Robbinsville baseball set for future success

By: Sean Moylan
   ÿ8BASEBALLÿSandy Overton doesn’t have to spend a disproportionate amount of time learning the strengths and weaknesses of his Robbinsville varsity baseball players. He’s known them for years.
   "It’s a good group. I’ve worked with the nucleus of them since they were sixth graders," said Overton, who used to be the baseball coach at the Pond Road School.
   Anyone who has followed the Washington Township Little League program or the Hightstown-East Windsor-Washington Township 14-year old Babe Ruth all-star team — which made the Babe Ruth World Series this past summer — the past few years knows that baseball is on the rise in Robbinsville.
   However, the jump from playing junior varsity to varsity baseball is one of the biggest, due to the quality of pitching at the varsity level. So while the Ravens have a lot of raw talent, they still may need a little time to learn how to hit faster pitching and grow as a team.
   Nonetheless, some players like junior pitcher/shortstop Brian Greubel and sophomore pitcher/right fielder Kevin Burum appear to be varsity-ready and then some.
   "Greubel should lead the way along with Kevin (Burum), who is a transfer from Notre Dame," added Overton, who likes Greubel’s arm on the mound, his glove at short and his hitting. In other words, he can do it all and Burum has similar skills.
   The Ravens have a several talented juniors on the varsity roster, including Mark Magariello (pitcher/outfielder), Brian Flynn (pitcher/third baseman), Matt Hill (first baseman), Shae Fahey (center fielder), Greg Hunter (catcher), Al Iglesias (pitcher/outfielder), Michael Arak (second baseman), Casey Bowen (pitcher/infielder), Michael Delre (pitcher/infielder) Robbie Banas (outfielder), Andrew Tomaszewski (outfielder) and Steve Liu (outfielder).
   Michael Piet (pitcher/right fielder), Cody Birdsall (catcher) and Joey Bruno (pitcher) are three of the other sophomore players on the varsity team. Moreover freshmen Freddie Ulisse (infielder) and Ryan DeAngelis (catcher/second baseman) will see some varsity action as well.
   "Defensively we should be strong but I’m not sure how we’ll hit varsity pitching," added Overton, whose goal for his team is to be competitive.
   Matt Mayo is coaching the junior varsity team while Tom Brettell is Overton’s assistant. Overton has additional experience coaching baseball in adult leagues and he knows the game. The early season games will be important to see just where this talented young, yet inexperienced, club stacks up with the rest of the CVC.