By: Kyle Moylan Sports Editor
The Northern Burlington High School baseball team defeated Burlington Township, 5-0, last Thursday in the season opener.
Cliff Nanfeldt tossed a three-hit shutout for the win. Buey Garofalo had a single and double for NBC, which opened up a 1-0 game with four runs in the top of the sixth.
“Cliff was 5-0 while pitching for the J.V. last year and he got a lot better,” Northern Burlington Coach Rick Doppler said. “He mixes his pitches up, hits his spots and has a good sinker.”
Unfortunately, Northern Burlington did not make out as well this past weekend in the tournament it hosts, losing two games.
“I’m disappointed that we didn’t at least get one win because we have a really tough schedule this year,” Doppler said.
Northern Burlington had an early lead, but lost to the eventual champions from Nottingham, 9-4.
“We walked 10 guys,” Doppler noted. “You can’t walk four guys, let alone 10.”
In the second game, Northern Burlington lost to Robbinsville, 10-6.
Ian Moyer was 3-for-4 with a double in the loss. Moyer, a junior, is one of the starting outfielders on the team.
“He’s on fire this season,” Doppler said. “He’s been unbelievable so far.”
Jeremy Schulkin, Garofalo and Chris Pula all tripled.
Schulkin, a sophomore, is the team’s center fielder. Garofalo (junior) and Pula (junior) are both pitchers that also rotate in at short and third with Nanfeldt, depending on which guy is on the mound.
The team’s catcher is Pat Dwyer, a senior. According to Doppler, he’s excellent at calling a game and is a leader on the team.
Justin Howarth, a junior, is a first baseman with power. Steve Fenstermacher, a senior, is a very good defensive second baseman.
Northern Burlington has several options in the other spot in the outfield, which includes Keith Dziura (senior), Tom Manuccia (senior), Josh Filor (junior), Scott Knoll (sophomore) and Bari Bradley (also a catcher).
Gabe Escalona and Bernard Luongo, both sophomores, are two pitchers Doppler will call up from J.V. this season to handle some of the workload on the mound.
NBC will play at Sterling at 11 a.m. on Saturday. It will be home to face Rancocas Valley at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.
“We have a tough schedule, which is the way we want it,” Doppler said. “We’re a team that will get better as the season goes along. We have some arms, but we don’t have one guy that threw a varsity pitch before this year.”
FLORENCE
The Florence High School baseball team lost its season opener on Thursday, 6-2, to Maple Shade.
Jimmy Martinson doubled home both runs for Florence.
Florence was scheduled to play Riverside on Tuesday. Florence will host New Egypt today (Thursday) at 3:45 p.m. and Bordentown on Saturday at 10 a.m. Florence will play at Burlington City on Tuesday at 11 a.m.

