Mich.], which was an expansion team. We had just 19 wins for the season. It was just miserable.”
Goldwater, who went on to star at Ursinus College after Freehold Township, still holds dreams of making it to the major leagues. He knows it’s a long shot, but he wants to know that he gave it his best shot before hanging up his glove and getting a “real job.”
“At this point, it’s year to year for me,” he said. “Every year, I think should I do this and I ask myself, ‘Did I pitch as well as I could?’ If I did, it’s time to throw it in. I can still make improvements, I love baseball and I love being part of a team.”
Surf pitching coach Jeff Ware, who played for the Toronto Blue Jays, is one of the reasons Goldwater believes he can still get better.
“He [Ware] has big league experience and knows what you need to do to get better,” he said. “He’s gotten me to tighten up my slider.”
In the off-season Goldwater worked on perfecting his off-speed pitch, as well as the splitter and slider, which are his out pitches.
The talent level in the Atlantic League is considered the equivalent of Double A and Triple A ball. It is very competitive and many former major league stars, such as Ricky Henderson, are playing in the league.
“This is the highest level I’ve gotten to compete at, and I was fairly successful,” Goldwater said. “What I’ve learned is that you can’t be scared of any batter. You can’t let them dictate to you. You have to throw inside more than I thought.
“Confidence is such a big deal if you are to succeed,” he added. “I’ve gotten a lot more confidence in my ability.”
The Surf are one of seven teams that make up the Atlantic League. The others are the Newark Bears, the Somerset Patriots, Camden Riversharks, Bridgeport Bluefish, Lancaster Barnstormers, Long Island Ducks and Nashua Pride.
This year, the Surf are hosting the league’s All-Star Game on July 13.
The 2005 Atlantic League season is under way, and the Surf’s next home stand at the Sandcastle is May 13-15 against Somerset.
For ticket information, call (609) 344-7873.