Past collapses keep Cosumano reserved despite 6-0 start by South Brunswick
By: Rich Fisher
Tony Cosumano has been down this road before, and it usually ended up being a dead end.
That’s why Cosumano is happy with his South Brunswick Post 401 baseball team’s 6-0 start, but not jumping for joy.
"I’m not getting excited, it’s too early in the season," Cosumano said. "Last year we started 10-3 and didn’t even make the playoffs. We’re excited, but we can’t get overly excited.
"Being that this team is a little younger, it might be a little more hungry. There are only three or four guys who we’ll lose off this team. Last year, the interest wasn’t really there with the older kids, even when we were winning."
Post 401’s hot start includes victories over Old Bridge (13-0), New Brunswick (14-5), league favorite Milltown (7-1), non-Middlesex County opponent Hightstown (10-1), South River (7-4) and Middlesex (17-4).
This year’s roster includes South Brunswick residents Kyle Breese (P/OF/1B), Tim Barnshaw (C), Tyler Chromey (3B/P), Matt Forthun (P/C/OF), Russ Grimes (OF), Robby Kohutanycz (OF), Mike Koller (P/1B), Devon Quaglietta (SS/ OF/C), Travis Smart (P/SS), Mike Sweeney (P/2B), and Ryan Webb (3B/OF), Monroe/ Jamesburg residents Nick Alberino, Scott Basarab (P), Mike Doros (3B), Jarred Jimenez (1B/P/C), Mark Povlosky (P/2B) and Anthony Viani (3B/OF), and North Brunswick resident Mike McCormick (2B/OF/P).
"We don’t really have a set lineup," Cosumano said. "We’re just kind of trying to get as many kids as we can in each game. We have a lot of depth, so whoever you put in, isn’t going to hurt you.
"This is really one of those teams where you have too many good guys. It seems like it’s a good group of kids. We should be OK as long as they keep coming and are ready to play all the time."
The pitching staff is solid, with Basarab, Povlosky, Forthun, Smart and Chromey. Breese could also help, but had to have his shoulder scoped last Friday and is out for a week to 10 days.
"We don’t know if he’ll be able to pitch for the rest of the season," Cosumano said.
The head coach added that Basarab pitched "the best game he’s ever had with us against Milltown. We kind of shocked them the other night."
"They’re kind of stacked, they have a good team," Cosumano said. "Basarab had a kind of up and down high school season, but he only gave up four hits in seven innings against the best team in our league.
"I’d really like us to get on a good streak and be undefeated going into our second Milltown game."
That game takes place on June 23.
Stay tuned.
POST TOASTIES: Cosumano’s assistants are Monty Forthun, Jeff Jimenez and Mike Quaglietta . . . In the season opener against Old Bridge, Jimenez was 3-for-3 with four RBI, Alberino was 2-for-2 with three RBI and two runs scored, and Breese was 3-for-3. Breese allowed one hit in five innings in a game shortened by the mercy rule . . . In the June 7 win over New Brunswick, Alberino had three hits, including two doubles, and five RBI, Quaglietta had two doubles and two RBI, and Breese, Povlosky and Viani had two hits apiece. Chromey got the win, allowing just two earned runs while striking out eight in 6Ð innings . . . In Friday’s win over Milltown, Doros and Quaglietta each hit two-run homers, while Alberino doubled and Viani had two hits and an RBI. Jimenez, who hit 12 homers in the regular season, had three hits including a homer . . . in Saturday’s win over Hightstown, Jimenez was 3-for-3 and Smart had a double, triple and two RBI . . . in the win over South River, Povlosky threw a six-inning four-hitter, struck out four and allowed an unearned run. Jimenez went 3-for-3 with a single, double and triple, while Quaglietta hit a three-run triple and Grimes added a triple . . . in Tuesdays’ win over Middlesex Jimenez was 2-for-2 with four runs and two RBI, McCormick had a double and three RBI and Alberino, Forthun and Smart each had a hit and two RBI . . . In case anyone is counting, Jimenez has started the season by going 15-for-18, good for an .833 average.