RBC junior team gained experience this summer

BYWARREN RAPPLEYEA Correspondent

The Red Bank Catholic High School junior American Legion team completed its summer schedule with a 6- 4 mark as its players gained valuable experience for the spring interscholastic season, coach Brian Gill said.

Gill’s team is composed entirely of players who will be sophomores in September. This past spring as the Caseys’ freshman team, this group won the Monmouth County Freshman tourney. They will form the core of the JV team next year.

“It’s great to have all of these kids playing in the summer,” said Gill, who coach’s RBC’s junior varsity contingent. “Everyone gets a chance to play. Pitchers get extra innings and our hitters can try different approaches at the plate. It also gives guys a chance to play new positions.”

Competing in the Monmouth County American Legion League, the Caseys were supposed to play a 16-game schedule, but poor weather forced the cancellation of six contests. Nevertheless, the team more than held its own and showed plenty of hitting ability. The team’s top hitters included infielders Joe Castellano, Brendan Clark, and Dan Valerio, as well as outfielders Mike Cosentino and catcher Danny Sullivan.

Gill added that plenty of his players can pitch, including Cosentino, Aaron Husak, Jack Kissinger, Joe Liddy, Chris Thomas and Pat Toomey, all of whom also see action in the field.

“We needed a lot of pitchers because some weekswe had three games,” Gill said. “Having that many players who can pitch was a real plus, and it will help us next year.”

Other players on the team include infielders Stephen Flego, Mike Morano, Connor Smith and Vinnie Vitarelli; outfielders Matt Golden, Ryan Huhn and Johnny Johnson; and catcher Nick Connella.

“I really like this team,” Gill said. “They’re all good baseball players and they’re working very hard to get better. The summer team gave them a good opportunity to work on their skills, and it was good for the coaches to see what they can do.”