By Warren Rappleyea
South Brunswick High School’s baseball team has looked solid as it has gotten off to a 2-0 start this spring under new coach C.J. Hendricks.
A year ago, the Vikings struggled to a 7-17 mark with a relatively young team. This time around, Hendricks, who served as a varsity assistant a year ago and is entering his eighth season with the program, said expectations are higher.
“We’re used to winning 15 or more games a year,” Hendricks said. “Last season was more of a learning year for our guys. It was the first time I can remember where we were regularly starting several sophomores on the varsity. Now we think the experience they gained will help them win more games.”
The new mentor acknowledged that his team will face tough competition in the Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) Red Division, but he nonetheless expects his team to make its presence felt.
So far it has done just that. South Brunswick opened the season with a solid, 8-3 win over Perth Amboy High School. Second baseman Ryan Moran went 2-for-2 with a triple and scored a pair of runs, outfielder Alex Pollock hammered out two hits and Kevin Reyes drew three walks and scored each time. Brandon Siroki picked up the win.
The Vikings are coming off an 11-1 victory against J.P. Stevens High School April 8. Anthony Sjolund went five innings and allowed just two hits while picking up four strikeouts and issuing just one base on balls to get credit for the win. Siroki had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-3 and driving in four runs. Junior outfielder Marco DiIusto contributed a pair of hits, and Moran was 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
Siroki, who went 3-for-3 on the hill last year, Sjolund and left-hander Brendon Zircher (1-0) head up a solid pitching staff. Will Drost, Abhi Gupta and Pollock, another lefty who also plays first base, provide additional talent and depth. The hard-throwing Moran will come out of the bullpen late in games. Freshman Jacob Ciccone may see some innings as well.
At the plate, Hendricks is looking for good things from shortstop Sean Nally, who hit .306 a year ago. Mike Casillas and DiIusto are expected to provide additional pop at the plate. Catcher Tom Leavy, who became a starter halfway through last season, will aid the offense.
Outfielder Dillon Beck, infielders Jaren Almonte and Troy Sweeney and catcher Gavin Vandemark round out the team.
“It was important to start well and build up some confidence,” Hendricks said. “We have a lot of talent, and I think the guys are ready for a big season. Last year, we struggled, so gaining confidence is a big factor.”
In other action on the diamond, North Brunswick Township High School’s baseball team opened the season with three straight wins before falling, 14-13, to Sayreville War Memorial High School April 8. The Raiders found themselves down, 11-2, but got back into the game with a 10-run sixth inning only to fall on a passed ball in the bottom of the eighth inning. Justin Garcia went 3-for-3 with three RBIs, and Christian Petrillo was 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs for North Brunswick.
Coach Ryan Lillis’ team opened the season with a 9-8 success against Middlesex High School April 1. Eric Reardon earned the win on the mound. Petrillo went 2-for-3 with four RBIs to key the offense, while Roger Gomez added a pair of hits to go with two RBIs.
On April 6, North Brunswick downed South Plainfield High School twice. Gomez led the attack in a 9-1 win with two hits and five RBIs, while Garcia and Jesse Scher had two hits and an RBI apiece. Eric Vasquez went the distance on the mound. Reardon was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and picked up the win in a 6-3 decision in the second game. Tyler Petrillo and Neal Gaeta have two hits each.
Softball
South Brunswick’s softball team is also off to a good start. After falling, 2-0, to J.P. Stevens April 1, the Lady Vikings have won three straight games. Carly Rybinksi and Haley Grossi each had three hits and three RBIs in a 10-5 win over Old Bridge High School April 5.
Nicole Majewski tossed a five-hitter and pounded out three hits, including a pair of doubles, in a 5-3 success against Sayreville April 5. Jaime Klemas and Jess Risch both added two hits. Rybinski had three hits and drove in five runs in a 15-5 win against Edison High School April 8. Risch added three hits of her own and a pair of RBIs, and Lindsey Warick drove home two runs with two hits.
North Brunswick’s girls are coming off a tough 8-0 loss to Carteret High School April 8, with Angela Colandrea and Katrina Lauri getting the only two hits for the Raiders. It its opener, North Brunswick fell to John F. Kennedy Memorial High School, 1-0. Tara Jennings took the loss despite going six innings and striking out nine. Jennings and Lauri accounted for North Brunswick’s two hits.