BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI
Staff Writer
In a recent 9-2 victory over Central Regional, Bill Winters, oddly, never handled a chance at second base while playing 6 1/3 innings for Brick Township’s baseball team.
It was an unusual circumstance for the junior, who thrives on having the ball in his hands as he is actively involved in all three major varsity boys sports at the school.
Along with playing quarterback for the football team, which finished .500 and again qualified for the NJSIAA playoffs last fall, Winters also played point guard for the basketball team. His leadership was vital for both sports, especially basketball which was going through a rebuilding season.
Winters was thrust into the role of ball-handler for the basketball team when last year’s point guard, Dan Palma, was moved to the shooting guard spot to harness his deft scoring touch.
And when Winters is not playing at second base for the baseball team, he’s pitching. He relies on a curveball as his top pitch along with a fastball and a change-up that keeps hitters off balance. And his speed has earned him the leadoff spot in the batting order, although he also showed power with a two-run homer hit against Central, his second one this season.
“He swings the bat real well and has a good arm,” said baseball coach Tom Webber. “He turns double plays and does not make mistakes.”
Winters certainly savors his responsibilities as an active participant in all three sports.
“I like that,” said Winters of his roles. “I was more of a utility infielder last year, but I feel more comfortable at second base every day. I just have to be confident because the defense has been moved around.”
That certainly was the case in the infield, where Chris Hine went from third base to shortstop and last year’s shortstop, Jordan Marsch, was moved to his more familiar spot in the outfield. There’s also been two different catchers this season as Craig McNellis stepped in capably while Ryan Pharo was injured before working his way back recently.
“He’s been a surprise for our team,” said Webber. “We knew he was a good ballplayer but we took a chance moving him to second base because we had a player back there — Albert Fayad — who was ahead of him, although Albert still is getting opportunities to play, too.”
Along with batting .333 with a pair of doubles, Winters has also earned his coach’s praise for his on-base percentage of over .500.
With the team snapping a four-game losing streak with a pair of victories last week to get to 3-4, the players’ hopes have been revived for returning to the NJSIAA Central Jersey Tournament, where they reached the semifinals last season. The Green Dragons also played in the Shore Conference Tournament and won the Ocean County Tournament championship last season in a 13-10 campaign.
In their latest game before a seven-day layoff last Tuesday, Brick Township beat Southern, 3-1, as hot-hitting clean-up batter Jay Wilson backed his two-hit pitching with a pair of hits. Dom Mattliano slugged a run-scoring single in the fourth inning to stake the Green Dragons to a 3-0 lead.
The state cutoff is only a few weeks away, so Brick Township has to start winning consistently. Winters knows about that with the football team that struggled through injuries, but picked up some big early season victories to qualify for the state playoffs. He also saw the basketball team in his sophomore year make the NJSIAA Tournament for the first time since 1997.
Winters says he played “all right” in both sports. As quarterback, Winters says he “grew with it as the season went along.”
“We had a fun year in basketball,” he said. “I had to set up guys and make sure I got the ball to Dan.”
Winters feels the fun will continue this season in baseball where he says the team is “starting to come together.”