By: Rich Fisher
After finishing third in the state last year, the South Brunswick Post 401 American Legion team looks prepared to make another run at post-season glory.
"I don’t want to jinx the team and put in the paper that we’re loaded," manager Tony Cosumano said. "But as we walked off the field (after beating Lower South, Pa.) Monday night, the coach said ‘I heard you guys are good, but you’re monsters."
South Brunswick is off to a 3-0 start after beating non-conference foes Bordentown (6-5), Ewing (10-7) and Lower South (10-7).
The locals have another non-conference game Friday against Hightstown, then open Middlesex County League action Saturday with an intriguing match-up. South Brunswick meets Monroe at 11 a.m. (site to be determined), which is interesting since Monroe has broken away from Post 401 to form its own team.
There are still players from Monroe and Jamesburg on Post 401, as they were offered the chance to go to the new Monroe entry or remain with Post 401.
"They all decided to stay with us," Cosumano said. "It’s a one-time choice, so now those guys will be with us until their eligibility runs out, and then we’ll be strictly South Brunswick."
Cosumano feels the separation will hurt both sides in the long run.
"I think that was just a bad maneuver on their part," he said. "They’re never really going to have a strong team. Once in a blue moon they’ll have a pretty good team. And it weakens our program, because since we combined the two schools we had a pretty good record.
"They’re high school team was OK, but when you play legion, you have four and five games a week, so you need that pitching depth."
The veteran manager added that the decision was not solely fueled by Monroe.
"People in South Brunswick always wanted it to be a whole South Brunswick team too, because they wanted to play with their buddies," he said. "But now, people whose kids played for us look at last year and they realize that wasn’t the best thinking, because when their son goes to the next level, they won’t be playing with their buddies anyway.
"American Legion is supposed to be about strong teams trying to win and guys getting ready for the next level, not all the high school coaches in Middlesex County trying to get their kids to play together so they’re ready for high school."
None of that will affect Post 401 this summer, as the team has all the tools for a return trip to the states.
Jake Jaskowski and John Haas, both All-County picks, are at first and second base. Dan Gurney and Marc Magliaro are at shortstop and Mike Doros and Brandon Martin are at third.
The outfield has Shawn McCormack and Jared Jimenez (when not playing in collegiate league), in left, Nick Alberino in center and Russ Grimes in right. Mike Mariano will catch, backed up by Matt Forthun and Doros.
Of the 18 players on the roster, 13 can pitch. The rotation at the outset looks like Matt Kalbach, Mike Koller, Connor Henderson, Matt Forthun and North Brunswick resident/Bishop Ahr graduate Steve Montalbano.
Rounding out the roster are pitchers Chris Cisco and Kyle Breese, though Breese may not see a lot of time due to playing in collegiate leagues.
"Our nucleus is back, and they’re psyched to play," Cosumano said. "They kind of have unfinished business on their part after coming so close to winning the states last year."

