By: John E. Powers
It was a tough season that, unfortunately, ended in a familiar way.
The South Hunterdon Regional High School baseball team finished the season last Tuesday with a 5-3 loss to Belvidere.
The Eagles, who played a tough Skyland Conference schedule, finished the season with a 2-16 record. The Eagles lost to Belvidere 11-4 on April 19.
"We felt like we should have won that (second) game," said senior pitcher Jacob Stephens. "Everybody knew we stood a chance in that game. We should have won it."
Stephens led the way for South Hunterdon against Belvidere, hitting a two-run triple in his last high school at bat, and he also pitched a complete game. He struck out seven and allowed seven hits.
"I’d say it was a growing year for the team," said Stephens, who is hoping to play at Ramapo College next year. "We had only three seniors (Stephens, Kyle Simonye and Joe Krajack). But I would say we had a better feeling because we felt we were more competitive. One bad inning was really what hurt us, and that was the case in a better portion of the games."
He added, "We did start putting the bat on the ball, and we started scoring some runs."
The Eagles lost to Skyland Conference Raritan Division champion Somerville 9-1 on May 21, but had a strong offensive effort in a 11-7 loss to Hackettstown four days before.
Simonye reached base four times with a double, two singles and a walk, and he scored three runs. Junior first baseman Kyle Hart went 2-for-4 with a double and four RBIs.
Krajack had a double, and sophomore outfielder Kyle Stintsman had an RBI.
"We are hitting the ball better," first-year head coach Toby Jefferis said. "But we are still trying to make the plays in the field to support our pitchers and help us win. We seem to always have a bad inning, but we are getting better. We just hope to keep the young kids in the program, and the future could be bright."
Stephens feels freshman second baseman Kyle Battell and sophomore shortstop Dave Muscatell are among the younger players who could help South Hunterdon improve its record the next two years.
