Ocean Township High School’s baseball team comes off a 19-9 season and with a talented and deep pitching staff on board, the Spartans could do even better this spring.
A year ago, the Spartans won eight games by two or fewer runs and more close games could be in store this time around. If coach Cip Apicelli’s team produces at the plate — and there is plenty potential to do so — Ocean Township may turn out to be a very difficult opponent.
On the mound, Ocean Township returns key starters Anthony Bartolomei and Blake Demeter. Bartolomei went 4-1 with a 2.40 ERA, while the hard-throwing Demeter was 3-3 with a 1.90 ERA and 49 strikeouts. The Spartans also return junior Jake Talerico, who showed promise and did not allow an earned run over 10 varsity innings in 2014.
Apicelli can also turn to Sam Maxwell, Brad Schoenberger and Jon Zimmerman, a deceiving side-armer, along with hardthrowing 6-foot-4 lefty Scott Bradley and J.T. Toomey, who are both juniors. That’s not to mention a sophomore foursome that will vie for innings. The sophomores are left-hander Phil DeMarco, Alec Keezer, Ken Pickett and Travis Lillie, the younger brother of Spartans standout Ryan Lillie, who graduated last June.
“We can really pitch,” Apicelli said. “One of the toughest things may be to get them all enough work, but I’m not complaining.”
Bartolomei, who plays first base, drove in 20 runs last spring while batting .306. Maxwell, a solid center fielder, will bat leadoff. He is coming off a .291 campaign with 12 RBIs and 16 runs scored. Shortstop Brian Kochenash hit .279 and scored 15 times as a sophomore, and Apicelli is expecting even more this year. In addition, junior catcher Mark Chernin has been impressive at the plate and is likely to bat fifth or sixth, the coach said. Another junior, Brian Olesen, will be the designated hitter and will play first base when Bartolomei is on the mound. Robert Piantanida gives Apicelli plenty of flexibility at first.
Frank Henry returns at second base after batting .245, and junior Tyler Rothback will be at third base. Apicelli is also looking to find a spot for speeding Marcus Blackmon, who saw action primarily as a runner.
Talerico and Maxwell will start in the outfield, with Bo Brittan, Scott Keller, Pickett and sophomore Joe Aldarelli seeing time as well. Denny Galvin and sophomore Anthony Tedesco give Ocean Township depth behind the plate.
“This is one of the most competitive teams I’ve ever had,” Apicelli said. “We have a deep lineup and a lot of pitching. Last year, we found a way to win our share of the close games, and we’ll need to play well defensively again. If we hit the way I think we can, we’ll be in good shape.”
Last spring, Ocean Township reached the quarterfinals of both the Shore Conference and NJSIAA Central Jersey Group III tournaments. The Spartans continue to compete in the Shore Conference’s Class B North division, which has added Red Bank Catholic High School and Colts Neck High School this season, while losing Freehold Township High School, which moved to A North.
Ocean Township opens the season April 2 at home against Long Branch High School in a divisional encounter before visiting Monmouth Regional High School two days later. Afterward, the Spartans head to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where they will play four games.