BY MIKE McDONALD
Staff Writer
The JFK Senior Legion baseball team was swept by Milltown and has been eliminated from the American Legion playoffs.
JFK lost the first game to Milltown last Sunday by the final score of 5-2, then lost the next game to Milltown, 11-3. But the game was much closer than the score would indicate.
“The score was 4-2 in the fourth with runners off second and third base with two outs,” JFK head coach Jerry Smith Jr. said. “We failed to drive the runners home. In the fifth inning, the score was still 4-2 and we had the bases loaded with two outs and we once again failed to plate a single run. The score remained the same until the seventh inning when Milltown scored seven more runs. We just missed on the opportunities we had to draw the score closer.”
The three runs for JFK were driven in by Brian Schroeder’s and Chris Grimes’ home runs. Schroeder actually hit three home runs against Milltown in Legion play.
Despite being bounced from the playoffs, Smith Jr. still feels a lot can be taken from this Legion season.
“Other than Mike Galluzi, who graduated, I got to coach the team that will be the Kennedy varsity team next year,” he said. “The kids got to play together and this really helped our team chemistry, which I feel is extremely important in baseball.
“I think our varsity program will be good offensively and defensively.”
Chris Grimes, Brian Schroeder and Rafael Cordero are expected to lead the offensive barrage next year.
“I think our pitchers will have to step up and have good seasons,” said Smith Jr.
Funny enough, the pitchers are pretty much the team’s best offensive players. The first four pitching rotation spots for next year should belong to Isiais Rodriguez, Rafael Cordero, Chris Grimes and Brian Schroder. Senior Jason Matelski is one of the candidates for the fifth spot in the pitching rotation.
Also returning to the Kennedy High School varsity team next year will be Mike Cabonillas, Mike Cabu, Rafael Cordero, Mike Giordano, Mike Kress, Jon Lemongelli, Vin Marciano, Jason Matelski, Brian Reilly, Rodriguez and Billy Russyk.
Important to Smith Jr. is practice. Practice in game situations is the ultimate tune-up for high school players.
“I wouldn’t say it is my philosophy per say, more like a combination of all I have experienced as a baseball player, and all I have learned from my father and other great coaches and players along the way,” said Smith Jr.
Although Smith’s kids will get a break from playing baseball in August, the kids will have the opportunity to play fall ball, which begins in September.
“We are trying to keep this team together as much as possible to develop great team chemistry and to get the kids playing on top of their games by the time the high school seasons begin,” the coach said. “We expect a lot this year out of our freshmen, junior varsity and varsity programs. I am just an observer in fall ball. But a lot of teaching can be done.”
Although the coach is considering a winter program as well to be played in a domed stadium, he realizes that it is important to not overwork his pitchers.
“I think position players only get better and better when they play in game-like conditions, but pitchers need to be on strict pitch counts and not work themselves too hard,” said Smith Jr.
Smith Jr. also does his best to continually learn as well.
“I believe coaches always can learn more as well. I will be going to coaching clinics this February to try to make myself a better coach.”
Smith Jr. expects a lot out of his team next year but he is not afraid to set the bar so high for next year.
“I think expectations should be high,” he said. “If you don’t meet your expectations you have to do things different to try to achieve your goals. So we are doing things as a team this year to try to make us better from the way this year ended. We still have a lot of returning players and our expectations of ourselves should be high.”